Chapter 253: Winter Date

"Mmm~~~~~~~~" (stares).

For a while now, Shinji had been enduring the intense gaze of Kirie, as if the resentment in her slender eyes could drip with water.

"That, um..."

Perhaps Kirie had truly learned a bit of the Third Magic from Justeaze, converting intangible resentment into substance. Or perhaps the accumulated gaze had exceeded someone's limit of shamelessness.

"Kirie?"

"Hmph." Kirie turned her head away, refusing to look at Shinji. It was clear that she was still sulking.

"Miss Kirie?" Shinji circled to the other side.

"Hmph."

"Miss Kirie?"

"Hmph."

"Sister Kirie."

"..."

"Kirie-nee-chan~"

Finally, Kirie couldn't bear Shinji's persistent pestering anymore and stopped avoiding his gaze.

"Don't be mad, okay?" Shinji grinned foolishly, looking particularly silly.

Kirie's tense jaw couldn't hold on any longer, and she pouted, muttering, "Big liar."

"How did I lie to you?"

"You said you would take me out to play, but you—"

"But I did take you out to play~" Shinji chuckled, "Isn't going to an amusement park considered playing?"

That's right, Shinji and Kirie were currently on their way to the amusement park.

"Yes, it's playing, but, but—"

But what Kirie was concerned about wasn't that at all, but—

"I wanted to go out and play with just the two of us, you idiot."

The trip to the amusement park wasn't just with Shinji and Kirie. They were accompanied by Touko, Justeaze, Mikiya, and Shiki.

That's right, all the formal and informal members of the Touko Agency were present. It was a collective outing.

The second half of the sentence was spoken in a very soft voice, and Shinji couldn't help but bring his ear closer.

"Sorry, I didn't hear clearly. Can you say it again?"

"Forget it if you didn't hear!" Kirie blushed and playfully punched Shinji.

"Hey, hey, is it my fault that you spoke so softly?"

Shinji rubbed his head, looking confused.

Seeing Shinji's expression, Touko sighed helplessly, "He's beyond saving."

"What do you mean by 'beyond saving'?" Justeaze, who was walking alongside Touko, asked in confusion.

"This blockhead Shinji is beyond saving."

"Blockhead? Why do you say that?"

"Haven't you noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

Justeaze's confusion mirrored Shinji's, and Touko let out another sigh of exasperation.

"Well, you're beyond saving too."

"What's wrong with me?" Justeaze continued to ask.

"Nothing." Touko turned her head away, trying to ignore the situation.

Little did she know that the two standing on the other side weren't any better.

"Shiki, do you know why Miss Fujou is angry?"

"I don't know. Mikiya, do you?"

"I don't know either. I thought you, being a girl, would understand."

"But I don't understand."

—Neither of you is any better. Why is the emotional intelligence of the people around me so low?

Touko propped her chin on her hand, wearing a distressed expression almost on par with Souren Araya.

Fortunately, this distress didn't last long as the group soon spotted the entrance to the amusement park.

On the stairs leading to the gate, three beautiful girls stood side by side, creating a stunning sight.

Upon seeing the group's arrival, the girls waved their hands and greeted them.

Two of the girls simultaneously called out "big brother," their eyes shining with excitement.

The younger one was Shinji's sister, Sakura.

The older one had black hair similar to Kirie's and a slender figure that made her appear delicate. However, upon closer observation, one could easily notice the strength hidden beneath her gentle exterior.

There was a certain resilience in the girl's eyes, a determination as if she was ready to challenge something. The delicate balance between the young lady's softness and inner strength was perfectly harmonized. If Mikiya was respected by his friends due to his kindness, this girl was the type to be respected due to her strictness.

The girl's name is Azaka Kokutou, the biological younger sister of Mikiya. Currently, she is studying at the Reien Academy and is good friends with Fujino and Sakura. She is also Touko's new disciple, and... she's a tsundere!

That's right, Azaka is a tsundere, and it's easy to understand her attitude from her current behavior.

Even though her eyes shine brightly when looking at her brother, she says, "Too slow, too slow, big brother. It's not gentlemanly for a man to make a lady wait."

"Sorry, it's because Miss Touko can't wake up early in the morning."

"Hmph, using Miss Touko as an excuse. Pathetic."

Thus, Mikiya understood Shinji's feelings. However, Mikiya wasn't as shameless as Shinji. When facing his sister, he appeared flustered and completely suppressed by her. It wasn't until he promised to help with queuing and errands, along with a series of unequal agreements, that the matter was settled.

Doesn't it give you a sense of playful banter between a brother and sister?

If it does, then you're right. Azaka's most important characteristic is her love for her brother, the kind of love between siblings. Her close relationship with Sakura is also due to their shared bond.

Although she feels a little sorry for Fujino, her good friend, Azaka has decided to support Sakura in winning over Shinji. She is Sakura's strongest supporter. Of course, this is something that Shinji and Mikiya are unaware of.

What's most interesting is that when Azaka "oppresses" Mikiya, Shiki not only stands by and watches with a smile on her face but also occasionally teases, saying, "The sibling bond is so strong." This makes Mikiya laugh helplessly and further intensifies Azaka's dissatisfaction. "One day, I'll snatch brother away from this woman."

Mikiya, who is as dense as Shinji, doesn't notice his sister's feelings. His gaze goes beyond Azaka's head and surveys the surroundings.

"Where's Shiki-kun?"

"He... he hasn't arrived yet. Geez, didn't he say he would come to welcome us?"

The group's destination for today's winter outing is an amusement park within Tokyo's vicinity. Because it's close to their homes, Shiki Tohno said he would arrive first. Sakura, Fujino, and Azaka set out directly from Reien Academy, while Shinji and the others traveled by train from Mifune City.

As they turned their heads, they saw a boy in a black coat running towards them. Before the boy could say anything, Azaka repeated the words she said to Mikiya.

"Too slow, too slow, fake Mikiya. It's not gentlemanly for a man to make a lady wait for such a long time."

"Fake Mikiya" is Azaka's nickname for Shiki Tohno since their first meeting. No matter what Mikiya says, Azaka doesn't listen.

Shiki Tohno truly lives up to the name "fake Mikiya." He doesn't get angry at being bossed around by Azaka at all. His gaze towards Azaka is also very similar to Mikiya's as if he's treating his sister.

However, just because Tohno doesn't get angry doesn't mean no one is angry. A fragile yet determined voice from behind Tohno raised the volume.

"No, you can't bully big brother!"

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