There was still time for lunch. Kenji went on ahead to the cafeteria and scanned around the area.

Her eyes landed on a girl surrounded by many others.

She's still the most suspicious of me, I have to take her suspicion off me and towards others.

"Hey."

Kenji stopped in front of that table. Erina's table. Erina had a faint smile on her face as she intertwined her fingers.

"Mind if we talk for a bit?"

The girls who had been with Erina on the table whispered to each other with smiles on their faces and left. They didn't even wait for Erina to agree.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure, Kai?"

Uwaa... She totally looks like one of the final boss' top brass who are trying to strike a deal with the main character with a flirtatious attitude. And more like, she totally expected that I'd come to talk to her.

"I'm not Kai. And..."

Kenji stopped his talk because Erina gestured for him to sit down beside her. Of course, he ignored her and sat in front of her instead.

"You see, a classmate of mine invited me to participate in something called a group combat competition."

"Ah. GCC, is it? The acronyms sound way better than the actual name so just call them that. And so?"

Erina told him to continue and Kenji nodded. Erina definitely knew the reason why he had struck up this conversation with her already.

"Can you join us?"

"No."

Kenji sighed, of course it wouldn't be that easy.

"I won't join you because you were only asked a favor. If you want me to join, invite me with your own intentions."

What is this woman saying?

"I'm the one who wanted to scout you. I asked him if I could choose the last person."

I'm probably falling right into her palms. She's definitely planning to corner me with questions or actions or maybe even my habits to connect me to Kai. But I have a plan to counter her advances. High risk, high return. I'm sure that if I reveal myself as 'Kai', she'd stop all of these antics but I can't do that.

"Then, I agree but under one other request."

Erina stopped Kenji who was about to stand up.

"What is it?"

"Go on a date with me."

Kenji sighed.

So it comes down to that. Being the daughter of a duke and involved deeply in politics, I'm sure she can pick up even my slightest habits. If at the least, I can show her Kai at the same time as me, she'd know I'm not Kai. Kai, you're really messing up my life indirectly, aren't you? No, more like what's with all these girls trying to attack me a few days after I transferred?

"You'll join if I go, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then, we have a deal."

"Sunday, we'll meet at the fountain at nine, don't be late. Don't bring anyone else."

As she said that, she stood up and left. But she turned around once and winked at me before walking away.

"I totally just made a deal with the devil."

With that settled, I have to go to back to class.

Kenji stood up but before he could leave, several people stopped him.

"Hm?"

"Come with us."

Are they... upperclassmen? No, there are some of my classmates and other classes mixed in there too. Judging by what just happened, I guess they're Erina's fans.

The boys had scary expressions and were quite intimidating, many in the cafeteria had broken out into whispers. Everyone saw that Kenji was talking with Erina.

The several boys led Kenji towards the back of the school where he had just led Umi at.

Now that I think about it, I've led two girls back here already in just a few days of being here. I guess it was my turn, huh? No, wait. This is a totally different reason to why I led those two. One was a troublemaker who hid from her father to experience school life and one of them had heard of a secret. But now I'm being led here for talking to a girl?

"So, should we get this over with?"

Kenji prepared a battle stance.

"Yes, we should."

The boys surrounded Kai and bowed down at 90°.

"Eh? What is this?"

"""Please take as us your disciples!"""

...

...

What did they just say? Didn't they just surround me with menacing faces? Where did the talk of being my disciple appear?

"No, more like what are you guys talking about?"

"We want to become your disciples!"

"That's the thing. Why?"

"Varying reasons, master!"

He just called me master.

"What's the biggest reason?"

"F-fighting skills, most of us came here because you could defeat Yoko, the Dark Queen in close combat!"

"And, what's the real reason?"

"Because you managed to get three of the most beautiful girls in school, master!"

Of course, that'd be it.

"I'm not taking any more disciples so no."

"Then we're okay with just being your followers, master!"

You're still calling me master?

"Having a follower is annoying though..."

"Then we'll become your servants, lord!"

"Oi, isn't there something wrong with your heads?"

They probably think that if they're close to me, they'd have chances to meet with girls.

"Alright I'll allow followers. But don't be annoying or I'll send you all flying."

There were at least ten boys here. None of them are ugly and in fact in terms of handsomeness, they'd be above average. But according to everyone else, Kenji is way above average. He's at top-tier class.

"Yes, master!"

And there they go calling me master again.

"Can't you at least call me something other than master?"

"Then sir!"

"...Alright, that'll work."

Kenji left and went towards his classroom because lunch had already finished. But when he got there, he saw a commotion near his seat.

"She's so cute!"

"Kyaaaa! I want one too!"

"I wish my little sister was this cute!"

"...?"

Kenji had a troubled expression as he heard those comments.

It couldn't be...

And when he went up to the crowd, he saw a maid beside Yoko and Yoko had a child sitting on her lap. Kenji's eyes widened and his pupils trembled.

Yoko had a smile on her face as the child was playing with a ribbon.

Emi...?

The child had black hair and was very similar to Akemi. Kenji stood still for a few seconds but snapped back into reality when a finger had tapped his shoulder.

"Kenji, what's wrong?"

Tsunoda Arata had tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

"Nothing."

Kenji smiled and shook his head.

"So, did you manage to convince them?"

"Well, I was going to but as you saw with this scene..."

Arata had a troubled face and scratched his chin.

"I had gotten everyone other than Yoko and Haru, have you gotten the last member?"

"Yes, that's cleared. Should I help you invite these two?"

"That would help."

But before they could move, the professor walked in.

"Seats."

The crowd around Yoko dispersed and went back to their seats. The maid took Emi by her hand and bowed down to Yoko as she left. Most of the girls in class where smiling while looking at Emi walking down the stairs.

Yoko had a scary expression.

Uwaa... this girl is totally overprotective of Emi. I'm sure that if even the slightest harm comes to her, that person wouldn't live to see tomorrow or live his life properly from then on.

Kenji sat down and Yoko narrowed her eyes.

Figures. Even if she's distracted by Emi, she wouldn't miss the chance to study me.

Just as class started, Kenji decided that was the best time to talk. Haru was flustered and couldn't listen very well while Yoko was focusing on something entirely different.

"You two, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Favor?"

Hearing the unexpected word, Yoko repeated it. It's true, Kenji shouldn't have used that word. If she owed Yoko, she would be able to use it to find her way to Kai.

But Yoko probably wouldn't join him if there were no merits aside from the competition's rewards. Right now, even Yoko's tuition this school was being paid for by a scholarship. Rather, Yoko was the one being paid by the school during events.

"Can you join me in the GCC?"

"...not like I have a choice in the matter..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, I agree."

Haru turned her head to the side.

Yoko paused for a bit.

"...Will you give me a detailed hint to where Kai is?"

"Yes."

"Then, I'll join."

"It's decided then."

Kenji turned around and gave Arata the thumbs up.

"Oi, you three! Shut up and listen to the lesson!"

"""Yes!"""

Kenji, Haru, and Yoko straightened their backs at the sudden yell of the professor who was annoyed by their talking.

Once class ended, Erina immediately went home and straight towards the Mariko Palace. In there, Erina locked herself in her room and opened her closet.

"Kai's always had an interest in the modest yet has a hidden allure. It was written in his eyes."

Erina closed her right eye and when it opened, her eye was a different color. It was golden.

Still, to think that just by reading this grimoire, my right eye changed into a magic eye, such a frightening thing.

Erina closed her right eye once more and the usual color came back.

"I guess this one should do."

Erina took a white one-piece dress without sleeves and a hat to cover herself from the sun. It was simple yet elegant.

"To think I have to go through all this just to make him reveal himself... All I want is to be friends with them again..."

Erina's expression fell but she quickly began arranging her clothes once more.