Using her tamagoyaki as an offering, Miko Yotsuya successfully traded for a piece of sweet-and-sour pork from Luo Yu's lunchbox.
The moment she took a bite, the bright tang of vinegar and sugar combined with the tender, fall-off-the-bone texture of the meat made her eyes widen in delight.
"This is so good!"
Within seconds, the generously sized rib was gone.
Luo Yu, meanwhile, tasted the tamagoyaki she had given him. It was indeed well-made—soft, lightly sweet, and skillfully prepared.
Nodding, he smiled. "Let's eat first. We can talk while we eat. No rush."
Miko glanced longingly at the rest of his lunch before suppressing her cravings and focusing on her own meal.
As they ate, Luo Yu brought up the main issue.
"Your spiritual sight… I've never encountered something exactly like it before. I'm not entirely confident about shutting it down outright."
He paused deliberately.
Under Miko's increasingly anxious gaze, he smiled faintly.
"That said, failing to close it completely doesn't mean it can't be controlled. If you can master it, you'll decide for yourself when to see and when not to. If you're free after school, come with me. I'll take you to my home. You'll get your answer there. I have a few ideas already—but it would be better for the person involved to explain it to you directly."
"Eh? To your house?"
Miko's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Is… your family there?"
"Family… you could say that, in a sense. You'll understand once you meet her. So? Will you come?"
Seeing his secretive expression, Miko didn't hesitate for long.
"I understand. Then I'll trouble you this afternoon!"
Luo Yu chuckled. "You're decisive. Aren't you worried I might be lying?"
Miko shook her head earnestly.
"I don't have anything worth deceiving me over. This spiritual sight only brings me trouble. If anything, staying near me might cause trouble for you. And yesterday you helped me—sealed my sight for a full day. Of course I trust you."
As for whether she had anything worth tricking her over…
Her thoughts drifted briefly.
If it were about being a girl…
She immediately pictured Hana Yurikawa.
If someone wanted that sort of thing, they'd go after Hana instead. Hana had the better figure—and was much more naïve.
Luo Yu simply smiled.
Being trusted… felt good.
After finishing his lunch, he stretched comfortably. "Then I'll head back first. See you this afternoon. If you're worried about rumors, we can meet at the school gate."
Miko nodded quickly. "Yes, let's meet at the gate."
Once Luo Yu left the rooftop, Miko finished the rest of her bento alone, daydreamed for a while, and then returned to class.
The afternoon passed much like the morning for Luo Yu—half in thought, half in research on human transmutation.
When the final bell rang, he packed his bag, sent Miko a message, and left the classroom.
In Class C, Miko received his text and glanced at Hana Yurikawa, who was busy packing up.
…Better slip away quietly.
Rising cautiously, she slipped out before Hana noticed.
When Hana finished packing and turned around, Miko was gone.
"Huh? Where's Miko?"
By then, Miko had already dashed down the stairs, changed her shoes, and hurried out of the building.
The moment she stepped outside, she saw Luo Yu standing by the school gate.
Running over slightly out of breath, she said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
He smiled. "No need to rush. I've only been here a moment. Let's go—I called a taxi. It should be here any second. Before heading home, I need to buy a few things. There's quite a bit to purchase, so I'll need your company."
"O-okay!"
Miko had no objections.
Ten minutes later, after stepping out of the taxi, Luo Yu led her into the same computer shop he had visited the previous day.
To Miko's astonishment, he ordered another top-tier computer setup identical to the first—along with a computer desk and two hitbox controllers.
After paying, he turned to the shop owner. "Could you hold these for a bit? I'm heading to the supermarket next door. Once I'm done, please deliver them."
The owner, having just made the profit of two high-end systems in two days, was all smiles.
"Of course! Want me to assemble it for you?"
"No need. I can do it quickly myself. Let's go, Yotsuya-san."
Miko nodded and followed him out.
At the supermarket, she watched as Luo Yu selected ingredients efficiently, pushing the cart to the register.
Seeing the two large bags he carried afterward, she remarked curiously, "You bought a lot."
Luo Yu smiled. "Ranni and I both eat quite a bit. It's necessary. Speaking of which—Ranni is the person you'll be meeting."
"Ranni?"
The name caught Miko's attention.
It sounded foreign. And distinctly feminine.
Girlfriend?
Her eyes widened as realization dawned.
She had noticed the ring Luo Yu wore before. It had looked artistic—too unique to immediately assume it was a couple's ring.
But now…
If the girl was foreign, that kind of ring would make sense.
Suddenly, Miko felt a surge of curiosity about this mysterious Ranni.
Returning to the computer shop, they loaded the purchases into the owner's vehicle and soon arrived at Luo Yu's house.
After carrying everything inside, Luo Yu said, "Make yourself comfortable. I'll sort these out. What would you like to drink? Coffee, tea, or cola?"
"Tea, please. Thank you."
Miko stepped into the living room, taking in her surroundings before sitting cautiously on the sofa.
As Luo Yu stored the groceries in the refrigerator, she heard footsteps descending the stairs.
Then she saw her.
A woman with long blue hair and breathtaking beauty walked down gracefully.
So beautiful.
That was Miko's immediate thought.
But when their eyes met, Miko felt a subtle yet unmistakable pressure—like standing before someone of extraordinary status.
Closing the refrigerator door, Luo Yu turned to Ranni.
"You're here. Good timing. This is Miko Yotsuya—the one with spiritual sight. Yotsuya-san, this is Ranni."
Ranni remained silent for the moment.
Under her gaze, Miko stood up instinctively, nervous yet polite.
"H-hello… I'm Miko Yotsuya."