Yami Tsukishiro sat quietly in his office, still as a sculpture carved from shadow.
Through his shadow perception, every corner of the training grounds was laid bare before him.
His sharp, falcon-like gaze followed each student's movement with ruthless precision, missing nothing.
Unexpectedly—
Two figures slipped away from the training class like ghosts, their footsteps light and cautious as they made their way toward the office.
They weren't any of his three secretaries.
They were Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri.
"If you're not training," Yami Tsukishiro said calmly without even looking up, "why are you here?"
Utaha and Eriri exchanged a glance before circling the desk together. They moved to his side and, without hesitation, clung tightly to his arm.
Utaha leaned close to his ear, her voice low and intimate.
"Yami-kun… have you forgotten already?" she whispered. "We're your girlfriends, you know. You haven't pampered us at all lately."
Yami Tsukishiro let out a small sigh.
"I'm really sorry. Things inside and outside the academy have been piling up. I've been busy with trivial matters nonstop."
"It's fine, Yami-kun," Eriri said immediately, her tone unusually gentle. "I won't complain like someone else."
"…Huh?"
Utaha stared at her as if she'd just witnessed something impossible.
She pointed straight at Eriri without mercy.
"Eriri, isn't this different from what we agreed on just now?"
"Didn't we say we'd come together and punish Yami-kun? Why are you suddenly switching sides?"
Eriri raised her chin proudly, a smug glint in her eyes.
"Hmph. I'm not going to nag endlessly in front of Yami-kun. I'm not like you. Your heart is as unpredictable as the sea—how's Yami-kun supposed to understand you?"
"If you've got complaints, go cool off somewhere else and leave Yami-kun and me alone."
She even stuck her tongue out provocatively.
"Y-You—!"
Utaha nearly exploded with anger.
This hateful golden retriever—always pretending to be cute and innocent whenever Yami Tsukishiro was around!
Yami Tsukishiro narrowed his eyes slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
"So," he said slowly, "you two came here with your own little schemes… planning to punish me?"
"Uh—"
Utaha froze, suddenly realizing she'd exposed herself.
Yami Tsukishiro's gaze drifted casually across the office… and briefly to the space beneath his desk. A rather interesting image formed in his mind.
He chuckled.
"Well then, Utaha. Eriri. Since you came here with such intentions—don't blame me if I'm the one doing the punishing."
"Just don't blame me for it later."
"Eh…?"
Both girls froze, mouths slightly open.
Yami Tsukishiro's eyes flicked to their small, parted lips.
"The punishment begins," he said lightly. "You know what I mean."
At first, neither of them understood.
But the moment they noticed that angle—
They understood instantly.
"T-This—!!"
Eriri's face turned red like a ripe apple, as if it might burst at any second.
H-How could something like this happen?!
Utaha, already biting her lip, reached out instinctively—
"——!!"
Eriri completely froze.
Her eyes widened like bells.
Her mouth hung open, wide enough to fit an egg.
The scene she once drew… actually came true.
...
Bang.
Some time later.
The office door was knocked gently again.
"Come in," Yami Tsukishiro said, his voice calm and steady.
Yukinoshita Haruno entered gracefully, heels clicking softly against the floor. She closed the door neatly behind her, elegance in every motion.
"Haruno," Yami Tsukishiro asked, lifting his gaze, "what is it?"
Haruno brushed her hair back, a faint smile on her lips.
"Principal, Chabashira Sae has successfully unlocked her gene lock."
She stepped forward and placed a document on the desk.
Zuzuz—
Haruno's ears twitched slightly.
She'd heard… something.
A trace of curiosity flickered in her eyes.
"Oh?"
Yami Tsukishiro remained perfectly composed as he flipped through the document.
It detailed Chabashira Sae's awakened abilities.
**[Name]: Chabashira Sae
[Rank]: Level 0
[Race]: Human
[Gene-Locked Ability]: Electromagnetic Hand
[Grade]: D
[Description]:
The palms emit electromagnetic force, capable of attracting or repelling metallic objects, while carrying a limited electric current.**
Through shadow perception, Yami Tsukishiro casually cast his gaze toward the training grounds, where Chabashira Sae was practicing.
Electromagnetic force—one of the four fundamental forces of nature.
Even at D-rank, its potential was nothing to scoff at.
"Alright," Yami Tsukishiro said calmly. "I'll inform Mizuki of Sae-sensei's detailed abilities later."
"Anything else?"
Haruno's gaze swept the room like a radar, as if searching for something hidden.
"No," she replied immediately, straightening. "That's all."
Yet her eyes locked briefly onto the desk—sharp, curious, almost predatory.
With a polite bow and a knowing smile, she turned and left, closing the door gently behind her.
Just before it shut completely, she peeked back like a mischievous thief—her gaze lingering on that suspicious desk—before the door finally clicked shut.
As Haruno returned toward the training grounds, she noticed something odd.
Two students were missing.
A bold guess flashed through her mind like a spark.
"Oh my… our principal is impressive."
"Sister?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's calm voice pulled her back.
"The training session isn't over yet."
Haruno looked at Yukino's serious expression and smiled brightly.
"Mm-hm. I was just thinking about something very important for the future."
Yukino blinked, puzzled.
"…What kind of thing?"
"Hehe. Training, training."
Haruno waved it off mysteriously and said nothing more.
--
In the Principal's Office
Yami Tsukishiro sat behind his desk, smiling faintly as he lowered his head in thought.
"…Strange," he muttered. "Why did you suddenly become more active after Haruno came here?"
No one answered him.
Kasumigaoka Utaha merely glanced at Yami Tsukishiro with a complicated, almost resentful look—then silently continued cleaning, not saying a word.
Eriri, meanwhile, lifted her head and clenched the spherical shell-like storage chamber firmly between her lips, as if she were stubbornly competing with someone—refusing to admit defeat no matter what.
In truth, both of them understood something very clearly.
Even while they were exhausted to the point of irritation, Yami Tsukishiro could still speak to Haruno calmly, without the slightest change in expression.
That fact alone said everything.
"…I see."
Yami Tsukishiro shook his head helplessly.
"If you're all this energetic," he said mildly, "then I suppose I'll have to work harder too."
With a casual motion, shadows surged silently—
Sealing the entire office tightly.
...
The sun dipped low, its afterglow stretching across the academy roads.
Eriri and Utaha dragged their tired bodies toward the dormitory, steps slow and uneven.
Just as they reached the entrance—
A figure appeared in front of them.
It was Yukinoshita Haruno.
She looked as though she had been waiting there deliberately.
Her gaze swept over the two of them with thinly veiled curiosity.
"Eriri, Utaha," Haruno said lightly, smiling.
"Where did you go this afternoon? You didn't attend training."
Her eyes moved back and forth between them, sharp and inquisitive, as though she were trying to uncover a hidden secret.
Eriri answered quickly, a little too quickly.
"The principal gave us a special assignment."
As she spoke, she unconsciously raised a hand to cover her slightly flushed cheeks.
"Oh?"
Haruno lifted an eyebrow, interest clearly growing.
"A special assignment? And how did it go?"
"Judging by the way you look… you seem exhausted."
"…It went fine."
Eriri lowered her head, her voice so soft it was barely audible.
After all, she'd kept her mouth busy for far too long—of course it hurt.
Utaha immediately grabbed Eriri's hand, cutting in urgently.
"The mission is complete. We really need rest right now—sorry."
Without giving Haruno a chance to say more, she dragged Eriri straight into the dormitory building.
As they disappeared inside, Utaha felt an uneasy sensation linger in her chest.
Haruno's gaze—
It felt like she knew something.
That smile was far too knowing.
As if she understood something Utaha herself hadn't fully realized yet.
"…Mm."
Haruno watched their retreating figures—awkward, stiff, and unmistakably suspicious.
Leaning casually against the dormitory door, she tilted her head in thought.
"Hehe."
A playful smile slowly curled at the corner of her lips.
"So my guess was right after all."
In an academy far removed from the outside world, it seemed—
One intriguing story after another was about to unfold.
And she was very much looking forward to it.
Like watching a captivating drama, one episode at a time.
...
By the Seaside
Mist drifted lazily over the shoreline.
Luxury ocean-view villas stood quietly beneath the fading light.
After finishing a rather entertaining office "game,"
Yami Tsukishiro returned to his villa.
The moment he entered, he saw Hayasaka Ai arranging a lavish dinner on the table with practiced efficiency.
"Please enjoy your meal, my master."
Her voice was gentle, polite, and perfectly controlled.
Under Shinomiya Kaguya's firm insistence, Hayasaka Ai had voluntarily come here to serve as Yami Tsukishiro's personal maid.
Yami Tsukishiro didn't fully understand the reasoning—
But honestly?
A beautiful maid working for free wasn't exactly something to refuse.
After a moment's thought, he asked casually:
"Hayasaka… is it okay if I call you that?"
"You may call me anything you like, My master."
Hayasaka nodded calmly, her expression serene and unreadable.
Hearing this, Yami Tsukishiro frowned slightly.
The title my master—or master—still felt oddly uncomfortable.
"Don't call me 'my master,'" he said. "It sounds strange."
Hayasaka glanced at him, clearly thinking.
After a brief pause, she spoke again.
"Then… how about 'Master'?"
"…That's worse."
No.
Actually...
That was exactly what a maid should say.
"…Fine."
Yami Tsukishiro accepted it.
Satisfied.
Then another thought struck him.
"You were originally Kaguya's maid. Does it really not matter that you're taking care of me now? Won't this affect your original duties?"
Hayasaka shook her head gently.
"It's fine, Master. This is the eldest lady's decision."
"I will carry out my duties to the best of my ability."
"Please enjoy your dinner."
"…Alright. Let's eat together."
Yami Tsukishiro gestured for her to sit.
Hayasaka did not refuse and took her seat obediently.
During the meal, Yami Tsukishiro found himself quietly observing her.
Every movement was elegant.
Every gesture precise.
She was clearly trained to perfection.
A beautiful maid—masked, controlled, and impossible to read.
Unbeknownst to him—
Shinomiya Kaguya had her own carefully crafted plan.
By sending Hayasaka Ai, she intended to gather information—Yami Tsukishiro's habits, preferences, interests.
All for her meticulously prepared "Good Friend Plan."
To Kaguya, this plan was crucial.
She genuinely wanted to build a closer relationship with Yami Tsukishiro.
What she hadn't anticipated—
Was Hayasaka's perspective.
From Hayasaka Ai's point of view, this was no longer a Good Friend Plan.
It had already evolved into a full-blown Love-Brain Plan.
More and more clearly, Hayasaka could see it—
Miss Kaguya was paying far too much attention to Yami Tsukishiro.
That icy, untouchable "Ice Princess" image was slowly melting away.
And what replaced it—
Was a normal girl, filled with uncertainty, emotion, and anticipation.
Hayasaka wasn't surprised.
In fact—
She was happy to see it.
Objectively speaking, Yami Tsukishiro was exceptional.
His talent and character were so outstanding that one could even argue—
He was more than worthy of the eldest lady.
And considering his unknown, special background…
This relationship would undoubtedly benefit both sides.
Miss Kaguya could finally escape her brother's suffocating supervision.
She could gain freedom.
Space.
And Hayasaka herself?
She might finally free herself from endless restraints.
I'll support this with everything I have.
That—
Was the truest voice of Hayasaka Ai.
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