The newcomer was a girl with a lively air about her.
She had a short, wavy bob hairstyle, wore a sporty brand hooded jacket, and her slender, long legs extended from her shorts.
The elegant curve of her calves paired rather charmingly with the slightly bulky basketball shoes.
No matter how you looked, she couldn't possibly be the "boy" Kanase Kanon had mentioned.
"Is this… the boy you were talking about?" Aiba Asagi gently pulled Kanase Kanon closer, leaning in to whisper her complaints.
"She's clearly a girl," Himeragi Yukina also leaned her head in, adding in a low voice.
"This sporty beauty is probably plenty of people's dream girl," Arcueid Brunestud playfully winked, naturally joining the complaint.
"I… I don't know either."
Aiba Asagi's skeptical look snapped Kanase Kanon back to reality. She shook her head and softly replied, "The person in the photo was definitely a boy, a… somewhat delicate-looking one."
She looked carefully. The girl's face did bear a certain resemblance to the person in the photo.
"Of course she's a girl. I never said it was a boy, did I?"
Akatsuki Nagisa looked puzzledly at the four heads huddled together, then turned to the girl beside her to introduce them softly.
"They're my classmates and good friends from school. The golden-haired sister is a teacher at our school."
"Thank you all for looking after Nagisa."
The girl watched the interaction between Arcueid and the others with evident delight, while politely bowing her head.
"My name is Tokoyogi Yuuma. Pleased to meet you."
The sporty girl's sudden, elegant bow created a sense of contrast that left Aiba Asagi and the others momentarily dazed.
"It's getting late, we should get going," Akatsuki Nagisa's lively figure instantly appeared beside the unconscious Avrora.
She shook her shoulders, words tumbling out nonstop. "Wake up, wake up! Let's all go enjoy the Itogami Island Festival now. Teacher Arcutie, you're experiencing the festival for the first time too, right? Yuu-chan is really happy to have everyone along."
"Whoa… it's a machine gun."
Aiba Asagi complained, pulling out her phone. The screen showed Mogwai waving at everyone.
"I've still got work on my end. You all have fun."
"My apologies, especially since it's a holiday," Mogwai said with a laugh.
For a grand island-wide celebration like the Itogami Island Festival, of course Saikai Academy would have a corresponding break.
"Aww~" Akatsuki Nagisa nodded regretfully. "Well, if that's the case."
In the brief ceasefire of the verbal machine gun, Avrora managed to struggle her eyes open. Trembling, she raised a hand, pointing at Aiba Asagi.
Her finger shook violently, a tremor worse than Parkinson's, causing Himeragi Yukina to hold the dish in her hands even further away.
"As… assassin."
"Avrora, what did you say?" Hearing the whisper-soft voice, Akatsuki Nagisa lowered her head, looking puzzledly at the friend in her arms.
She was fine when I left. What's wrong?
Avrora merely shook her head silently, shot a fierce, accusatory glare at Aiba Asagi with her eyes, then promptly let out a soft thud and passed out again.
"It's fine, it's fine, she's just tired. Don't mind them, let's go have fun outside." Amidst the commotion of Avrora's 'sacrifice,' Arcueid stood up with a grand wave of her hand.
"Yay!"
Akatsuki Nagisa instantly picked up the thread, raising her hand high as well.
But she suddenly paused, looking around as if remembering something.
Not finding the petite figure she sought, she tilted her head curiously and tugged on Arcueid's sleeve. "Where's Minamiya-sensei?"
Hearing this, Yuuma's expression momentarily stiffened.
"She's working. Been a bit busy lately," Arcueid swept her gaze over the expression on Yuuma's face, her lips curling with interest. "Why?"
"Ah, right. Is it okay if Yuuma and I stay at your place tonight?" Akatsuki Nagisa looked somewhat apologetically at Arcueid.
"Since we've all gotten together, how about we have a party?"
"Sure."
Arcueid narrowed her eyes, nodding happily. "Natsuki-chan isn't home, we can play as much as we want."
Hearing the agreement, Yuuma let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, then immediately put on an infectiously bright smile. "Thank you so much, Teacher."
"No problem, I love a lively crowd."
"Haha, you really do look young, Teacher," Yuuma said with a smile, raising her eyebrows. "I would have thought you were a high school student."
If not for Akatsuki Nagisa's introduction, judging by Arcueid's demeanor and appearance, Yuuma would probably have mistaken her for a student.
"Our school has an even younger teacher. I'll introduce you if I get the chance," Arcueid's smile widened.
"O… okay." Yuuma's expression froze for a second.
Akatsuki Nagisa, skipping and bouncing, pulled the others outside, her excited expression infecting everyone around.
Arcueid casually pulled out a blanket to cover Avrora, then followed the group of playful girls ahead.
"Ah~ right." She suddenly stopped, glancing sideways at Yuuma beside her.
Her gorgeous golden hair cascaded lightly over her shoulders, her red eyes reflecting the girl before her as she spoke words that sounded almost like a blessing.
"Have fun on Itogami Island."
Bathed in sunlight, her exquisite profile made Yuuma's eyes widen in spite of herself, leaving her standing there in a daze.
After a long moment, she finally let out a slow breath.
"I will."
--+--
Night descended, the Milky Way spilling across the sky.
The darkness unfolded like the canvas of a profound painter.
Itogami Island lay quietly within this painting, the brightly lit city district gleaming like a jewel set within the scroll.
Nights in the "Demon District" were particularly long. Many demons who loved the night reveled in the festive atmosphere preceding the Itogami Island Festival on the streets.
A cool sea breeze gently swept across the dark sea surface, far from the noisy city, untouched even by neon lights.
Dampness and the scent of salt continuously washed against the shore with the waves, splashing up cold spray. The white, foamy crests shimmered with a silver glow under the moonlight.
Darkness and light rippled and undulated on the sea's surface. From the distant depths came a mocking, distorted laugh.
"What an ugly city, sister."
A woman in red tapped the toes of her stocking-clad feet lightly, her figure floating gracefully on the water's surface like an exotic dancer.
"Yes, truly ugly."
Another, alluring voice answered her call. Her form-fitting outfit, resembling black leather motorcycle gear, accentuated her enticing curves.
Their strange behavior and attire could perhaps only be described by the term 'witch.'
The two strolled leisurely across the water, completely unconcerned about meeting the gaze of the security team that had appeared on the shore at some unknown time.
Even as blinding searchlights fell upon them, they only lazily sighed.
"This is it? How disappointing, after ten years away."
"I thought the Fifth Primogenitor taking over might have brought something new."
Muttering to themselves, they ignored the dense array of gun barrels aimed from the shore and continued their unhurried advance toward the city.
Then, they noticed what appeared to be the security team captain on the shore raising a phone.
"Captain, cross-referencing with the criminal database is complete. High probability the targets are the witch sisters, 'The Meyer Sisters.'"
"Witches, huh…"
'The Meyer Sisters' were international magical criminals who had boldly performed dangerous magical rituals in the past, triggering a massive disaster that caused an entire prefecture to vanish.
They were not opponents this security team could handle.
"Then there's only one way," the security team captain abruptly turned to his subordinates, shouting loudly.
"Go get Neco-Arc!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.