"Good morning, everyone."
Ayaka offered a regal greeting to the line of maids standing at attention. I was right there beside her—or rather, I was being led along, my hand firmly clasped in hers as I trotted to keep up with her pace.
We moved into her private study—not her bedroom, but a lavishly appointed personal lounge—and she took a seat in a plush chair. I moved to sit in the chair next to her, but before I could, she scooped me up and settled me firmly onto her lap.
"...Ayaka?"
"Didn't Chizuru-san ask you to look after me, Axel-kun? Then please, be a dear and indulge me this much. Old man, the morning tea, please."
"As you wish, My Lady," the Head Butler—the same man from yesterday—replied with a graceful bow before setting to work.
"And for Master Axel?" he asked, looking at me. I was still being held in a metaphorical (and literal) headlock by Ayaka, but the butler didn't even blink. Apparently, this was just another Tuesday at the Yukihiro estate.
"Uh, I don't really know much about the fancy stuff. I'll just have whatever she's having."
"Understood."
A moment later, a cup of tea brewed from the same high-end leaves as Ayaka's was placed before me.
"Also, My Lady, your homeroom teacher called a short while ago."
"What?! Negi-sensei called?! What did he want? Is something wrong?!"
"I have the memo here."
The moment Ayaka scanned the paper, she practically levitated with joy.
"Kyaaa! He did it! He actually did it! He wants to do a home visit today! Oh, ho-ho-ho! This is perfect! First Axel-kun, and now Negi-sensei... I'll have a flower in both hands! I must go prepare a dress at once—wait, I—!"
She caught the collective "warm" gaze of the maids. Even the Head Butler was looking at her with a knowing, slightly pitying smile.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat, forcing herself back into a semblance of composure. "It seems my teacher will be visiting this afternoon. See to it that we receive him with the utmost hospitality."
"As you wish."
"A-Axel-kun?! Why are you here?!"
That was the first thing out of Negi's mouth when he saw me. Asuna and Konoka were with him, presumably acting as his "guardians" for the home visit, and they looked just as floored.
"What? Ayaka and I share a room at the dorms. It's only natural I'd come over to visit during break, isn't it?"
"...Hold on a second," Asuna said, stepping forward. "Did you actually stay the night here?"
"Pretty much."
"...And? Are you okay? You know... in the 'purity' department?"
"I appreciate the concern, but you're sounding exactly like Natsumi. I'm perfectly fine."
I ignored Asuna, who looked like she'd just witnessed a scientific impossibility, and turned to Konoka.
"Hey, Asuna-san! Please refrain from making such scandalous insinuations!" Ayaka barked.
"Hmph. If you don't like the reputation, stop acting like a predator."
"Grrr!"
And so, the usual bickering began.
"Morning, Axel-kun~," Konoka chirped.
"Morning. Must be tough, having to tag along on a home visit."
"Ahaha. Not really! I don't get many chances to visit the Yukihiro place, so I'm actually quite enjoying myself."
Konoka looked around the mansion with a curious gaze. She seemed genuinely impressed, but there was an air of familiarity to her posture. I suppose as the Headmaster's granddaughter, she was used to living in a place that could be measured in acres.
I turned my attention to Negi while Ayaka and Asuna continued their spat.
"So, what brought on the sudden urge for a home visit?"
"Well, you see..." Negi stole a glance at Asuna before shaking his head slightly. "There are a few reasons... but since it's a private matter regarding the Class Rep, I don't think I should talk about it. Even to you, Axel-kun."
Private, huh? That means...
"Does it have to do with her acting weird for the last few days?"
Negi blinked, stunned. "How did you know?"
"Chizuru mentioned something. Besides, I've been living in the same room as her since I arrived in... Mahora. I can pick up on a mood shift. But hey, if it's private, I won't pry."
"Thanks, Axel-kun. I appreciate that."
By the time our talk was over, Konoka had managed to separate the bickering duo. We all headed to Ayaka's private lounge. The moment we stepped inside, Asuna marched over to the window and stepped out onto the balcony as if she owned the place.
"Hah! The view hasn't changed a bit since elementary school."
"Asuna-san! Don't just wander onto people's balconies without permission!"
"My Lady, I have brought the tea. It is a herbal blend; I hope that is acceptable?"
The Head Butler appeared out of thin air, placing cups before everyone.
"Yes, thank you. I heard Negi-sensei was fond of herbal tea, so I've been buying up various plantations across the globe to secure the best leaves. ...I considered doing the same for Axel-kun, but he doesn't seem to have much of a preference for what he drinks."
I took a sip of the tea and nodded. "True enough. I mean, if I have to choose between coffee and tea, I'm a tea guy. But my 'expertise' usually ends at whatever comes out of a vending machine. I'm the kind of 'tea lover' who can't even brew a pot without a tea bag."
"...Axel, that is absolutely not something you should be proud of," Asuna said, giving me a deadpan stare.
Konoka sat there with a peaceful smile, watching our banter. Her smile was a lot like Chizuru's, but without the underlying "pressure" that Chizuru sometimes radiated. Konoka's smile felt like sitting in a patch of warm spring sunlight.
"Well, forget the tea," Asuna said, standing up. "Since we're at the Yukihiro palace, let's go for a swim. We can leave the 'rich idiot' logic behind and just have some fun."
"Excuse me?! Asuna-san! ...Sigh. Fine, I suppose it can't be helped. Old man, get some swimwear ready for Axel-kun and Negi-sensei."
"At once."
"Wow... Axel-kun, the Class Rep's house really is amazing. I can't believe they have a private pool," Negi remarked as we stepped out onto the deck.
"Yeah, tell me about it. But look at them..."
I gestured toward the pool, where Asuna and Konoka, both in school-style swimsuits, were already splashing each other and laughing.
"Axel-kun, Negi-sensei! You both look very dashing," Ayaka said, walking toward us.
"You look wonderful too, Class Rep," Negi replied.
"Oh? You think so?"
Ayaka blushed at the compliment. Unlike Asuna and Konoka, she was wearing a stylish bikini that complemented her model-like proportions. Sure, compared to people like Lemon, Cornelia, or Murrue—or even Chizuru—she was a little "lacking" in the chest department, but it was unfair to compare anyone to those kinds of outliers.
Negi and I, meanwhile, were stuck in kids' trunks with hoodies over them.
"Negi-kun! Class Rep! Axel-kun! Wanna race?" Konoka called out.
Ayaka let out a long sigh and shook her head. "No, thank you. Asuna-san is as fast as a kappa in the water."
"I'll go," I said, stepping forward. "Negi, you and Ayaka stay here and relax."
"Axel-kun?" Negi looked at me, confused. I leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"You came here for her, didn't you? Make it count while I'm busy."
"Eh? Oh! Right!"
"Axel-kun, is something the matter?" Ayaka asked.
"Nah, I just don't mind a good swim. I think I'll take them up on that race."
"I see! Well then, have a pleasant swim."
Leaving Ayaka and Negi behind, I dove into the pool and paddled over to Asuna.
"Alright, let's do this."
"Heh, you're pretty confident for a shrimp. Fine, I accept. I might lose to you in the classroom, but I'm not about to let a kid beat me in a physical contest!"
"I'll be the judge!" Konoka chirped, moving to the side.
"On your marks... get set... GO!"
At the signal, Asuna and I tore through the water. Usually, when people say a girl "becomes a fish," you think of a mermaid. When they say it about a guy, you think of a swamp monster. I tried not to dwell on that.
Thirty minutes later, Asuna was slumped over a poolside table, twitching.
"Asuna, don't take it so hard. It's just bad luck, right?" Konoka said, trying to comfort her.
"Leave me alone... I can't believe I lost to a brat... every single time..."
The results were clear: I had won every single race. To be fair, I tried to hold back toward the end to let her have a win, but Asuna had seen through it immediately, yelled at me for "looking down on her," and demanded I go full power. This was the result.
Her times were actually incredible—probably close to national-level for her age group. But she was up against a veteran pilot with an "Accelerated Growth" cheat and, most importantly, Terrain Adaptation: Sea - S. I don't know why a swimming pool counted as a "Sea" terrain, but the system didn't lie. I was built for high-performance aquatic maneuvers.
"My, my," Ayaka teased, walking over. "Beaten in the books, and now beaten in the water."
"...Shut up."
"If you've learned your lesson, perhaps you should follow Axel-kun's example and try studying for a change—"
"SHUT UP! You're just a shota-con!"
"And you're an oji-con!" (Old-man lover!)
Asuna lunged at Ayaka, and they fell into their usual routine of bickering. But something was different. The shadow that had been hanging over Ayaka's face was gone. Asuna knew exactly how to pull her out of her funk.
"Grrr! That's it! I'm through with you! Get out of my house!"
"Fine, fine! I'm leaving!"
"A-Asuna-san...!" Negi stammered, looking worried.
"It's fine, Negi-kun," Konoka said, smiling as she patted his head. "This is just how they are."
Asuna paused at the edge of the pool deck, looking back at us with a huff. "Hey, Negi... and you too, Axel. I'm leaving the rest to you."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Got it."
She looked at Ayaka one last time, her expression softening just a fraction. "Class Rep... I take back the shota-con thing. Sorry. See ya."
"Asuna-san?"
Asuna marched out of the pool area without looking back. Ayaka stood there, looking suddenly very small and embarrassed.
"Axel-kun, Negi-sensei... I'm sorry you had to see that. Asuna-san and I have been like this since we were little. We do nothing but fight..."
"That's not true," Negi interrupted.
Ayaka blinked. "Eh?"
"Asuna-san brought me here today specifically to cheer you up."
"What...?"
Negi paused, glanced at me for a moment, and then looked Ayaka in the eye.
"Class Rep... you had a younger brother once, didn't you? One who would have been about the same age as Axel-kun and me."
"Ah..."
Ayaka's eyes welled with tears. She looked toward the door where Asuna had disappeared. "She remembered... Honestly, that woman is violent, lawless... and the most incredible classmate I could ask for."
She was crying, but for the first time in days, she looked truly happy. The three of us spent the rest of the day together, the shadow of the past finally chased away by the sun.
[Character Status]
Name: Axel Almar
LV: 38 | PP: 625
Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272
Defense: 272 | Evade: 302 | Hit: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Enhances Slime performance via SP)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain Rank: Air: S | Ground: S | Sea: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel, Effort, Focus, Direct Hit, Awaken, Love
Skills:
EXP Up, SP Boost, Telekinesis Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, In-fight Lv.9, Morale Limit Break,
Geass (Grey), Magic (Fire, Shadow, Summoning).
Kill Count: 376
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