Chapter 271: Akemi Ignites, Kasugano Sora's Approval
Coffee is inherently bitter. Black coffee, in particular, can carry a faint, acidic sourness. Served hot, it might be palatable, but iced? That wasn't just bitter; it was a punishment.
Ren had never been particularly fond of coffee, though he didn't dislike it either. It was, after all, a mellow beverage. With a bit of sugar and milk, the bitterness transformed into a pleasant counterpoint to the sweetness, creating a smooth and rich experience.
However, he wasn't a fan of drinking it black. A touch of sweetness simply made everything better.
But Kirari had specifically requested a single cup of iced coffee and only one straw. It was clear she had planned this from the start. One could only imagine the look on Soryuin Shion's face when she realized that losing a cup of coffee meant losing far more than just the drink itself. That would surely be a sight to behold.
Ren glanced at Kirari, who was clinging to his arm, and felt no desire to pull away. As he had always maintained, he wasn't one to play coy. Kirari had consistently and openly referred to herself as his future woman, so why bother with pointless avoidance?
While this little training session was unfolding on his side, Kasugano Sora felt as though she had been thoroughly duped. Well, not entirely. By now, she had already met Sakura Hibiki and her two friends.
The three of them only needed to pass their exams to get by. With the Royal Sakura University department waiting for them, they weren't the least bit worried about their grades. Consequently, they chose to spend their free periods at the gym, especially since the school reimbursed the fees.
Sakura Hibiki and the others had agreed to meet at the school and walk to the gym together. It saved them the trouble of coordinating a meeting spot, and more, it gave Hibiki a chance to grab a snack along the way.
However, when the trio saw Soryuin Akemi emerge from the school building with a reluctant Kasugano Sora in tow, their eyes lit up.
"Eh?" Ayaka Uehara said, her voice filled with pleasant surprise. "Akemi, is this little one your sister?"
After Soryuin Akemi made the introductions, Sakura Hibiki and the others fixed their gazes on Kasugano Sora with the kind of intense curiosity one might reserve for a rare, delicate doll.
Kasugano Sora leaned in and whispered to Akemi, "Is... is the gym far from here?"
"About the same distance as the walk we just took..."
"Ah?!"
Akemi's lips curved into a slight smile. "Twice as far, actually."
The words struck Kasugano Sora like a bolt of lightning, freezing her in place. For a moment, she had no idea who she was, where she was, or what she had just endured.
Though her body had recovered, her mind was still conditioned by years of frailty. But as the sunlight warmed her skin without the familiar stinging sensation, a small sigh of relief escaped her lips.
Gina Boyd looked at the pale girl with a kind smile. "It'll go by in a flash! Think of it as a warm-up! Besides, it'll give Hibiki a chance to satisfy her pre-workout appetite."
Sakura Hibiki grumbled, "Gina, I think it's because the tempura this morning wasn't as good as Ren's. That's why I didn't eat much."
Gina sighed, patting her friend's shoulder. "First, you still ate all of it. Second, Ren has never made tempura for us. And finally, I absolutely believe you when you say it wasn't as delicious as something Ren would make."
"Then that settles it! Let's go, let's go! I'm practically starving!" Hibiki declared, her energy renewed.
Kasugano Sora looked on with a hesitant expression. "Eating... eating what, exactly?"
Soryuin Akemi grinned. "If Hibiki's eating, it'll probably be things like cola, hamburgers, fries, fried chicken, hot dogs... you know the type."
Hearing the list, Sora's eyes widened for a moment. She looked at the perpetually hungry Sakura Hibiki and gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. It seemed this person was easy to get along with after all. Hibiki, for her part, had no idea she had just won major points in Sora's book simply by being a connoisseur of fast food.
As it turned out, Sora's assessment was correct. Sakura Hibiki was a true professional when it came to eating. She even ordered Sora a combo that was relatively healthy but still undeniably delicious.
Munching on the chicken wrap in her hand and taking a sip of cola, Kasugano Sora watched the girl across from her devour a hamburger with gusto. She decided then and there that this Hibiki was a good person. A very promising person.
Ayaka, holding a glass of milk, looked thoughtful. "I seem to recall Ren saying he was going to the gym today. If that's the case, I wonder if he'll run into Machio?"
At the mention of that name, both Soryuin Akemi and Sakura Hibiki paused mid-bite. A beat of silence passed before Kasugano Sora asked timidly, "Eh? Who is... Machio?"
Akemi slammed her hand on the table, her eyes blazing with a sudden, fervent light. "This is going to be incredible! Ren's perfect physique against Machio's terrifying muscles! This... this is..."
Kasugano Sora leaned forward to get a better look at Akemi's face, then immediately recoiled, shuffling closer to Ayaka for safety. The expression on Akemi's face was something else entirely—a wide, predatory grin stretched across her face, her eyes gleaming with a manic light straight out of a horror manga.
"Wow, I'm so looking forward to this! A clash of titans! A truly rare spectacle! Alright! It's decided!" Akemi shot to her feet, pointing dramatically. "For the sake of muscles! Eat faster! Hibiki! Sora!"
"Ah? Oh... but this feels a little weird..." Hibiki mumbled, her mouth full.
"Hey! Akemi! This is a restaurant! And Sora is right here!" Ayaka hissed, trying to pull her friend back down.
But Soryuin Akemi was beyond reason. Her mind was completely consumed by the glorious image she had just conjured, and she was vibrating with excitement.
In the end, swept up by Akemi's abnormal state, everyone began to eat much faster. Their motivations were threefold: one, to fulfill Akemi's bizarre wish; two, a genuine curiosity to see the spectacle for themselves; and three, the most crucial reason of all... the sheer second-hand embarrassment was overwhelming.
Even the normally slow and deliberate Kasugano Sora was practically inhaling her food, a proof of just how mortifying Akemi's public display had become.
Finishing her wrap, Sora let out a quiet sigh. 'I really don't know what else is going to happen today... I have a feeling I've been completely tricked by Big Brother Ren...'
"Sora! Hurry and catch up!"
"Oh..."
Meanwhile, Courage was cruising down the road in a car she had acquired from who-knows-where, heading unhurriedly toward the Totsuki Resort. Lucifer, sitting in the passenger seat, asked curiously, "So, Courage, where did you get this car?"
Courage kept her eyes on the road, a confident smile playing on her lips. "This one? It's a Totsuki vehicle. All my personal cars are overseas. This one's not bad, though. Still, driving a sports car is way more fun."
"A sports car?"
"That's right. Don't they say a sports car is the perfect accessory for a beautiful woman? You can even add a pet dog to the mix. Speeding down the highway... just thinking about it feels amazing."
"Speeding?!"
From the back seat, Cerberus's ears perked up, its head tilting. The canine mind had clearly latched onto a keyword, its imagination filling with visions of open roads and rushing wind. A dog's fascination with vehicles was a strange and powerful thing.
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