Ch.78 Did I Just Flirt?

Mai Zen'in's expression changed again.

She admitted that Akira's words had once again struck a chord deep within her.

Even if she managed to beat Maki in combat, it wouldn't be in the domain where Maki excelled, namely, close-quarters combat. And surpassing her sister outside of battle wasn't fundamentally different from beating her inside it.

Such a simple truth, yet she had never managed to grasp it before.

"Can I... really do that?"

She was asking Akira but also questioning herself.

"Whether you can or can't depends on your mindset and intelligence. From my perspective, you do have several advantages over your sister."

"Like what?"

"You're better at makeup and styling than she is. I never expected that in this country, there'd be a high school girl who doesn't know how to apply foundation."

Of course, Maki wouldn't have mentioned this to Akira, but don't forget—there was another typical Japanese woman at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Hayami.

After learning about Maki's situation, she practically treated Maki like a daughter, teaching her all the essential skills for a young woman, including makeup.

"Because it's Maki, of course."

Mai gave a little laugh, a sense of superiority welling up inside her. She instinctively tidied her hair and slipped back into her seductive mode.

"But being better at something she doesn't care about doesn't mean much. I need to find an area she actually values."

"How troublesome. Not surprising, though—sisters, after all." Always a challenge in the most unexpected ways, a common trait of twin sisters.

"We are sisters, after all. Akira, will you help me?"

With wide, glistening eyes, she fixed her gaze on Akira, even poking him lightly in the chest with one finger.

"If you're willing to help me, I'll do whatever you ask."

Her voice was so sweet, almost cloying, with no hint of coercion—only pure willingness.

Akira had to admit, his instincts reacted.

"It's certainly tempting, but— I refuse!"

He delivered his words with a clear, unyielding tone, emphasizing every syllable.

"Come back after a few years of practice if you want to seduce men. Your hand is trembling—definitely not the quality of a proper markswoman."

Mai wasn't as afraid of Akira now, but that didn't change the fact that she had no real experience in this area, leading to her nervousness—a fatal flaw for a sharpshooter.

"Still, if you're already thinking about seducing me, I suppose you're feeling better. Goodbye, then. I'm looking forward to it—your upcoming fight with your sister. Regardless of who wins, it'll be interesting, and good growth for you both."

Akira patted the dust off his pants as he got up, leaving Mai with just the sight of his back.

They were in the shadow of an overhanging roof, but as he stepped into the sunlight, the rays caught his form. To the girl's eyes, he looked like a man wrapped in brilliance, radiating light, making her heart flutter uncontrollably.

Ugh, why is my heart beating so fast?

He made fun of me, he turned me down.

I've never been treated like this before.

But, but—

No, there's no "but."

It's all the sun's fault.

The sunlight today is just too beautiful, too gentle.

Ugh, ugh, ugh...

Lost in thought, she was snapped back to reality by a voice calling out to her.

Looking up, she saw that handsome face that had unsettled her heart so many times.

"A-Akira, why are you—?"

"Because I changed my mind."

Akira's playful grin sent a ripple of nervousness through Mai.

"That, um, I'm not ready yet..."

"No need to be. Just pass along two messages for me. In return, I'll give you two pieces of advice that I guarantee will be helpful. How about that?"

"O-Oh, that's what this is about." Mai breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought—"

"Thought what?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'll do it."

"Okay, then let's exchange contacts. If you have anything you want to say to your sister, you can send it to me too."

After smoothly exchanging numbers and email addresses, Akira stepped back into the sunlight.

This time, Mai didn't watch him leave; she buried her head back into her knees.

Ugh, this is so embarrassing. What on earth am I doing?

Unfortunately, her moment of self-reflection was abruptly interrupted by two familiar voices.

"Mai?"

"What's wrong? Why are you sitting here all alone?"

"Kasumi, Momo..."

It was Miwa Kasumi and Nishimiya Momo, Mai's classmates and her closest friends at the school.

"Whoa, your face is so red, and those look like tear marks."

"What happened? Did someone bully you? Was it that underclassman Akira?"

No one understands women better than other women.

The two of them knew Mai's personality too well. She always paid attention to her appearance, so it was unthinkable for her to be sitting here in such a disheveled state. She even spent at least half an hour on makeup every day. Given that Mai had left with Akira, who had close ties with Maki and was known for his scheming—considering he nearly humiliated Kyoto—it's not impossible that he did something to her.

"N-No, it's nothing like that." Mai quickly shook her head.

She knew how to differentiate. While Akira might have been flirtatious, he never truly crossed any lines and even helped clarify her thoughts.

"Really?" Kasumi was doubtful. "Then why were you crying?"

"I get it! Your sister must have bullied you, right? How dare she pick on my adorable underclassman—I won't let her get away with it!" Momo clenched her teeth in frustration.

"Uh, and how exactly would you stop her? Are you sure you could beat her?" Mai doused Momo's enthusiasm with cold water.

Momo froze at the reminder.

She had been eliminated early, so she had a chance to observe the entire situation, and she had clearly seen how Maki dominated Kamo Noritoshi.

As a classmate of Kamo Noritoshi, Momo was well aware of how strong he was. She knew she couldn't match him and was lucky to have escaped using her "Tool Manipulation" technique.

While Kamo had already been weakened before his fight with Maki, Momo couldn't ignore the fact that Maki emerged completely unscathed. Momo had no illusions about her own chances against her.

"We could report it to the teacher. Gakuganji-sensei would definitely help, and so would Principal Gakuganji," Kasumi suggested, ever the diligent and rational student.

"No need. It's embarrassing to talk about, and besides, it has nothing to do with Maki. Our match hasn't even started, so who's to say who's bullying who?" Mai shook her head again.

"Ahaha, that's true."

Kasumi thought about it—being picked on by someone from another school wouldn't be good for their reputation.

Momo's focus, however, was different.

Mai didn't seem like she was putting on a brave face. Even though she had been crying, she seemed more at ease than usual.

This reaction...

"Mai, are you... in love?"

"Eh?! Eh?! Eh?!" Kasumi gasped in surprise.

Mai was stunned. "Wh-What are you talking about? There's no way I'm in love."

That's what she said, but the blush on her cheeks and her evasive gaze told a different story.

"Kasumi, what do you think?"

"Reporting, senpai, I think you're right."

"And who's the lucky guy?"

"That's not it! Listen to me!" Mai was exasperated.

Love? Not at all! I confessed something like that, and he just calmly turned me down. This isn't a love story—it's more like I got rejected before I even got a chance!

"Heh~ really?" The yellow and blue duo exchanged knowing smirks.

As if on cue, Mai's phone buzzed, revealing a new message—from Akira.

"Heh~~~~~" They both chorused again.

Mai: "..."

Even if I jumped into the Fukushima Bay, I couldn't wash this off.