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Chapter 55: Impressive Tactics
Minami Rika's house had three bedrooms.
One belonged to Marikawa Shizuka, one to Rika, and the third had originally been given to Suyan after Shizuka brought him home.
But ever since Suyan had claimed Shizuka, the lazy blonde had almost completely abandoned her own room. Every night she would sneak into his for a "night raid." Eventually she stopped pretending and simply moved in with him.
Yesterday, the returned Busujima Saeko had been placed in Shizuka's former room.
To stall Yuriko, Shizuka led her into the room she had spent the most time in this past year—Suyan's.
Rei and Saya were naturally ushered into Rika's room.
Inside Rika's room at that moment:
"Say, Takagi-san, didn't Suyan send you home?" Rei glared at Saya with unfriendly eyes. "How come you're back—and you brought an extra woman with you?"
"I…"
Saya tried to explain, but Rei cut her off again. "That's really underhanded, Takagi-san!"
"What?"
Saya looked at her in confusion. They had been fine earlier—why the sudden attitude shift the moment they were alone?
She also didn't understand what "underhanded" meant here.
Rei voiced her suspicion. "First you waited until Suyan was in a good mood and asked him to send you home, creating alone time. After he met your parents and brought you back, fine. But then you pull a 'buy one get one free' stunt and bring back a sister?"
"Sisters? Impressive tactics. No wonder they call you the 'genius' at Fujimi Academy."
"Seriously, well played!"
By the end Rei's tone had turned sarcastic.
She wasn't angry that Saya had tried to get ahead—everyone was competing fairly.
She was angry that the pink-haired glasses girl had introduced a new rival!
That was what stung.
"I didn't!"
Saya felt utterly wronged.
She had never thought of it that way!
She hadn't even realized she liked Suyan until he pointed it out.
And "buy one get one free"? She was the one who got sent as the freebie!
"Hmph!"
Rei crossed her arms, staring coldly, her face clearly saying I dare you to convince me.
Although Saya was undeniably a little genius academically, when it came to interpersonal relationships she was hopelessly dense.
Provoked, Saya couldn't help spilling everything that had happened after Suyan took her home.
When she finished, Rei's mouth fell open.
What is this girl even saying?
She didn't understand, but she was shocked.
After digesting the information, Rei gave Saya a complicated look.
She had to admit—the pink-haired loser's luck was ridiculously good!
If not for her clever mom… aunt… uh, sister, she would have been eliminated long ago.
In that case, this pink-haired loser wasn't much of a threat.
But that sister of hers…
Her methods were terrifying. She had only met Suyan once and already gotten herself brought back.
"Now you understand what happened, right?"
Seeing Rei had processed everything, Saya immediately demanded, "Apologize!"
"Sorry, I shouldn't have misunderstood you."
Realizing Saya was a true loser with no real threat, Rei apologized without hesitation.
"It's fine~"
Seeing Rei's sincere apology, Saya scratched her head, embarrassed.
Rei's orange eyes sparkled. She immediately sensed an opportunity.
Using their newfound reconciliation, she quickly closed the distance with Saya.
Compared to the others in the house, the two of them were the same age, classmates, and had shared the awkward experience of witnessing Saeko force herself on Suyan.
Most importantly, neither had many friends. With one deliberately approaching and the other having no defenses, they clicked instantly.
The topic they had most in common was, of course, Suyan. Without realizing it, the conversation drifted there.
As for the private girl-talk that followed… well, those who understood, understood.
The two girls chatted more and more excitedly, soon reaching the point where they called each other by first names.
Until Saya killed the conversation with one sentence.
"Um, Rei… you and Suyan…"
Saya asked carefully, "Have you… done it?"
"W-what are you saying?!"
Rei's face turned scarlet.
"You haven't? But you two are so close, and he's always playing with the ahoge on your head at school. I thought…"
"Stop… stop talking about it…"
Rei pushed Saya, face burning, desperately trying to change the subject.
Saya suddenly looked puzzled. "Wait, Rei, do you hear something weird?"
"Weird sound?"
Seeing Saya's serious expression—and wanting to escape the topic—Rei played along and listened.
From outside came a sound like a cat in heat.
But the moment they focused, it stopped abruptly.
Saya suggested curiously, "It's gone? Sounds like it came from outside. Want to go check?"
Rei shook her head. "Better not. Suyan is probably still fighting Rika-san's friend. We shouldn't disturb them and make him lose focus."
Hearing the strange noise, Rei had thought of something, but since it vanished so quickly she dismissed it.
If it were what she imagined, judging from Saeko's previous experience, there was no way it would end that fast.
So she must have misheard.
What she didn't know was…
Inside the room where Shizuka and Yuriko were staying:
"Teacher Marikawa truly has impressive tactics."
Yuriko looked at Shizuka, her pale-purple eyes flashing with admiration.
She had heard the sound outside too—and she knew exactly why it had suddenly stopped.
Although she had only begun learning Nen control and couldn't yet use Gyo to see aura, the blonde bombshell in front of her wasn't hiding the massive amount of aura pouring from her body at all.
Such a huge surge of aura would be noticeable even to someone who had never studied Nen at this close range—let alone Yuriko, who had just learned to control it.
"What are you talking about?"
Shizuka blinked her large golden eyes, face the picture of innocent confusion.
If a Nen user skilled in Gyo had concentrated aura in their eyes right then, they would have seen a vast, silent river of aura flowing outward from her, blanketing the entire house and muffling every sound.
Not only blocking all sound from entering their own room, but also isolating the room where Rei and Saya were.
The purpose?
Wasn't it obvious?
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