Chapter 24: A Misunderstanding
Ren's face flushed crimson in an instant. A rush of heat surged straight to his head with a loud buzz.
Zen'in Mai watched his reaction with satisfaction, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
She had always been confident in her figure and her looks. As a sorcerer whose combat performance was, at best, "average," this was perhaps the one area where she could truly take pride.
"See? I told you." She leaned closer, her breath warm against his face, deliberately drawing out her tone. "You really are a… pervert~"
Ren swallowed.
Her tone was irritating—mocking, provocative. Yet the way she pressed closer made it almost impossible to step away. He should have turned around. He should have taken a few steps back and put distance between them.
But even the teasing, taunting expression on her face carried a strange thrill—like she was deliberately tempting him, daring him to cross a line.
Ren licked his lips.
"Why are you licking your lips?" Mai bit down lightly on her lower lip, white teeth leaving faint impressions on the red softness.
"Don't tell me…" She ran her tongue slowly across her lips, the air between them thickening with warmth, the sheen on her mouth making his breathing uneven. "You're interested in this too?"
Under her deliberate advance, their lips were now barely a breath apart. The tension was suffocating.
"If you like it, just admit it." Mai raised a brow, chin tilted arrogantly. "If you're honest about it, since we're classmates, I might graciously let you—"
She didn't get to finish.
Her lips were suddenly sealed by his.
At the same time, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her body.
"Mmph—!"
Mai's eyes flew wide, pupils shrinking in shock. She tried to resist, pounding against his back, twisting to break free—but against Ren's overwhelming physical strength, her efforts felt almost powerless. What should have been resistance came across more like futile fluster than real struggle.
His arms locked around her like forged iron, pinning her firmly in place. The force nearly pressed her slight frame against the heat of his chest.
The kiss deepened—fierce, urgent, almost reckless.
Mai struggled for only a few moments before breathlessness overtook her. The lack of air forced her lips apart, and her resistance faltered under the intensity of the moment.
And worse—far worse—she realized that it wasn't just suffocation making her weak. The heat at her lips, his steady presence, the raw dominance of his grip… stirred something unfamiliar deep inside her.
For a fleeting instant, the teasing confidence she had worn so boldly dissolved completely.
She dimly realized that she wasn't rejecting him at all—in fact… she was welcoming it.
No! This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Her eyes widened, then fluttered as her thoughts spun wildly. This… this wasn't part of her plan…!
She had intended to use her looks to tempt him, catch him slipping, and then seize the upper hand—maybe even rope him into becoming her loyal little follower.
And yet…
After what felt like an eternity, they finally separated. A thin, glistening strand stretched between their lips before breaking.
Ren stared at the girl before him—face flushed red, eyes blazing—like someone jolted awake from a dream.
"S-Sorry," he stammered.
He didn't even know what had come over him. A surge of heat had shot through his chest, and in that instant he'd lost control. All he could see were those soft, crimson lips inches away. He had acted on pure instinct.
This is bad, he thought grimly. Even if she had provoked him first, he was the one who'd crossed the line.
What now? Would she report him? Would Utahime-sensei look at him differently? What about Momo and Miwa?
I-It was just a kiss… that shouldn't be unforgivable, right? If I apologize properly, this can still be fixed.
No—wait.
Ren's gaze flickered to the rumpled fabric over Mai's chest, rising and falling rapidly with her breathing. His fingers twitched.
That… hadn't been just a kiss.
I'm dead.
If it went beyond that, there was no way she'd just let it slide.
Then again… it wasn't entirely my fault, was it? Who told her to provoke me like that?
"You…" Mai panted, finally speaking.
Ren looked up, meeting her blazing stare. Instinctively, he tried to step back—but they were already at the last row of desks. There was nowhere to retreat.
Mai grabbed him by the collar with both hands.
"Not here," she said, her eyes glittering, gaze burning hot. "There are cameras in the classroom."
"…?"
Before he could utter a word, she yanked him forward and half-dragged, half-shoved him out of the room.
…
…
…
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Miwa hurried down the hallway and slipped into the classroom, making a beeline for the desk she'd used earlier that afternoon. She bent down and rummaged through the drawer, finally pulling out her wallet.
"Honestly, I'm so careless!" she exhaled in relief.
She'd already reached the subway entrance before realizing it was missing. After checking herself over in a panic, she concluded the most likely place was the classroom—and rushed all the way back, heart pounding the entire time.
Her classmates and teachers were trustworthy, yes—but that wallet held everything she had. Not just for her, but for her little brothers' living expenses next month. If it were gone…
Thankfully, it wasn't.
Miwa let out a long breath.
"Ah… oh no."
Her face turned slightly awkward as she pressed her knees together.
She'd been too nervous earlier…
Clutching the wallet, she quickly left the classroom and hurried toward the restroom, opening it mid-stride to double-check that none of the money was missing.
And then—
Thud!
She ran straight into someone.
"Ah!"
"Mm."
"Are you okay, Miwa?"
"Ren? I'm so sorry, that was my fault! I wasn't watching where I was going. You're not hurt, are you? Huh—"
Her eyes widened.
She stared at him for a moment. Then slowly tilted her head upward… to the sign above.
A black silhouette of a figure in a skirt.
The women's restroom.
Ren followed her gaze upward. The moment the skirted icon entered his line of sight, he froze stiff.
Damn it.
When Mai had shoved him inside earlier, he'd only registered that it was a bathroom—he hadn't stopped to consider which one.
Thinking back… yeah. There hadn't been any urinals.
"T-This—"
"It's a misunderstanding! I swear! It's all a misunderstanding!"