In the central district of Asterisk, at the junction of the comrcial and administrative areas, rose the super skyscraper of Hotel Elnath.
This luxury hotel, frequented by VIPs and celebrities from around the world, was renowned most of all for the do-shaped hanging garden on its top floor. Only a few ever set foot in this garden, where streams rolled and flowers of all seasons were always in full bloom. Even the people of a class able to stay at this hotelincluding integrated enterprise foundation executivescould not enter without permission.
This space was a sanctuary created especially for a highly select group of individuals to et once a month. Only six people in the world had the power to open its doors: the student council presidents of the six schools of Asterisk.
"Good day, everyone." an elegant voice said, "You all seem well."
In the center of the garden, atop a small hill that was just high enough to grant a view of the surroundings, stood a European-style gazebo. It was furnished inside with a hexagonal table that resembled a scaled-down version of Asterisk itself. Four of the six seats were occupied.
After a polite bow, Claudia took her place in the fifth seat, wearing her usual gentle smile.
"So good for you to join us, Miss Enfield. You are most punctual, as always." The princely young man sitting to Claudia's left welcod her with a cordial grin. He was a beautiful youth. He was spotted with well-defined features and sleek, light blonde hair, a serene manner, and regint in his every move.
He was the president of the Saint Gallahardworth Academy, Ernest Fairclough.
"But is it , or have you beco more beautiful now?"
"Really? Then, it must be because of love." Claudia grinned happily.
"...love?"
The young man was at a loss for words.
The young girl, who Tamazuki was familiar with, Xinglou, only looked at Claudia with interest.
A young man with a featureless feature, who was the president of the Arlequint Academy, showed an awkward expression.
However, the fat young man with red hair, Dirk, the president of the Le Wolfe Black Academy, snorted and showed an unpleasant expression toward Claudia.
"Vixen."
If this woman didn't appear, then, Tamazuki would beco a student of his academy!
Even if he hated everything in this life, he had to stay doing a transaction with Tamazuki, which was nice since he upheld his reputation. As long as he paid sothing, he would get the things that he wanted.
The two of them were working well together, and it would be even more amazing if Tamazuki joined his school, yet everything had beco a failure because of this young woman.
"Oh my... I am not a vixen." Claudia still maintained a polite smile. "We are true love."
"True love, eh?" Dirk wanted to puke at that mont.
Xinglou laughed. "Is he a good lover?"
"Yes. He is strong." A cute blush appeared on Claudia's cheeks.
Strong?
Was it his strength as the number one of the Seidoukan? Or sothing else?
However, Claudia remained ambiguous with her words and didn't explain everything.
"Oh, I want to fight him more now."
This ti Claudia didn't say anything and looked warily at Xinglou since she knew the little girl in front of her was a monster. Unlike Tamazuki, Xinglou was on another level, and for her dream, she didn't need this uncontrollable elent like Xinglou, but she could do nothing. What she could do was to fasten her plan, and fortunately, the Festa was about to be held soon.
Still, Ernest sighed. "It's a sha that you have a lover now."
"Yes, but I am happy."
"Laetitia is going to be sad."
Laetitia Blanchard.
She was a childhood friend of Claudia and also the student council vice president of Saint Galahadworth Academy.
"It's okay. I am sure that she understands ." Claudia thought about her childhood friend and showed a slightly helpless expression. "So, while I want to start our eting right away since we don't have much free ti, to begin with..." She looked at the only empty chair in this place.
"I think she is in the middle of her European tour. As usual, she has sent the papers transferring her authority as moderator."
Ernest was the one who answered Claudia's question.
"Of course. Being a world-famous songstress must keep her very busy."
"Hah. What difference does it make if that baby girl's here or not?" Dirk scoffed.
"My dear representative of the Crossed Swords, I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from insulting the delegates of the other schools." Ernest watched Dirk with a slightly vexed smile.
The two had a fairly bad relationship. Whenever they were together, they had to fight at least once or twice, showing their difference. Their schools also weren't much different. Le Wolfe, who only cared about power, and Saint Gallahardworth, who was the symbol of order. The two were like fire and water. It was impossible for them to mix with each other.
Usually, Xinglou would be the one who stopped their fight, but this ti, Claudia smiled and said, "Everyone, I will be happy if you are not wasting our ti here and start with the eting."
"....."
Everyone fell into silence since they could feel how scary Claudia's smile was, maybe because she was slightly affected by Tamazuki's "Osore" since she had been taking his seeds into her womb many tis, giving her a frightening presence, or maybe because she was just really impatient and just wanted to end this eting as soon as possible.
The regular assembly of the six student council presidents was known informally as the Rikka Garden Summit, nad after the place where it was held.
Ostensibly, the purpose of these etings was to maintain the amicable relationship between the six schools and to exchange opinions for the prosperity of each school and the smooth operation of the Festa. In reality, however, it was the stage of a political power ga in which each player tried to discern what the others were scheming.
While Dirk snorted, Ernest was speechless, the student council president of the Arlqueint shuddered in fear, but Xinglou was curious. "Why are you in a hurry, Claudia?"
"Well, my lover is waiting on the floor below. We're on a date now."
"..." 4x
True love.
They thought to scoff or thought that it was just a joke, but it seed that it wasn't. Instead, no one thought of Claudia at this mont. Instead, all of them thought about the one who had made Claudia fall madly in love with him.
Inugamigyoubu Tamazuki.
The one who was, without a doubt, had the highest chance to beco the champion of the Phoenix Festa.
---
At that mont, Tamazuki was at the restaurant of Hotel Elnath, drinking tea and onigiri as he read his novel through a hard copy. In this day and age, what he was doing was rather strange since everything could be bought digitally, but this was what he was doing now. His attire was also unique since when everyone was wearing either suits or casual clothes, he was wearing a traditional black Japanese yukata and zori (flat sandals) with white tabi (toe-divided socks).
Yet, as Asterisk was located in Japan, this attire didn't attract much attention since a lot of wealthy people from this country wore similar attire whenever they were.
Still, as expected, his appearance attracted the attention of many single, lonely mature won, who seed ready to talk with him, but it seed his luck was far from good since the one who ca wasn't a mature lady but a mature man.
"I am sorry, but do you have ti, Inugamigyoubu Tamazuki-san?"
---
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