Chapter 452: Sora is Caught, and Teacher Hiratsuka's Remark
Kasugano Sora and Aoandon were lost in a pleasant conversation, their voices soft in the quiet ambiance of the restaurant. Sora, in particular, was utterly captivated. The strange tales and folklore she had cherished since childhood were unfolding before her, not as ink on a page, but as living stories embodied by a group of impossibly handsome men and beautiful women.
Suddenly, the chime of the front door interrupted them, followed by a new set of voices.
"Whoa... Shion, it's a real restaurant! And just like you said, no sign at all!"
A lazy, drawling voice replied, "Of course it is. Now hurry up, hurry up. What are you two lagging for? Even Mashiro is walking faster than you."
Shiina Mashiro, who had already stepped inside, tilted her head, her curious gaze sweeping the room. "Are Cerberus and Sora in here?" she asked, her voice as soft and direct as ever.
Lucifer, having changed into a fresh set of clothes, descended the stairs with a slight frown creasing her brow. "Hm? Something's not right," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "Why haven't Mana and the others returned yet? Just how big of a place are they planning to build? It's taking far too long."
Just as Sora was about to reply, the door swung fully open, revealing the newcomers. Everyone's attention shifted. Sōryūin Shion stood there with a languid posture, flanked by Soryuin Akemi and two other women. Without a word, Shiina Mashiro and Akemi made a beeline for Kasugano Sora's table.
But as they drew closer, their eyes fell upon Aoandon, and they froze mid-stride. A beat of stunned silence passed, and then...
"Kirari?" two voices cried out in unison.
"Kirari-nee, you cosplay too!" Akemi exclaimed, her initial shock quickly morphing into excitement.
Shiina Mashiro simply sat down beside Kasugano Sora, her gaze fixed on Aoandon. A familiar spark ignited in her eyes, the kind that always preceded the frantic need to capture a moment on paper. The scene felt like something straight out of an anime she had once watched, and an inexplicable urge to draw washed over her.
Lucifer offered a graceful smile. "She isn't Kirari, though I admit the resemblance is striking. Allow me to introduce you. This is Aoandon."
"Aoandon?!" four voices echoed through the restaurant, a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Huh?" Mashiro added, blinking slowly.
Apparently, the name carried significant weight. Lucifer's smile widened. "It's merely a coincidence of names, you're all thinking too much. However," she added, a playful glint in her eyes, "she did indulge in a bit of cosplay. Her lamp is right over there."
All eyes followed her gesture to an exquisitely crafted paper lantern resting nearby. A collective sigh of relief seemed to pass through the group. The lantern was beautiful, almost delicate, radiating a sense of girlish charm rather than any sinister, otherworldly aura. It didn't look like the prop of a fearsome yokai at all.
Only then did the two newcomers, who had been hanging back, take in their surroundings. One of them, a woman with a mature and assertive air, let out a low grunt of approval. "Hmph! This place isn't just big, it's also spotless. And... something smells incredible."
The other woman, an art teacher by the name of Sengoku Chihiro, nodded in agreement. "So a place like this really exists! It's wonderful that it's so unknown!"
"Why's that?" her companion, Hiratsuka-sensei, asked.
"If a restaurant with this kind of character got crowded, it would feel all wrong," Chihiro explained. "The entire atmosphere would be ruined!"
Lucifer's smile was warm. "This young lady certainly understands."
Sengoku Chihiro returned the smile. "Well, I was an art student. A bit of artistic flair is to be expected. By the way, you are...?"
"Lucifer."
The name hung in the air for a moment, and several pairs of eyes instinctively flickered toward Shiina Mashiro. Lucifer paused, then chuckled as she made the connection. "Ah, you must be little Mashiro. You're just as cute as I imagined."
Mashiro gave a small, solemn nod.
"Shion, is this your sister?" Sengoku Chihiro asked, her expression softening. "She's very beautiful."
"Thank you for the compliment," Lucifer replied on Shion's behalf.
Sōryūin Shion interjected casually, "Don't let Lucifer's relaxed demeanor fool you. She's actually a CEO, and not of some small-time company, either."
"That explains the aura she has," Chihiro mused. "I'm getting more and more curious about what kind of person your fiancé is, Shion... Oh, speaking of which, Sora, why aren't you greeting your teacher? Hey, where do you think you're going?"
Kasugano Sora, who had been attempting a stealthy retreat, froze mid-slouch. Her face went completely pale as she propped herself up on the table, her escape plan shattered. She never, in her wildest nightmares, imagined that the 'senior' Sōryūin Akemi had mentioned they were visiting today was her own teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka.
The moment she had laid eyes on her, Sora's mind had gone blank. Hiratsuka-sensei was one of the few teachers who paid close attention to her at school, and the sudden, unexpected meeting left her completely flustered.
Sora managed a weak, trembling chuckle. "Um... uh... G-Good evening, Hiratsuka-sensei..."
"Hmph! So, what are you doing here, you little rascal?" Hiratsuka's voice was stern, but her eyes held a spark of curiosity.
Sora's voice was barely a whisper. "Um... this is... my home..."
Hiratsuka tilted her head, a single eyebrow arching high on her forehead. She stared for a long moment before her eyes widened in dawning, incredulous realization. "So the 'little Sora' they were talking about is you! You!"
"Uh... hmm... Hiratsuka-sensei... So Sister Shion's senior was you all along... Ahaha..." Sora's laugh was brittle.
Lucifer, observing the exchange with amusement, chimed in. "Oh, so this is the lively Japanese language teacher you mentioned before, Sora?"
Hiratsuka's head snapped toward her. "Is that how Kasugano described me?"
Lucifer simply nodded.
A slow grin spread across Hiratsuka's face. "You pass. By the way, have you finished your homework?"
Sora shrank in on herself, whispering, "Hiratsuka-sensei... isn't homework something you're supposed to save for the very last night?"
The words hung in the air. Hiratsuka-sensei froze, her expression unreadable. Then, she began to walk slowly, deliberately, toward Kasugano Sora. Sora stiffened, bracing for a lecture, a scolding, anything.
The next moment, she was completely bewildered.
A hand landed firmly on her shoulder, patting it with surprising force. "Well said!" Hiratsuka declared, her voice booming with pride. "As expected of my student!"
The entire room fell silent. Everyone, from Aoandon to Shiina Mashiro, stared in stunned disbelief. Even in Aoandon's world, which had its own private schools and academies, this was... was this really something a teacher should be proud of? Though, she had to admit, it certainly made her seem more approachable.
Hiratsuka continued casually, "As long as your grades are good and you get your assignments done, you should play when you want to play. Why live such a tiring life?"
Kasugano Sora nodded vigorously, her relief evident.
A satisfied smile on her face, Hiratsuka turned to Shion. "So, where is this luxurious, supreme fiancé of yours? I don't see him around."
Lucifer, who had taken a seat to the side, answered nonchalantly. "He's upstairs showering. I think he was tidying up the bookshelf just before that."
Sōryūin Shion smiled. "That's just like him. carefully clean as always. By the way, where's Cerberus?"
At the mention of Cerberus, Shiina Mashiro's head perked up.
Lucifer sighed, a hint of helplessness in her tone. "They went to check on the construction site today. It seems they just finished and are on their way back now."
"As expected of Cerberus," Akemi said. "You two are really amazing."
"Me? How am I amazing?" Lucifer asked, genuinely confused.
Sōryūin Shion replied with a touch of irritation, "You and Cerberus both wear those knee-high boots every single day and walk around like it's nothing. Your feet never hurt. Cerberus is even more incredible; she can run and jump in them without any problem at all."
Lucifer considered this for a moment. "I don't really feel anything. Oh, speaking of which, where's Pandora? Why isn't she here either?"
"Sister Pandora said she's writing something," Akemi piped up. "She'll be down in a bit!"
"Eh? Is that so..." Lucifer's brow furrowed. "Eh?! Didn't she say she was on vacation? What could she possibly be writing?"
"I don't know."
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