"This is a private matter between Associate Special Class Amaha and myself. Even if it's for research, please mind your boundaries, Takatsuki-san."
Akira said with a calm expression.
"Sorry, sorry. I got too familiar too quickly."
Eto apologized with a smile.
"No... there's no need to apologize..."
The directness of the apology actually made Akira feel a bit awkward.
"So would Amaha-san and Investigator-san be interested in joining me for a drink? To be honest, I'd like to gather some material—but of course, I'll mind my boundaries."
Eto extended the invitation to Byakuya and Akira.
"...Alright."
Akira agreed.
...
Eto led Byakuya and Akira to a café in Ward 20.
Naturally, it wasn't the one run by Yoshimura.
Otherwise, Akira's keen instincts would easily detect something amiss.
The three of them sat in a corner.
"Let's order first."
Eto picked up the menu. "Hmm— I really should get a couple's set~"
Hearing this, Akira spoke up. "There's no need for Takatsuki-san to order for us."
"What do you mean? I'm ordering this couple's set for myself."
Eto replied.
"...Hm?"
Akira was momentarily taken aback.
Clearly, she'd misunderstood.
She had assumed Takatsuki-san was ordering the couple's set for her and Byakuya. She hadn't expected that wasn't the case at all.
Though this wasn't her fault—anyone would naturally assume the same.
But there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Akira took the menu and ordered normally.
Since she always watched her diet to maintain her figure, she only ordered a cup of coffee. She didn't consider any desserts.
Then, just as Akira was about to pass the menu to Byakuya, she heard Eto speak. "No need to give it to him. I've already ordered for him."
"Alright."
Akira didn't think much of it and nodded, handing the menu to the server beside them.
"..."
Byakuya, on the other hand, had already figured it out—Eto was having fun at their expense again.
Before the server brought their orders, the three began chatting.
"Come to think of it, we've met several times now, but I still don't know your name, Investigator-san. Would you mind telling me?"
Eto asked first.
"Akira Mado."
Akira answered. "You can just call me Akira."
"Alright then, Akira-san."
Eto immediately said.
"Let me introduce myself as well. Akira-san probably knows Takatsuki Sen is just my pen name. My real name is Eto Yoshimura."
Eto introduced herself.
Though she normally wouldn't reveal her real name to outsiders, this was Akira Mado. She trusted her well enough.
The reason was simple—Akira was close to Byakuya.
Akira nodded slightly. "Yoshimura-san."
"It would be even better if you could call me Eto."
Eto said with a smile.
"That works too, Eto-san."
Akira said.
"Mm-hmm~"
Eto hummed in acknowledgment.
This wasn't just because "Eto-san" sounded more familiar than "Yoshimura-san"—it also avoided accidentally revealing the Yoshimura surname in front of others.
Then Eto confirmed, "So Akira-san and Amaha-san are in the kind of relationship I witnessed earlier, right?"
"Mm."
Akira responded with an expressionless murmur.
Though they hadn't officially confirmed their relationship, in front of Takatsuki Sen, she felt it was fine to simply acknowledge it.
Besides... they'd done that more than once. Whether or not things were officially confirmed wasn't really the point anymore...
"I see..."
Eto nodded. "So have Amaha-san and Akira-san made your relationship public within CCG? Or are you just dating privately, with only a few colleagues knowing?"
After speaking, she quickly added, "By the way, I'm not sure what counts as crossing a line. If I accidentally offend, please just tell me and I'll correct myself immediately."
"..."
Akira hadn't really wanted to answer questions that touched on privacy, but hearing Eto speak so sincerely, she relented. "We haven't made it public. The colleagues who know about this probably don't even amount to 'a few.'"
"I see. Understood."
Eto said.
Without her notebook on hand, she simply committed it to memory.
...
Shortly after, the server arrived with their orders.
A couple's set, plus the coffee Akira had ordered separately.
The couple's set was similar to what Byakuya and Eto had shared before.
A large couple's cup, along with some desserts.
Eto mainly wanted to eat the desserts.
"Where's Amaha's order? Hasn't it arrived yet?"
Seeing only the couple's set and her own coffee, Akira asked.
She probably assumed Eto's couple's set was for herself alone, and thus thought Byakuya's order hadn't come yet.
"This is everything you ordered, ma'am."
The server spoke up.
"Is that so...?"
Akira didn't immediately grasp the situation.
It wasn't until Eto casually placed the large couple's cup in the center of the table—with her and Byakuya sitting across from each other, both within reach—that things became clear.
Two straws faced opposite directions.
Seeing this, Akira finally realized something was wrong. "Wait, don't tell me... this couple's set is for you and him together?"
"Yes, that's why I said I ordered for him earlier."
Eto nodded with a smile.
As if she were simply doing something completely normal—making it seem like Akira was the one overreacting.
"No, wait..."
Akira found herself momentarily confused.
If this couple's set was for Eto and Byakuya, then what was she supposed to be...?
Hadn't the other woman already learned about her relationship with Byakuya?
"..."
Meanwhile, Byakuya, sitting beside them, found himself unable to get a word in.
Because Eto had deliberately been engaging only with Akira the entire time.
"Is Akira-san finding this strange? Even though I already know about your relationship with Amaha-san, I still ordered a couple's set for him?"
Eto asked pleasantly.
"..."
Akira remained silent—which was as good as confirmation.
"Actually... to be honest, I'm quite fond of Amaha-san as well."
Eto rested her chin on her interlaced fingers, a composed smile on her face as she spoke casually. "So I'm your rival, Akira-san~"
...
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