Chapter 450: And So, Another Bizarre Competition Begins
Hiratsuka Shizuka and Sengoku Chihiro lingered over their coffee long after their lunch plates had been cleared away. They only stirred when a glance at the clock told them it was nearly time to meet the others. As they stepped out of the cafe, they were greeted by the sight of Soryuin Akemi and Shiina Mashiro jogging toward them.
Shizuka blinked, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "Hm? Mashiro, Akemi, what are you two doing here?"
Sengoku Chihiro's surprise was even greater. "What's shocking me is... Mashiro, you're actually outside! Wait a second... is that a gym bag in your hand?"
Shiina Mashiro glanced down at the duffel bag she was holding, gave a small nod, and said nothing more. The confirmation was enough for Chihiro, who immediately darted over to Akemi's side and gave her an appreciative pat on the head.
"Oh, I knew it!" Chihiro beamed. "I knew leaving Mashiro with Shion's family would be the right call! You did great, Akemi!"
Though the phrasing felt a little odd, Soryuin Akemi puffed out her chest with pride. "Mhm! You can rest easy and leave Mashiro to me!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka let out a soft sigh. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. When did you two even go to the gym?"
"This morning!" Akemi answered brightly.
"You worked out for the entire day?!"
Akemi quickly shook her head. "No, no, just the morning. We went shopping this afternoon. My sister said it would be more fun if we all went to the shop together, so she told us to meet her first!"
Shizuka's expression softened into one of helpless fondness. "Ah... that really is her style. We got the same message. Shion is as willful as ever."
Akemi tilted her head, considering this. "No, I don't think so," she said. "I think she's getting even more willful..."
"Eh? What do you mean?" Shizuka and Chihiro asked in unison.
Akemi thought for a moment before explaining. "It's probably because she's with Ren-nii now. Maybe... maybe it's because she doesn't dare act like this in front of him. My sister is always on her best behavior when Ren-nii is around."
Shizuka propped her forehead against her hand. "That idiot Shion... she really knows how to make a person jealous. Forget it, let's just go find her."
"Oh... Jing-nee, aren't you driving?" Akemi asked.
Sengoku Chihiro let out a hearty laugh. "We had barbecue and a few drinks for lunch, so we didn't drive here, hahaha!"
"I'm honestly impressed by you two..." Akemi muttered, shaking her head. "Mashiro, let's go find my sister!"
Meanwhile, across town at Royal Sakura University, Soryuin Shion was draped over a chair in the Student Council office. "Kirukiru," she whined, her voice thick with exaggerated lethargy. "Why do I feel so tired? Is it the pressure of work getting to me?"
She paused, pouting when she received no reply. "Nee, Kirukiru, why aren't you talking?"
Another moment of silence passed. "Kirukiru, you... hmm?"
Shion had long since finished her own duties and, out of sheer boredom, had migrated to Amou Kirukiru's office to pester her. Just as her whining reached a crescendo, Kirukiru's hand blurred. With a faint shink, a perfectly clean, impossibly smooth slice separated the cap from the glass juice bottle Shion was holding.
A smug grin spread across Shion's face. She calmly reached for a nearby cup, poured her drink, and took a sip. "See, Kirukiru? I told you you'd help me open it."
Kirukiru didn't even look up from her paperwork. "Shion, when are you going to be this bold in front of Ren?"
The smugness vanished from Shion's expression as if it had never been there. She hugged the cup to her chest, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I want to... but..."
"And that's why you only dare to sneak a cigarette when he's not around."
"I'm already quitting..." Shion mumbled, her defense weak.
"I heard you say that a year ago."
Shion had no retort. She fell completely silent, retreating into herself as she quietly sipped her beverage. A long while later, Amou Kirukiru finally tossed her pen aside with a clatter and leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head.
"Finished with your work?" Shion asked, her voice returning to its normal, teasing tone.
"It was just a collection of small matters," Kirukiru replied. "The problem was the sheer number of them."
"Normal, normal," Shion said with a dismissive wave. "This is a university, after all. And my Koyo Academy is a complete one, so of course there's a lot to do."
"Speaking of which, you're really something else," Kirukiru remarked, a rare note of something resembling admiration in her voice. "You actually managed to build this place into one of the top schools in the country. That's impressive."
Shion's smile widened. "It's truly a rare occasion to hear you praise someone. Is it because we're sisters?"
Kirukiru's eye twitched. "Indeed," she said flatly. "That hand chop should have landed on your neck."
"I heard you say that two years ago, too."
"Tsk..."
Just as their idle banter was winding down, the office door swung open. Soryuin Akemi stood in the doorway, her mouth twitching as she took in the scene: one woman drinking juice while scrolling on her phone, the other sipping coffee while flipping through a magazine. It was exactly as she had pictured.
"Sister, we're here."
Shion nodded, stretching languidly. "Kirukiru, let's go. If you don't get moving now, I'm leaving you here to handle the overtime."
Amou Kirukiru's mouth twitched again. "You really are..."
When they stepped out into the hallway, they found Hiratsuka Shizuka and Sengoku Chihiro standing by a large window, gazing down at the students milling about on the campus grounds below.
"Senpai, you two should stop reminiscing," Shion called out, her tone blunt. "There's nothing worth talking about from your university days, is there?"
Both Shizuka and Chihiro felt their own mouths twitch in perfect sync. Good heavens, this was it. This was the unfiltered, sharp-tongued Shion they knew. Without another word, the group fell into step and headed for the exit, with Shiina Mashiro trailing just behind, her eyes taking in her new surroundings with a quiet, absorbing curiosity.
"Eh? So, Jing-nee, you met a super handsome guy?" Akemi asked as they walked.
"Yes, yes!" Shizuka confirmed, her voice buzzing with excitement.
Shion offered a casual, "Well, congratulations, then."
"Shion! Aren't you the least bit excited for me?!"
"I am, after all, an engaged woman," Shion replied, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Why would I be excited? Besides, no matter how handsome he is, he can't possibly be as handsome as my man. Why would I pay any attention?"
Shizuka shot her a look. "Shion, when you say 'handsome,' do you mean handsome by a normal woman's standards, or by your family's standards?"
"What's the difference?"
"The difference," Shizuka said dryly, "is that I don't think many women find those big, bulky, bodybuilder-type muscles to be handsome."
Shion looked genuinely confused. "When did I ever say Ren had that kind of physique? Ren's physique is like a work of art. In short, it's not bulky at all; in fact, he looks almost slender when he's wearing clothes."
"Eh? Really?" Chihiro chimed in, surprised. "You'd be interested in someone like that?"
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you," Shion said with a decisive shake of her head. "The point is, when it comes to being handsome, I don't think any man on earth is more handsome than Ren."
"Hmph," Shizuka huffed, crossing her arms. "The one I met today is definitely more handsome!"
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