Chapter 53: Narrow Escape

"Shit, I really forgot about this."

Haruno sighed inwardly, realizing she had been recognized. She was decisive, though. Since her identity was known, there was no point in pretending anymore.

"That's right, I'm Yukino's sister, Yukinoshita Haruno."

Ryuji, who was already seated in the passenger seat, nodded but didn't say much. His calm demeanor suggested he was waiting for Haruno to continue. After all, there had to be a reason for her sudden appearance.

Seeing Ryuji's calmness, Haruno was slightly impressed. He's good at keeping his cool, no wonder he could be such a scumbag, she thought.

"Yukino is a very simple person. I don't want her to be caught up with someone who has ulterior motives," Haruno said pointedly, staring at Ryuji with a gaze that clearly implied he was the one with ulterior motives.

"And what exactly is Miss Haruno implying?" Ryuji suddenly chuckled. He found the situation amusing and wasn't in a rush to leave. Instead, he continued the conversation, intrigued by what Haruno was trying to accomplish.

Haruno hadn't expected Ryuji to be this composed. She assumed that once she confronted him, he'd get flustered or defensive.

Well, looks like I'll have to switch tactics, she thought, quickly adjusting her approach. Smiling slightly, Haruno leaned closer, her tone playful but suggestive.

"I just think Yukino is still too young. If you're into her, wouldn't I be a better choice?" She winked at Ryuji seductively.

Of course, Haruno wasn't serious. While she did attend various social events and banquets due to her early takeover of the family business, she was still very much inexperienced in actual relationships. This was just a calculated move. In fact, she had planted a small hidden camera in the car. If Ryuji made any questionable moves, Haruno was ready to show him how powerful the Yukinoshita family could be.

"Forget it."

But what Haruno didn't expect was how bluntly Ryuji rejected her.

"..."

Even Haruno was left speechless for a moment. Why? Why wasn't he reacting the way she expected?

"Am I not as pretty as Yukino?" She asked, half-joking but with a hint of genuine curiosity. After all, no woman likes being told they're second to someone else.

"Or do you think I'm not as attractive?"

Ryuji raised two fingers with a smile. "Two reasons. First, your acting could use some work. It's a little obvious."

"..."

Haruno's smile froze. So, he had seen right through her act from the start.

"Second, I prefer Yukino because she's simple and straightforward."

Compared to Haruno, who was always calculating, Yukino was much more transparent and genuine. It was exhausting to be around someone whose words and actions you constantly had to second-guess. In this world, especially with the anime heroines he knew, there was no shortage of beauty. One more or less made little difference to Ryuji.

Haruno fell silent. There was a time when she, too, had been a simple girl. But circumstances had forced her to wear a mask to protect herself. Her calculated nature was her shield in a world that often demanded too much.

"I don't like people like you," Ryuji said bluntly and moved to open the car door, ready to leave.

Click!

The door locked. When Ryuji looked over, he saw veins bulging on Haruno's forehead. Her voice was calm but laced with irritation as she said slowly, "You really dare say that?"

Without waiting for a response, she started the engine, and the supercar roared to life, speeding away from the school.

---

"This is the place."

Yumiko, along with Yui and Hina, arrived at Tobe Sho's house. As members of the same clique, they naturally knew where he lived.

Yumiko knocked on the door but received no answer.

"Is he not home?" Yui and Hina whispered behind her.

"Maybe we should go back," Yui suggested. "I don't know why, but I've had a bad feeling ever since we got here."

"Yeah, Yumiko, it feels off being here," Hina agreed, shivering slightly.

Yumiko, however, was adamant. "I..."

Click.

Before she could finish, the door swung open on its own.

"There! Someone's home after all. Let's go in!" Yumiko said excitedly, stepping inside.

"Yumiko!" Yui and Hina called after her, but seeing no other option, they reluctantly followed.

Inside, the house felt strangely empty. It wasn't a large home, so it didn't take long to explore. Yet, there was no sign of Tobe.

"Is he really not here?" Yumiko muttered, confused.

At that moment, Hina's voice trembled. "It's freezing in here. We should go outside."

Yui nodded in agreement. It was odd—the temperature had felt fine outside, but inside the house, it was unnaturally cold.

"Yeah, let's get out of here," Yumiko finally agreed, rubbing her arms as she felt a chill run down her spine.

But as she took a step, her foot brushed something. Looking down, she saw a CD lying on the floor.

"What's this?" She bent down and picked it up, flipping it over. Her face immediately turned beet red.

"Yumiko?" Yui and Hina asked, rushing over to see what had flustered their friend.

When they saw the cover of the CD, they both froze, their expressions equally mortified.

"H-Hentai!" Yui stammered.

"It's porn!" Hina squeaked.

Disgusted, Yumiko threw the CD aside, and the girls bolted out of the house. While it wasn't shocking for a teenage boy like Tobe to have something like that, the girls couldn't help feeling grossed out.

However, none of them noticed the faint trace of dark energy that flickered on the discarded disc as it fell back onto the floor. They were already halfway out the door, and without the ability to see spiritual energy, they were oblivious to the ominous presence they had narrowly escaped.