Chapter 27: Seito: "Iori, Save Me!!!"
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As it turns out, Kirito wasn't seeing things. The "ghost" in the hallway was indeed Seito.
Seconds earlier, the "Idiocy Department" of Class E had suddenly turned on Hidenori Tabata for some imagined slight. Watching a room full of teenage boys devolve into a primitive tribal riot made Seito realize he didn't belong there. He was a man of elegance—an "Aesthetic God" who could fix his hair mid-battle. He couldn't be associated with such unwashed chaos.
So, he slipped out. His destination? The Faculty Office. He needed his pillow back.
Sobu High school layout was simple: The third floor housed the freshmen, the fourth the sophomores, and the fifth the seniors. The second floor was for clubs, and the first floor was for administration. However, the Freshman Faculty Office was conveniently located right on the third floor with the classrooms.
Knowing the teachers usually headed out for lunch at this hour, Seito practically skipped down the hallway, humming a lighthearted tune. His beautiful voice echoed off the lockers, drawing stares from passing students. Of course, they weren't just staring at his singing—they were staring at the silver-haired boy in the "moe-girl" pajamas.
He pushed open the office door, unaware that a "little tail" was following him.
Ai Hayasaka had been sent by Kaguya to track Seito down. She had spotted him the moment he left Class E and had been trailing him with a look of utter exasperation. He sings like an angel, but he's remarkably shameless, she thought.
Suddenly, the office door flew open again. Seito scrambled out, clutching his pillow like a lifeline, his face a mask of pure terror.
Hayasaka blinked, confused—until a roar shook the hallway.
"YOU BRAT! GET BACK HERE!!!"
Shizuka Hiratsuka burst out of the office, a cigarette dangling from her lip and a vein throbbing in her forehead. She looked like a demon general in pursuit of a deserting soldier.
What had happened ten seconds ago?
Seito had waltzed into the office, spotted his pillow on the desk, and grabbed it with a victory grin. Unfortunately, he failed to notice that Shizuka and Sae hadn't gone to lunch. They were hiding in the corner, enjoying a quiet smoke break.
Seeing Seito boldly "breaking and entering" to steal back confiscated property was the last straw for Shizuka.
"Damn! Why are these two chain-smokers skipping lunch?!" Seito cursed, his legs moving like pistons. He bolted toward the back door of Class E and dove inside.
He scanned the chaotic room and locked onto his target.
"IORI, SAVE ME!!!"
"Huh? Who's messing with my brother?!"
Iori Kitahara stood up, still holding a cup of beer, ready to fight the world.
But Seito didn't stop. He zipped past Iori like a silver blur and flew out the front door.
The students of Class E were left blinking in confusion. A second later, the back door opened again.
"Well, well... Class E is certainly lively. Drinking? Shirtless? In school?"
The class froze. They turned slowly to find Shizuka Hiratsuka standing in the doorway, her "dead fish" eyes fixed squarely on Iori and his cup of beer.
"So," she said, her voice dropping an octave. "Who wants to tell me who's been drinking?"
In perfect, terrifying unison, the entire class pointed their fingers at Iori Kitahara. Hidenori Tabata, also shirtless, had already dived behind a group of girls, shivering as he tried to hide the bottles.
Iori's lip trembled as he realized he'd been sold out by everyone he knew. "You... you traitors..."
"Office. Now," Shizuka commanded.
"Yes, ma'am," Iori whimpered, putting his shirt back on and trudging after her like a man walking to the gallows.
Around a distant corner, Seito watched Iori being led away and let out a delighted cackle.
Did he need to be faster than Shizuka? No. He just needed to be faster than his teammates. Class E's chaotic reputation was the perfect smoke screen for a quick "teammate sacrifice."
Feeling triumphant, Seito clutched his pillow and turned to head back to class.
Click!
The sound of a camera shutter and a bright flash cut through the hallway. Seito turned to see a girl with long silver-blue hair holding up a smartphone. Her face was an absolute mask of indifference.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
"Ho~? Stalking me, little lady? That's not very honest of you," Seito teased, walking toward her with a playful smirk.
The girl was none other than the legendary "Angel" herself, Kanade Tachibana.
"You are... unusual," Kanade said, calmly putting her phone away. She was holding a bento box, and Seito noticed the contents immediately: Mapo Tofu.
"You like Sichuan food?" Seito asked, changing the subject.
Kanade stopped. She turned back and looked him directly in the eye. "You... like it too?"
In this world, where the Kyushu region had unified the islands, Sichuan cuisine was incredibly popular. Kanade wasn't just a fan of Mapo Tofu; she was a connoisseur of the spicy, numbing heat that defined the style.
"Of course!" Seito nodded enthusiastically.
"The spice, the aroma, the way it makes your tongue go numb—it's the best!"
A tiny, almost invisible smile appeared on Kanade's face. "Would you... like to share?"
Seito realized he was still hungry after his meager "bento-thief" snacks earlier. "I'd love to."
And so, the boy in the pajamas and the Angel of the school headed toward the rooftop for a spicy lunch.
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Thank you for reading.
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