“I’ll handle it myself, so mind your own business.”
With a sigh, she ignores him and walks towards the extras.
“Eek! The Black Beast!”
“I-I’m not tasty at all!”
“Run away!”
Seeing the students scatter in panic, she sighs internally.
Anyway, it’s really time to head to the room now.
*
Aris retracts her outstretched hand and pouts her lips.
Her face turns red.
She grabs her head in frustration.
“Ugh, how could I act that way in front of my junior…”
A wave of shame crashes over her belatedly.
When she was drunk, she was being childish, and when she woke up to the shock of being found out, she stubbornly denied everything from start to finish.
This situation was not his fault.
All the responsibility and blame lies with her.
She was the one who drank and got drunk, and she was also the one who grabbed him while trying to escape and fell asleep with him.
“To think I even shifted the blame onto my junior and threatened him…”
An absolute no-no for a senior.
“I’ve lost my privilege as a senior.”
Not to mention, she even uttered the words “Black Beast.”
If Kim Deok-Sung had lost his temper and exposed Aris’s secrets right then, she wouldn’t have had a word to say in her defense.
That’s how disgraceful she felt after yesterday and today.
But Kim Deok-Sung didn’t do that.
Instead, he told her he would keep her secret first and didn’t react at all to her excuses.
He even comforted her, saying it was okay to relax and to return to her usual self.
“I owe him a debt…”
A heavy sense of obligation weighs on Aris’s heart.
Suddenly, she recalls what Kim Deok-Sung had said to her while comforting her.
To calm down and return to her usual self.
“Returning to my usual self…”
Aris’s face flushes.
[The little one is a kind boy. He’s a boy born with the qualities of a hero.]
The words of Yoshizaki Seira, who once spoke in her ear, linger in her mind.
A big city far from her hometown, Tokyo.
The only person who knew Aris’s secrets and identity was the president of the association, Yoshizaki Seira, the one she could rely on.
For some time now, Seira had started talking about Kim Deok-Sung with a lovestruck expression on her face.
Hearing that made Aris feel a twinge of jealousy towards Kim Deok-Sung.
Sometimes like an older sister, sometimes like a mother, it was hard for Aris to accept deep down that Seira’s attention was shifting to someone else.
Aris shakes her head.
“It’s an embarrassing and ugly feeling.”
Her face reddens further as she bites her lip.
Now, she seems to understand.
Why the president, Seira, praised Kim Deok-Sung so much.
Although he appeared gruff on the outside, he was actually a kind person.
If he weren’t, he wouldn’t have tolerated her stubbornness.
“I thought for sure he would be disappointed when he saw my true self…”
Aris was well aware that the image everyone admired about her was just that—a perfectly superhuman student council president, a sophisticated and glamorous lady.
That’s why she had hidden her true self thoroughly until now.
To prevent being pointed at like before.
So when her true self was exposed, she was sure he would be disappointed and lash out at her.
When her true self was discovered, Aris thought for sure that he would be disappointed and hurl insults at her.
But that didn’t happen.
He accepted her as she was, without showing any signs of disappointment, not even regarding her dialect or child-like appearance.
Different from everyone else.
Jealousy melted away like snow, replaced by an inexplicable emotion.
Aris’s heart raced.
“Th-then, how can you, um, casually say things that shake someone’s heart… It’s dangerous, Kim Deok-Sung…”
Aris shook her head.
She hugged her large teddy bear, Kuma-chan, burying her chin and mouth into its face as she muttered.
“But… it really was cozy.”
In his arms, where she had fallen asleep while cuddling.
It was so delightful that she didn’t want to break free.
Thanks to that, it had been a long time since Aris had a good night’s sleep.
It felt as if she had returned to her hometown…
“W-wait! What am I saying?!”
Aris shook her head.
“This isn’t the time to daydream. I need to deal with my piling work soon…”
She started tidying up the disorganized papers on the desk.
Yet, despite her unfeeling expression, Aris’s heart kept racing.
Are we… dating?
Shuo Hero Academy.
Chairman’s Room.
Sitting across a large desk was the silver-haired beautiful girl, Yoshizaki Seira, holding her phone to her ear, her red eyes sparkling as she spoke in a serious voice.
“Is that so? How surprising. The League’s influence has even reached Meijin Academy…”
Seira bit her lip as she listened to Aris’s report.
The sudden cancellation notice for the inter-academy exchange event at Meijin Hero Academy had left a foul smell in her nostrils.
She had suspected the League might be involved.
But the moment her suspicion became reality, Seira’s cheeks trembled with rage.
“Damn those bastards…”
To Seira, the League was the unholy enemy that had murdered her comrades from Five Crowns and the man she loved, leaving her with scars that would never fade.
Memories of her four comrades, who had been killed in vain by the League, flooded her mind.
Seira closed her eyes and took a deep breath to quell her boiling anger.
“I need to remain calm.”
Although she wanted to rush to Kyoto immediately or mobilize all the forces of the association, doing so would endanger the students dispatched there for training.
If they had taken control of Meijin Hero Academy, it meant that the entirety of Kyoto was now under their control.
The Kyoto branch of the association was likely to have become the League’s lackey.
They were up against an organization that had killed a legendary hero, the Sword Saint, with terror.
If she lost herself to rage and acted recklessly, she could lose everything.
She had to be cautious.
[Yes, so I was thinking of requesting support.]
“I’m indeed eager to send some help, but…”
She had no choice but to trust Aris.
That’s why she sent her in the first place.
[Kim Deok-Sung requested that Kamiya Ritsuko be sent to Kyoto discreetly.]
“That’s not a problem. I’ll send her immediately.”
The fact that Ritsuko had become Seira’s subordinate was still a state secret.
The League likely hadn’t received that information, so she could be utilized without issue beyond the garden.
“Once again, our little one made a big contribution. I’ll have to compliment him when he returns.”
A smile appeared on Seira’s lips.
There was a faint blush on her face.
Considering all of Aris’s reports, the biggest contributor to this training group was undoubtedly Kim Deok-Sung.
He had persuaded Kasumi, turned her into a double agent, extracted information from enemy territory, and even proposed sending Ritsuko.
All those ideas had come from Kim Deok-Sung’s mind.
Seira’s heart skipped a beat.
“He really takes after him.”
Seira bit her lip.
The more she saw him, the more he reminded her of the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint, who had also mediated between incompatible comrades and devised meticulous plans to save everyone.
She meticulously crafted a plan and saved everyone.
Just like Kim Deok-Sung right now.
At that moment when Seira shook her head, trying to shake off the shadow of the swordsman—
[This public talk ends here. Chairman, um… Is there anyone else around?]
Aris’s voice rang in Seira’s ear.
Only then did Seira regain her composure and ask her back.
“No, there isn’t. Is there something going on?”
From the first day of school until now, Seira had taken care of her like family, so she understood.
That Aris wanted to share something personally important.
[Uhhh…]
A groan came through the speaker.
Seira waited silently for her answer.
[Big sis… I… It’s been discovered by Kim Deok-Sung… my identity… ]
Immediately followed by the burst of Kansai dialect.
Seira’s red eyes widened.
“To that kid? What happened?”
[Well… ]
Listening to Aris explain the whole story, laughter escaped from Seira.
“Haha, haha! They say even a kappa can drown in a river, but the great Aris gets drunk and reveals her secrets to a kid! And what’s this? Sharing a bed too?”
[D-Don’t tease me… It’s embarrassing… ]
Aris’s flustered voice.
“It’s been a while since I saw our A-chan so embarrassed. You looked like this timid countryside girl back on the preparatory meeting day. Ah, I miss those days.”
A mischievous smile spread across Seira’s face.
Having helped Aris with her city girl act and keeping her identity a secret, Seira found Aris’s current state both delightful and cute.
[W-Well, even so, that kid promised to keep it a secret… Is it really okay? Can I trust you? Big sis, of course, I made a mistake… but still… ]
Aris babbled on.
“If it’s that kid, then yes, you can trust him, so don’t worry. Aris. Because…”
Seira’s face flushed.
“…our kid is kind.”
[O-Ohh… ]
Aris trailed off at the end of her sentence.
Upon hearing the word “kind,” an inexplicable embarrassment washed over her, mixed with relief.
Seeing the usually composed Aris’s voice wavering made Seira laugh.
“By the way, you haven’t fallen for the kid’s kindness, have you, A-chan? Those junior students after him might not let you off so easily.”
[T-That’s absolutely not true! K-Kim Deok-Sung is just my junior… I appreciate him keeping my secret… but still… absolutely not!]
Aris protested, jumping up and down.
Hearing her voice, Seira bit her lip.
Aris probably didn’t realize it due to her lack of experience, but Seira could tell.
Right now, she had more than just friendly feelings for Kim Deok-Sung.
For some reason, it felt unfair.
It didn’t bother her that first-year girls liked him.
But the moment she was certain that her younger sister-like Aris had feelings for him,
Jealousy ignited in Seira’s heart.
‘Wha-what…’
Seira panicked, as jealousy spread uncontrollably.
She slapped her cheek.
‘J-Jealousy for a kid-like her? This is absurd!’
It was impossible.
Seeing Aris, who has never met a guy due to her perfect lady act, suddenly harbor a crush on someone was not something she could cheer for but rather be jealous about?
What a disgrace.
‘I am the White Empress, a hero who holds the position of One Among Five Crowns. I-I will never take feelings beyond mere teasing for that kid seriously.’
Just as she barely managed to calm her boiling heart,
Aris’s voice echoed in Seira’s ear.
[Big sis? Is something wrong? Is there someone around you?]
“Hey, is anyone around you?”
As soon as Seira hears Aris’s voice, a surge of jealousy rises within her.
Struggling to control her emotions, Seira bites her lip and speaks slowly.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing. Well then, I have some business to take care of, so I’ll hang up. Don’t worry too much about the kid.”
“I got it! See you again in Tokyo!”
She ends the call, hearing Aris’s farewell.
Seira’s hands tremble.
‘Oh, no. There’s no way… what’s the age difference between that kid and me? I can’t possibly be serious about him… Even if he resembles him…’
*Slap.*
Seira slaps her own cheeks.
“Phew.”
Right. Now’s not the time to get caught up in this useless worry.
She needs to support the training team in the midst of enemy territory, in Kyoto.
Taking a deep breath, she shouts.
“Ritsuko, come in!”
*Squeak.*
The door to the Chairman’s Room opens, and a mint-haired beauty wearing a suit and an eye patch walks in.
“What now?”
The beauty, Ritsuko, slips a Kansai dialect into her speech.
“I’ve told you a hundred times; I can’t understand that dialect. Use standard language, Ritsuko.”
At Seira’s words, Ritsuko bites her lips.
‘This annoying lady…’
Ritsuko swallows her complaints internally.
Her lips part.
“Understood, Chairman.”
“Good to hear, Ritsuko. Be happy. Finally, you have a business trip coming up.”
Ritsuko’s hands tremble at Seira’s smile.
She has experienced many times that each smile brings her a mountain of work.
On top of that, it’s a business trip?
“W-What? Where are you sending me?”
“To Kyoto. Saori will accompany you as the observer, so no funny business. Saori will give you the detailed tasks upon arrival.”
*Gulp…* “You sound like such a tyrant…”
Ritsuko mutters under her breath.
A business trip to Kyoto, and Saori, the next-gen nanomachine bomb developer, is tagging along?
It’s practically a declaration that they’ll drain every last bit of her.
If this keeps up, she’ll surely work herself to death.
“Any complaints, Ritsuko? I could’ve sworn I heard something strange in my ear just now. I must have misheard, right?”
“N-no! No complaints! I’ll do my best on the Kyoto trip. Hahaha…”
Ritsuko awkwardly laughs as she leaves.
*Thud.*
The door to the Chairman’s Room closes.
“Well then, shall I call Saori?”
Seira mutters to herself as she presses the call button on her phone.
*
Kyoto Station.
A massive train station bustling with tens of thousands of passengers arriving and departing every day.
I’m sitting on a bench in the rooftop garden of Kyoto Station with Aris.
We’re here to meet Ritsuko, who’s coming on a business trip from Tokyo.
For safety, the glass wall surrounding the railing helps us overlook Kyoto Tower.
I glance around.
For some reason, there are many couples engaging in affectionate acts.
Couples holding hands, couples using each other’s laps as pillows, couples feeding each other lunchboxes, and even couples kissing.
Is this a date hotspot or something?
“This place is so… embarrassing…”
I hear Aris’s voice beside me.
She seems a bit bashful, her earlobes turning red.
“Are we sitting too close? Kim Deok-Sung? What if someone mistakes us for a couple…”
Just as Aris leans in to whisper to me,
“Hey, look at that couple over there!”
“That silver-haired girl is a total beauty! She’s too good for that guy!”
“Check out that whispering. Looks like a love confession. Public displays of affection? Totally hot!”
“Is that black-haired guy over there some kind of hero from his past life?”
The sounds of extras pass by as if on cue.
