Shuchiin Academy, in a certain corner.
Upon seeing Hayasaka Ai's figure, Kaguya Shinomiya's vermilion eyes suddenly lit up.
She hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed Hayasaka Ai's arm, her anxiety tinged with a hint of anticipation.
"How was it? How was it?"
Hayasaka Ai looked at Kaguya Shinomiya, who was drifting further and further away from her ice-queen persona, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.
Then she shook her head and nodded.
"?"
Kaguya Shinomiya froze, "What does that mean?"
Hayasaka Ai said with a calm expression, "Club President Lynn has absolutely no intention of taking revenge on you~."
"?"
Kaguya Shinomiya looked confused, "He's that easy to talk to?"
She frowned, then scanned Hayasaka Ai from head to toe, "Hayasaka, you..."
"You didn't actually use a honey trap, did you?"
Hayasaka Ai rolled her eyes very subtly, "No."
"Phew..."
Hearing this, Kaguya Shinomiya breathed a sigh of relief, and the furrow in her brow relaxed.
Although she had said that before.
But she only had Hayasaka as a close person, so naturally, she couldn't let her make a sacrifice for her.
Seeing Kaguya Shinomiya's reaction, Hayasaka Ai pursed her lips, feeling moved yet conflicted.
What moved her was that the relationship she and Kaguya had built over so many years wasn't fake.
What was complicated was that Kaguya Shinomiya's surname was the culprit behind the life she was leading now.
Furthermore... her other identity was as a spy by Kaguya's side.
Kaguya Shinomiya wasn't aware of the complex emotions in Hayasaka Ai's heart, and she asked curiously, "If it wasn't a honey trap, then what did you promise, Hayasaka?"
Hayasaka Ai snapped back to reality and said, "Nothing."
"Eh?"
Kaguya Shinomiya froze again, and she couldn't help but confirm, "Nothing at all?"
"Yeah."
Hayasaka Ai nodded.
"Then he just let me off like that?"
Kaguya Shinomiya looked strange.
That Lynn didn't look like someone who was easy to talk to, did he?
And... that look in his eyes!
Hmm...
Thinking of that look in Lynn's eyes, Kaguya Shinomiya's heartbeat quickened.
There was even a faint, strange feeling.
An experience she had never had before made her feel a bit lost in the last few days.
Even the cold demeanor she had before was about to disappear.
Temporarily sealing away this strange emotion, Kaguya Shinomiya asked curiously, "Then he didn't say anything else?"
Hayasaka Ai said expressionlessly, "He said."
"Mm-hmm!"
Kaguya Shinomiya nodded expectantly.
"Miss, you are not worthy."
"?"
The expression on Kaguya Shinomiya's face froze instantly.
"Not worthy?"
"Club President Lynn said that you are not qualified to be targeted by him."
To prevent Kaguya Shinomiya from mishearing or failing to understand, Hayasaka Ai repeated it very thoughtfully.
She even broke down Lynn's meaning in detail.
Kaguya Shinomiya bit her lip lightly, a look of grievance on her face.
"?"
Now it was Hayasaka Ai's turn to be confused.
She had thought many expressions might appear on Kaguya Shinomiya's face.
Unwillingness, disdain, coldness, and so on.
But... she never expected it to be grievance!
Hayasaka Ai was shocked.
Kaguya, could she have been stimulated by something?
Or... was she swapped?
Was she possessed?
Was she still the real Kaguya Shinomiya?
Having witnessed the existence of supernatural powers, a bold guess rose in Hayasaka Ai's heart!
In any case... this was definitely not the Kaguya Shinomiya of the past!
Kaguya Shinomiya was indeed feeling a bit aggrieved.
She didn't know why this emotion had arisen.
But...
She felt a tightness in her chest, a sense of discomfort.
Did she not even have the right to appear in Lynn's eyes?
Kaguya Shinomiya subconsciously misinterpreted the meaning behind Hayasaka's words.
At the thought of this, she felt a wave of panic.
Kaguya Shinomiya hurriedly grabbed Hayasaka's arm. "Hayasaka, is there any way to make him take revenge on me?"
"?"
The expression on Hayasaka's face faltered. "Kaguya-sama, have you broken?"
Had she been cursed?
Kaguya Shinomiya came to her senses, and then her face flushed red.
She had clearly realized what a foolish thing she had just said.
"No, it's nothing."
Kaguya Shinomiya put on her former icy facade.
But... she couldn't go back...
Hayasaka's gaze was complex.
Now, she could easily discern the facade that Kaguya Shinomiya was deliberately putting up.
Kaguya Shinomiya really had broken!
Wanting to be retaliated against? What kind of masochistic mentality was this?
However... although Club President Lynn said Kaguya was unworthy, it was clear that he had launched actions against the Shinomiya Family.
Kaguya, although it might not be quite what you imagined, but... it probably isn't much different, right?
However... there was no need to tell Kaguya about such things. She hadn't even planned on reporting it to Kouko Shinomiya.
Just like how she hadn't reported to Kouko Shinomiya about the incident where she was supposed to have Kaguya Shinomiya make contact with Lynn, but instead backfired and offended him.
Someone who possessed supernatural power might be able to bring some change to this monotonous life? Perhaps even... sever the shackles binding her?
Thinking of this, Hayasaka narrowed her eyes and then said, "Kaguya-sama, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Kaguya Shinomiya gave an absent-minded "Hm." She was thinking about how she could change the initial impression Lynn had of her, and even gain the right to appear in Lynn's eyes!
After a while, Hayasaka found a secluded spot and sent a message to her mother.
"Mother, is there anything strange going on at the main house?"
"Eh?" Mrs. Hayasaka said in surprise, "How did you know?"
Hayasaka's heart skipped a beat, and then she asked urgently, "What happened?"
"Hmm..." Mrs. Hayasaka hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should tell Ai.
"Mother!" "Alright, alright~"
Mrs. Hayasaka felt a bit helpless, then whispered furtively, "Ai-chan, have you... seen a Hellhound burning with pitch-black flames?"