This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [140] [DDD!]

December Double Drop!

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"Huh? I was just away on a business trip. Where did you get the idea I went back to Snezhnaya?"

Luo Qing was genuinely puzzled. He'd never told anyone about his whereabouts, so who was spreading false rumors?

"Well..."

Kamisato Ayaka hesitantly raised her small hand.

"Luo Qing... When I went to your residence that day, a lady in your room told me..."

"I see."

Luo Qing nodded slightly. As expected, he knew what had happened. He continued, "That woman's out of her mind. You don't have to pay attention to her, Miss Kamisato."

"Ah...?"

Ayaka was stunned. She had planned to subtly pry into what kind of relationship that elegant and proud woman had with Luo Qing and why they lived together.

But now, it seemed like their relationship wasn't great? That was... a relief.

An awkward silence fell between them. Luo Qing still needed to head to Yae Publishing House to buy some light novels for Ei. If he didn't hurry, the shop would close.

Seeing that the Kamisato siblings didn't seem to have much else to say, he politely offered, "Well, if there's nothing else, I have some errands to run. Let's catch up another time."

With a casual wave, Luo Qing brushed past Ayaka's shoulder and headed toward the bookstore.

"Eh...?"

Ayaka's expression changed suddenly. She had been thinking of ways to invite Luo Qing over to play the hotpot game with her brother's permission. Now that he was leaving, she panicked.

She glanced nervously up at her older brother, Kamisato Ayato, then kept stealing glances at Luo Qing, afraid he would disappear if she looked away even for a moment.

It was clear she was desperate.

Ayato looked down at his sister's anxious face and sighed helplessly. He knew she was silently seeking his permission to chase after Luo Qing.

But the problem was, Ayaka was dangerously close to throwing herself at him.

If he gave his blessing now, setting aside the family's reputation, what if Luo Qing got any ideas? His sister might not return home tonight...

Ayato's mind was in turmoil. After a long pause, just as he was about to decide, Ayaka suddenly bowed to him and said, "I'm sorry, Brother. Let me be selfish this once."

Without waiting for Ayato's response, she lifted her kimono and dashed off in the direction Luo Qing had gone, her wooden sandals clicking rapidly against the ground.

"Sigh... Father never prepared me for this kind of situation..."

Ayato sighed again, shaking his head as he turned back toward Komore Teahouse. All he could do now was hope his sister wouldn't spend the night away.

...

Meanwhile, at Yae Publishing House, Luo Qing had left the siblings behind and was about to dive into the women's fiction section for a shopping spree when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

"Luo... Ah—!"

"Hmm?"

Hearing the sound, Luo Qing turned around just in time to catch Ayaka as she stumbled right into his arms.

"..."

Luo Qing gently held Ayaka, looking down at her as she looked up at him, their gazes meeting. The atmosphere suddenly felt awkward.

"S-Sorry, Luo Qing... I-I didn't see the threshold there..."

Ayaka's face turned red as she hurriedly pulled away, lowering her head to glare at the step that had tripped her.

In her rush to catch up to Luo Qing, she hadn't noticed the store's threshold. And wearing wooden sandals today, which made balancing trickier, she had stumbled right into his arms.

Seriously, who places a threshold at a bookstore's entrance? she thought, though a tiny part of her didn't seem to mind the accident.

"Did you need something, Miss Kamisato?"

Luo Qing looked over Ayaka's shoulder, noticing her brother wasn't around. Was she... here alone?

"Well..."

Ayaka fidgeted, her hands clasped behind her back as her fingers nervously intertwined. Her face flushed a deeper shade of pink.

"Master... are you buying light novels for that lady?"

"No, it's for another friend," Luo Qing replied, shaking his head. "And, Miss Kamisato, you don't have to call me 'Master' anymore. Didn't we end that relationship a while ago?"

"...Okay."

Ayaka's expression dimmed slightly. She had hoped that keeping the term "Master" would maintain a special bond between them. But now, Luo Qing wanted to sever even that connection.

"Then... what should I call you, Luo Qing?" Ayaka asked softly.

"Luo Qing is fine."

He smiled gently, turning his attention to the nearby bookshelf.

As he began picking out light novels and tossing them into a basket, he asked casually, "So why did you follow me, Miss Kamisato? Did you have something you wanted to say?"

Feigning ignorance and playing it cool—he was an expert. After all, he'd played the part of the devoted admirer with Ayaka for so long, only for her to shut him out twice.

House or no house, there's no winning Kamisato Ayaka's heart, he thought.

"Um..."

Ayaka's eyes darted to the books in the basket. After a moment's hesitation, she said softly, "I... I read a lot of light novels too, Luo Qing. Would you like me to help you pick some?"

"Uh..."

Luo Qing felt a bit awkward. He hadn't planned to carefully select anything—he was just going to grab whatever was new and toss it to Ei. Whether the books were good or worth continuing was for Ei to decide; he was just the delivery boy.

But Ayaka's hopeful gaze made him hesitate. She looked like she'd cry if he said no.

"Alright then, Miss Kamisato. I'd appreciate the help."

He moved aside slightly to give her space.

"Yes!"

Ayaka's face lit up with a joyful smile. She nodded eagerly, quickly stepping closer to the shelf. As she peeked into the basket, she asked again,

"Are all these for that friend?"

"Uh, pretty much."

"But the styles of these light novels are all over the place... Luo Qing, does your friend really like reading all kinds?"

"She seems to like the kind that makes her cry."

"Then some of these won't fit."

Without waiting for his permission, Ayaka began removing some of the books from the basket, murmuring to herself.

"These are all light and comedic—your friend probably wouldn't enjoy them."

Then she added a few other books to the basket, saying,

"These, on the other hand, should be more to her taste."

Luo Qing watched Ayaka's methodical sorting with a strange feeling welling up inside him.

His relationship with Ei and the Raiden Shogun had progressed to the point where they were practically halfway to being lovers.

Now, here was Kamisato Ayaka, eager to mend their broken bond, carefully choosing light novels for Ei.

It struck him then—oh no, Ayaka had become a complete fangirl...

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Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!

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