The season was late August.
It was already the hottest ti of the year, and with the influence of oceanic climate, the entire Shinkou Island felt like it had been placed inside a stear. The heat distorted the light, and the concrete ground was hot enough to fry eggs.
"So hot! I'm dying from the heat!"
Kojou Akatsuki lay sprawled like a limp rag on the leather sofa, continuously fanning himself with his hand.
"It's a family restaurant, so why isn't there even an air conditioner?"
At that mont.
He was in a common family restaurant on the southern island of Shinkou Island.
As the busiest of the five main islands—east, west, south, north, and central—of Shinkou Island, the place was already bustling with noise and activity, and the sweltering heat was at its peak. In this nearly 40-degree weather, the lack of air conditioning was practically life-threatening!
"Stop complaining. Are you going to do your howork or not?"
Beside him, a boy with spiky brown hair and headphones around his neck rcilessly slapped the table.
"I specifically gave up a date with my senior to help you with your studies at the end of this sumr break. If you keep spacing out, don't bla for not letting you copy my howork!"
"I'm really sorry!"
Kojou Akatsuki instantly cowered, grabbing his howork and frantically copying.
"Your senior—is that the charming third-year you said you're dating, Motoki?"
Across from Yaze Motoki, a girl who looked quite fashionable lifted her head out of boredom.
Her long hair was dyed a light golden color, and her face could be described as exceptionally refined and delicate.
Her school uniform wasn't buttoned up tightly like an ordinary student's; instead, it was slightly open at the collar, revealing her fair collarbone. The hem of her clothes, necktie, and other parts had been stylishly modified, and her nails were coated with glossy nail polish.
At first glance, she gave off a vibe of being very "supportive"!
"That's right! My girlfriend—speaking of her, she's really—"
"But I heard you haven't even held your senior's hand?"
Just as he was proudly introducing his girlfriend, a cold, detached voice ca from the side.
"Didn't you make up the whole 'we're dating' thing yourself?"
Diagonally across from him, a tall, slender boy was inexplicably wearing sunglasses and a mask, dressed like soone with severe social anxiety. But the mont he spoke, Yaze Motoki froze.
"Wait, Eiji, where did you hear that?"
"Actually, your girlfriend has a crush on . She told herself."
Eiji smiled faintly, without a trace of emotion.
Leaving the mystery unsolved.
"Hahaha, I don't believe it!"
Yaze Motoki grinned slightly and picked up the drink on the table.
"Whoa, why did you spill it on ?!"
"My hand slipped. I already let you copy my howork, so don't be so stingy."
Just as he was about to explode.
Seeing his friend's trembling hand, Kojou Akatsuki couldn't bring himself to say anything.
He sympathetically patted Yaze Motoki on the shoulder.
That damn Eiji—sotis he'd tease people with completely fabricated lies, but other tis he'd say sothing painfully true in a joking tone. You could never tell if he ant what he said, or how many layers of aning were hidden in his words.
Yaze Motoki made the sign of the cross over his chest and prayed devoutly.
What that damn guy said isn't true. That damn guy is joking. That damn guy has no parents to raise him!
"Seriously, why did I agree to attend such a boring holiday study session?"
Aasaki Asagi lay slumped over the table, her beautifully made-up face clearly displaying boredom.
She had only co here—braving the sweltering heat and squeezing onto crowded trains from the city center—after receiving a ssage from Kijou saying Eiji would be attending. She'd even rushed to put on makeup for the occasion, though she usually went bare-faced at ho.
"Don't say that."
Eiji looked seriously at Asagi.
"At least we get to watch Kojou Akatsuki desperately racing against deadlines to finish his howork. Isn't that entertaining enough?"
"You're insane!"
Hearing this, Kojou Akatsuki threw down his pen in frustration.
"Did you co here just to watch scramble to finish my assignnts?!"
"Well, why else?"
Eiji looked at him with genuine confusion.
If there's no entertainnt, why would I bother going out?
"Pfft—"
Asagi quickly covered her mouth, nearly laughing out loud.
Oh no.
When did I start taking pleasure in others' misfortune?
But watching soone frantically writing as deadlines loom does make those who've already finished their work feel exceptionally pleased!
"By the way, do any of you have plans for this afternoon?"
Asagi glanced at the ti on her phone.
While Kojou Akatsuki was being shushed by an annoyed waiter and scratching his head in embarrassnt, she casually posed the question to the three of them.
It was just past noon.
I went through the trouble of putting on makeup—I can't let it go to waste!
Alright!
Today, I must at least succeed in getting so alone ti!
Kojou Akatsuki rolled his eyes and continued scribbling away without responding.
"I'll probably stay here with Kojou."
Yaze Kijou resud his usual carefree deanor, shrugging indifferently.
"I guess I don't have anything else to do either?"
Eiji rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
He'd already handed off his howork to Kijou's senior to complete.
He'd only co out today to watch Kojou Akatsuki rush through his assignnts anyway, with no particular plans.
"W-well, in that case... I actually have two movie tickets here. Don't get the wrong idea—they were given to by my family's housekeeper—"
Blushing slightly, Asagi pulled two slightly damp movie tickets from her skirt pocket. It was obvious she'd been clutching them for a while.
"Sorry, sothing just ca up!"
But Eiji imdiately retracted his previous statent.
He sprang up from his corner, deftly slipped past Asagi, and hurried toward the exit.
In no ti, he had vanished from their sight in a whirlwind.
"Ah, what a tragedy!"
Watching Asagi's frozen smile, Yaze Kijou let out a deep sigh.
"Tell about it. How can anyone be this clueless?"
Kojou Akatsuki wore an expression of exasperation, as if disappointed by soone's failure to et expectations.
"You, a lolicon hiding your precious girl away, have no right to say that!"
Yaze Kijou elbowed him hard in the chest, making him cough repeatedly.
"Heh... heh..."
Asagi let out a couple of dry, dejected laughs.
Why did her invitations never go smoothly?
Could it be she was under so kind of curse?
...
Outside the shop.
A young girl walked past the crowd.
Her tense expression radiated an aura that warned others to keep their distance, amplifying her cold, striking beauty.
Yet everyone passing by couldn't help but be stunned by her extraordinary appearance.
She was a slender girl whose features, compared to Asagi's neat and delicate ones, carried a star-like elegance and grace. Her porcelain-like fair skin was particularly striking.
She carried two instrunt cases.
One was slung over her shoulder, while the other was held in her hand.
As if carrying a sense of mission, her beautiful face never relaxed in the slightest. Anyone who tried to approach her retreated under her icy expression.
"This way?"
At the crossroads, she took out her phone.
After confirming the direction, she turned into a narrow alley nearby.
This should be a faster route to her destination.
She needed to complete the task quickly and leave this place.
She didn't want to breathe the air of this Demon Clan District for even a mont longer.
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