Compared to Yuuki's shock at seeing his classmate Kamikawa Naoki—someone he never expected to encounter again given that he himself worked in Mato—the other Unit Chiefs were focused on a different detail about the white-haired, dark-red-eyed young man.
His clothes.
Naoki was wearing the standard Anti-Demon Corps uniform. Not ordinary clothing like what Yuuki wore—a pale green combat outfit—but the official uniform with all its proper attributes.
It had, of course, been specially modified for a man. A double-breasted long-sleeved jacket with tasseled epaulettes on the shoulders and gleaming collar insignia, a neat white undershirt, well-fitted black jeans, a brown leather belt with a silver buckle, clean white gloves, and polished black boots.
This was the first time any of them had ever seen a male version of the Anti-Demon Corps uniform.
"Oi! What exactly is going on here? Why is that guy wearing an Anti-Demon Corps uniform?!" Mira jabbed a pointed finger at Naoki, who was standing behind Tenka—who had already settled into the empty chair.
"Commander Yamashiro." Riu glanced toward Ren, who looked perfectly composed at the head of the table, still wearing her thin, mysterious smile. "We need an explanation."
Though Fubuki, Bell, Yakumo, Kyouka, and Varvara said nothing, they were all equally eager for an answer.
Bell stared at Naoki with wide eyes, her fingers squeezing the hem of her skirt.
Fubuki narrowed her eyes, appraising the young man from head to toe.
Yakumo had even stopped her teasing entirely, her lips forming a small 'O'.
For the first time, Varvara actually set her phone down on the table.
"Tenka. I'll leave the rest of the explaining to you." Ren tossed the troublesome responsibility of explaining onto Tenka with a lazy wave of her hand. Her gaze drifted to her nails, pretending to inspect her nail polish.
At once, Tenka became the center of everyone's attention. Without a hint of nerves, she smiled faintly and began speaking in a melodious, unhurried tone.
"I know what you all want to ask. Before that, let me introduce him to everyone." Her hand reached for Naoki's arm and drew him slightly forward.
"His name is Kamikawa Naoki. My boyfriend."
The reactions that followed were immediately divided. The younger girls like Bell and Konomi responded with shy flustering—Bell covered her reddening cheeks with both hands, while Konomi bowed her head deeply, her ears burning red.
The more senior women, such as Kyouka, Fubuki, and Varvara, were only mildly surprised—eyebrows lifted, but their general expressions remained composed. A colleague had found a partner.
"Ha! Congratulations! I'll be waiting for my wedding invitation! I'll be there even if the apocalypse comes!" Mira used her characteristically blunt language to convey her sincerity, her fist pumping in the air, eyes bright with enthusiasm.
"Ehhhh~ I can't believe it~ Tenka has been stolen from me! Is this what they call NTR? Onee-san is so disappointed~" Yakumo put on a show of sadness, her hand covering her chest dramatically, though the corners of her eyes were watching Naoki with curiosity. "And here I was already planning to add Tenka to my harem~"
"Wonderful to hear. This old woman has always worried you'd all end up alone for life." As the only Chief who was already married, Riu joined in the celebration with warm delight. Her wrinkled smile was wide, her eyes narrowing meaningfully.
Seeing them sidetracked by the relationship announcement, Kyouka looked at Tenka beside her and raised the crucial question.
"Tenka. You still haven't explained why he's wearing an Anti-Demon Corps uniform. Even Yuuki wasn't permitted to wear one, because Commander Yamashiro doesn't consider him part of the Anti-Demon Corps."
Behind her, Yuuki stared at Naoki, who looked striking in the uniform. It would be a lie to say he wasn't envious.
"The answer is simple." Tenka kept everyone in no further suspense. "Because Naoki-kun is a member of the Anti-Demon Corps. It's only natural that he wears the uniform, isn't it?"
"..."
The room fell into silence for a few seconds. Disbelief was plainly visible on the face of every Unit Chief.
The first to speak was Yakumo, her tone playful.
"My, my, how surprising. Onee-san didn't take Tenka for the type to abuse her position by getting her boyfriend into the workplace through inside connections."
It was clear she wasn't the only one thinking it. They all assumed Naoki had been brought in as a headquarters manager, like Yuuki of the Seventh Unit—a clear real-world example already in front of them.
There had already been one exception. A second wasn't surprising.
What confused them was why Naoki was permitted to wear the Anti-Demon Corps uniform—something even Yuuki had never been given.
"Yakumo, you're wrong." Ren interjected, her chin resting on her white-gloved hand. "Kamikawa Naoki did not enter through inside connections. He entered because he qualifies as a full-fledged member."
"Huh? Ren-chan, what are you saying..." Bell stared in bewilderment.
Just because she didn't understand didn't mean the others were in the same position. In an instant, Fubuki, Riu, Kyouka, and Varvara all changed expression. Their eyes narrowed, their minds moving quickly to connect the dots.
"Don't tell me..." Kyouka fixed a sharp gaze on Naoki. Her eyes swept over the young man from the tips of his contrasting white hair down to his boots.
Fubuki completed Kyouka's unspoken thought, her voice deep and weighted with meaning. "He's the man who awakened a Peach Blossom Blessing. That's why the Commander referred to him as a full member."
"Seriously?!" Mira's eyes went wide, nearly launching herself out of her chair. Her hand pointed at Naoki with a dramatic flourish. "You're not working together to pull one over on me, are you? If this is a lie, I'll beat all of you senseless."
"..."
No one answered.
Every gaze turned to Tenka and Naoki, waiting for confirmation. Even Varvara, typically the most indifferent person in the room, could no longer maintain her detachment.
"What Fubuki-san said is correct." Tenka confirmed it, her chest rising with undisguised pride. "Naoki-kun was caught in a Mato Disaster, and in a life-or-death situation, he chose to fight back against the Shuuki rather than flee. When their numbers grew and he knew he couldn't win, he retreated—and by accident, fell into a hollow where a Peach Blossom tree was growing."
Her voice carried a pride she made no effort to conceal. Naoki beside her looked visibly uncomfortable with all the attention, his shoulders rising slightly, but he remained silent.
"Even knowing that Peach Blossoms are useless on men—everyone knows that, it's written in every manual, taught in every training session—Naoki-kun still tried eating one. Not out of desperation, but because of his will to survive." Tenka paused for a moment, her eyes shifting to Naoki with unmistakable tenderness. "And fortune smiled on him. He became the first man in history to gain superhuman power from a Peach Blossom."
Tenka's explanation was complete.
Yet for every Chief listening, it was only the beginning of a storm within.
Mira was struck speechless.
Yakumo looked at Naoki with a new interest—no longer playful.
Fubuki leaned back in her chair, her narrowed eyes calculating.
Riu stroked her chin, her expression unreadable.
Varvara appeared indifferent.
Bell could only murmur softly to herself, "The first man... in history..."
Kyouka turned to look behind her, her gaze meeting Yuuki's—who was still standing with an expression caught between shock and confusion.
At the head of the table, Ren smiled as she observed every one of these reactions, as though everything was unfolding exactly as she had anticipated.
🎇Keep reading and support this story on Ko-fi:
📎Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/lovefanfiction or bit.ly/4sbFiOM
✅More early access chapters from WebNovel
✅5 translated fanfic chapters & 1-2 new original fanfic chapters every day (Monday-Saturday), exclusive on Ko-fi.
Thank you so much for your incredible support!