"We're talking about Byakuya."
Eto replied with a light smile.
"Huh? About Byakuya-senpai?"
Hairu's interest was immediately piqued. "Let me listen too."
"No problem. We were just discussing the organization your Byakuya-senpai founded."
"What organization?"
"Akatsuki. Though all the members besides Byakuya are ghouls, so it's basically a ghoul organization."
"Eh? But isn't that the same as Akira-san's name?"
Hairu exclaimed in surprise.
"That's right. When I asked him about it before, he denied it had anything to do with Akira-san, but with such a coincidence, who knows if he was just too embarrassed to admit it?"
Eto was practically stirring up chaos deliberately.
She knew perfectly well that Byakuya's Akatsuki organization probably had nothing to do with Mado Akira. But she brought up the topic with Akira and Hairu anyway.
Of course, this wasn't to toy with Akira—quite the opposite...
She felt that letting Akira know about this could significantly boost her romantic progress.
"So Byakuya-senpai cares that much about Akira-san...?"
Hairu couldn't help but be surprised.
"Speaking of which, Ihei-san... I believe it's Ihei, right? I don't know your full name yet."
Eto asked.
"Hairu Ihei. You can just call me Hairu."
Hairu replied.
"Oh, then I'll call you Hairu-chan. But don't you like Byakuya? You don't seem to have much of a reaction?"
Eto asked, somewhat surprised.
She'd expected Hairu to be shaken upon hearing about "Akatsuki," but her reaction was much calmer than Akira's.
"You mean about Byakuya-senpai caring so much about Akira-san? I don't think it's a big deal. I'm not planning to compete with anyone anyway. As long as Byakuya-senpai still has me in his heart, that's enough."
Hairu seemed quite zen about it, wearing a serene, uncompetitive smile.
Besides, she'd long known about Akira's feelings for Byakuya, so she wasn't particularly surprised.
"...You're so pure and adorable!"
Eto found Hairu incredibly cute. "If that guy ever dares abandon such an adorable Hairu-chan, I definitely won't forgive him!"
"Still chatting? We should get going."
Byakuya called out to them.
"Nothing important. Let's go."
Eto quickly caught up with Byakuya.
In truth, with Byakuya's hearing, he could certainly hear everything. He was just pretending not to for now—business first.
...
The fastest way to Ward 24 was, of course, Mangekyo Kamui's teleportation ability.
Unlike Eto and Hairu, Akira was entering the Kamui dimension for the first time.
"What is this place?"
She looked around the unfamiliar environment.
"Byakuya mentioned it's his personal dimension, separate from our reality. I don't know the specifics either."
Eto explained.
"I see..."
Akira didn't press further.
They then entered another spatial portal Byakuya opened.
This time, they emerged directly at Ward 24's entrance.
As they ventured deeper into Ward 24, Akira couldn't help but dwell on the Akatsuki organization Eto had mentioned.
They were following behind Byakuya, with Eto walking right beside Akira.
Akira quietly asked Eto, "About that Akatsuki organization you mentioned earlier—what's the story?"
"Oh~? So Akira-san really is curious, since it's exactly like your name."
Eto smiled. "As for the details, I think you should ask Byakuya. He founded Akatsuki, and I don't know much myself."
"..."
Akira fell silent.
Meanwhile, Byakuya could naturally hear what Eto and Akira were whispering about.
He'd thought the matter would simply pass, but then Akira suddenly said, "I understand."
Then... she strode up to Byakuya.
"I heard from Eto-san. You founded an organization called 'Akatsuki,' and it's a ghoul organization no less... What's with that name?"
Akira asked directly.
She wasn't the type to get easily embarrassed. When she truly wanted to know something, she could ask straightforwardly.
Byakuya wasn't entirely sure which aspect Akira was concerned about.
On one hand, as an investigator, he'd founded a ghoul organization—and its name happened to match hers...
On the other hand, there was what Eto had suggested before—naming something after one's beloved.
Not wanting to brush her off or lie, Byakuya explained honestly. "It's actually a coincidence. The name 'Akatsuki' symbolizes light and hope. I chose it for that meaning, not because of your name..."
Hearing Byakuya answer so bluntly, Eto became anxious and frantically signaled him with her eyes.
This guy!
Truth-telling depends on the situation!
Can't he even say sweet words?
Is that what Akira-san wants to hear?!
Eto could already see a hint of disappointment deep in Akira's eyes.
But thinking about it further... this guy attracted women so easily without sweet-talking. If he became more charming, wouldn't that be even worse...?
On second thought, Eto decided maybe he was better off this way...
Still, right now, she hoped Byakuya would pick up on her signals.
In fact, Byakuya hadn't paid attention to Eto's eye signals. He continued speaking honestly to Akira. "But I unquestionably care for you, Akira. These feelings don't need an organization's name to prove them."
Hearing this, Akira's pupils contracted slightly, her eyes clearly moved by his words.
Even Eto was surprised.
Oh! So he does have some game~
...
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