"It's mainly because the Qs surgery didn't help you much. So you could try developing other areas—for instance, don't you have a dagger Quinque?"
Byakuya suggested. "Keep up your daily physical training, then work on mastering dagger techniques. Suzuya Juuzou happens to be highly skilled in this area—you can learn from him."
In the original story, Mutsuki had indeed learned dagger techniques from Suzuya. Combined with her later "darkening," even without being able to use her kagune, she could easily handle S-rated or even SS-rated ghouls with just daggers—just like Suzuya.
"Eh...? Would that really work?"
Mutsuki asked.
After all, she and Suzuya had once been perpetrator and victim. It felt awkward to ask him for guidance.
"Of course. Just make sure to approach him when he has free time."
Byakuya said.
"Okay..."
Mutsuki nodded slightly.
For now, she couldn't think of any other solution. She might as well try this approach first.
"Good luck. I believe in you."
Byakuya offered encouragement.
"Mm!"
Mutsuki responded enthusiastically.
...
Regarding the Quinx Squad matters, Byakuya could set them aside for now.
"So you've already made Urie the squad leader?"
Akira, walking alongside Byakuya, asked.
"Yes."
Byakuya nodded. "Kurona and Nashiro aren't interested in the position anyway. This is a good opportunity to temper Urie."
"That works, as long as nothing goes wrong."
Akira said evenly.
"Don't worry, it won't."
Byakuya said.
"Speaking of which... you're quite close with those twin sisters."
Akira suddenly brought up Kurona and Nashiro.
"...Yes."
Byakuya's tone turned slightly awkward.
"So, did they come before me?"
Akira asked.
"Come before you in what?"
Byakuya asked.
"In falling for you."
Akira stated without any embarrassment.
She remembered that Byakuya had graduated from the Academy alongside Kurona and Nashiro—meaning they'd known him longer than she had.
"Probably."
Byakuya's answer was vague.
"Then what do you actually think? Do you like me more, or them?"
Akira suddenly delivered a devastating question. "Or has it always been... just one-sided on my part...?"
"I like you all."
Faced with this lethal question, Byakuya answered without the slightest hesitation—clear and decisive. "Whether it's you, Akira, or Kurona and Nashiro—I like you all."
It had already come to this point anyway...
Playboy? Fine, playboy it is.
They were all his wings. He didn't want to give up a single one.
And... Akira had only asked about herself and the Yasuhisa sisters, but Byakuya's answer encompassed every girl who liked him...
"..."
Though this wasn't the most satisfying answer Akira had hoped for, at least she was in Byakuya's heart.
"'Like you all'... Are you trying to build a harem?"
Akira teased directly.
A faint smile played on her lips—clearly her mood wasn't bad. She was just venting a bit of dissatisfaction.
"Because I don't want to make any of the girls around me sad."
Byakuya answered.
"But doing this would still make girls who value exclusivity sad, wouldn't it?"
Akira immediately countered.
"Mm... that's an undeniable truth. But after weighing everything, I still decided on this approach."
Byakuya understood this perfectly well.
Whether choosing "exclusivity" or "you're all my wings," someone was bound to get hurt.
The key difference was the degree of hurt. That's why he preferred the latter.
"You... honestly..."
Akira said with some exasperation.
"But no matter what, I won't let you go. It's my own fault for hopelessly falling in love with you."
Akira's tone was calm.
Saying something extraordinary in such a matter-of-fact way.
"..."
Though this wasn't the first time he'd heard Akira confess to him, Byakuya was still somewhat startled by how direct she was.
"What Kurona and Nashiro interrupted earlier—let's continue here."
Having just confessed her love, Akira immediately grabbed Byakuya's tie.
"I've been wanting to say this—you're too tall..."
Having to stand on tiptoe to reach him, Akira couldn't help but comment.
The next moment, their lips touched briefly before separating...
"Ooh~~ I've witnessed quite the scene."
Just then, a voice came from behind.
Akira immediately turned. There stood Eto, who had appeared at some point.
"Takatsuki Sen-san...?"
Akira recognized her.
"Oh, you remember me. How touching."
Eto said with a smile. "It's been a while, Investigator-san."
Though she knew the other woman was named Akira Mado, she obviously couldn't address her directly.
After all, Akira had never told Eto her name. If Eto said it outright, Akira's instincts would definitely raise suspicions.
"I was just passing by, but I stumbled upon quite a scene. Now I have more material."
Eto remarked. "By the way, Investigator-san—romance between subordinate and superior, even kissing... is that allowed at CCG?"
"Mm, CCG has never explicitly prohibited it."
Akira maintained her composure.
She didn't bother denying what had just happened between her and Byakuya—Takatsuki Sen had already seen it.
"I see, I see~"
Eto instinctively reached for a notebook to jot things down, only to realize she hadn't brought one. She scratched her head and laughed awkwardly. "Ah... unfortunately I forgot to bring my notebook. But that's fine—my memory is quite good."
This really had been a chance encounter with Byakuya and Akira, so she naturally hadn't prepared anything.
After all, Japan wasn't that big. Tokyo was even smaller, and Ward 20—where Byakuya, Akira, and Eto all frequently moved about—was smaller still...
...
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