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Boom... the Student Council room was violently pushed open, and everyone inside looked at Kaito with wary expressions as he walked in.
"You don't need to be so wary of me. I won't do anything."
Kaito looked speechlessly at the Student Council members staring him down.
"Hmph. Kaito-sensei is a dangerous person. It's better to stay vigilant."
Tsubaki looked at him with an expression that made her opinion of him perfectly clear.
"Forget it, Tsubaki. If Kaito-sensei really wanted to do something to me, it wouldn't matter how prepared you were."
Sona pushed up her glasses from behind her desk.
"Yes, President!"
"See, President Sona gets it. That's why she's the President and you're the Vice President."
Kaito said to Tsubaki with a grin as he walked in alongside Asia.
"You..."
"Alright, Kaito-sensei, stop teasing Tsubaki." Sona's eyes had already moved to Asia. "What do you need?"
"Well, time to trouble President Sona to open the back door again. Just a small token of my appreciation."
Kaito walked up to her desk with a mischievous smile and placed the same red envelope as before on top of it.
Sona stared at it. He knew perfectly well that money couldn't be spent anywhere, yet here it was again. Infuriating.
"Fine, I'll take it. Tsubaki, handle this. And—" she looked at Asia. "What's your name?"
"Um... my name is Asia Argento. Please take care of me!"
Asia bowed politely. Sona nodded and looked at Tsubaki.
"Understood, President. I'll take Miss Asia to complete her enrollment now."
"Go ahead."
Tsubaki bowed to Kaito and Sona, then turned to Asia. "Miss Asia, please come with me."
Asia glanced nervously at Kaito. He gave her a small nod, and she stepped forward, bowing to Tsubaki. "Thank you, Miss Shinra."
"No trouble. This way."
As the two left, Sona's expression turned serious.
"Kaito-sensei. Can I ask you for a favor?"
There was a rare hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Tell me what it is first. If it's not too difficult, given our relationship, I can still help."
A blush crept onto Sona's face before she could stop it. 'Our relationship? What relationship do we have?'
'He always says things like that. Is he doing it on purpose?'
She studied him carefully. Handsome, strong, and somehow not unpleasant to be around. If she were to have a fiance like him, it didn't seem entirely—
She pushed the thought aside. Rias.
"Ahem. It's about Rias. She has a fiance she doesn't like, and I was hoping you could help her break off the engagement."
"If it's Rias's problem, why isn't she the one asking me?"
Sona sighed. "Because she doesn't believe in your strength. I've told her, but she hasn't truly accepted it. So she doesn't think you can actually help her."
Kaito's eyes narrowed slightly, a small smile on his lips. "And what makes you so sure I'd pick a fight with a major Devil family for her? We're not that close."
He wasn't the type to rush into someone else's mess on goodwill alone.
"Because it would be fun for you." Sona pushed her glasses up, meeting his gaze steadily. "Isn't that enough?"
Kaito stared at her.
'Good heavens. She figured me out in a few conversations. Terrifying woman.'
He burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Alright, I'll help Rias break off her engagement. But I'm not responsible for whatever comes after."
"That's all I need. As for the consequences—" Sona gave him a small, playful wink. "We'll cross that bridge later."
"Rias is really lucky to have a friend like you."
"You flatter me."
Click... The door opened and Asia stepped back in, shyly smoothing the hem of her new Kuoh Academy uniform.
"Wow, it suits you really well, Asia."
"R-Really, Mr. Kaito?"
"Absolutely. You're easily school idol material." Kaito gave her a thumbs-up with a Might Guy-esque smile.
"Is that so? That's wonderful!"
"President, Miss Asia's enrollment is complete. I've put her in Class 2, Year 3 to make it easier to keep an eye on her."
Sona nodded. "Good work, Tsubaki."
"For the President, I can do anything! Please don't say 'good work'!"
Sona pressed a hand to her forehead. "Alright, Tsubaki. I've always thought of you all as family, you don't have to—"
"But you're also our master!"
"Exactly, for Lady Sona, I—"
"Yes, yes..."
At some point, a handful of melon seeds had appeared in Kaito's hand. He leaned back and watched the scene unfold with a deeply satisfied expression.
"Crack... spit..."
"Chew chew chew."
"Crack... spit..."
The crunching was perhaps a touch loud. Every head in the room turned toward him.
"Kaito-sensei, please don't crack melon seeds in the Student Council room. Cleaning up is a nightmare."
Tsubaki looked at him helplessly, clearly wanting to throw him out but knowing she couldn't.
"Alright, alright. The show's over anyway. Asia, let's go."
He paused at the door. "Keep up that good habit, President Sona. Take the money, get the job done."
Kaito left with Asia. Sona sat quietly, staring at the Tempest Coins in her hand.