"Really?"
Kaito had always been an obedient child who listened to others.
Since Maria had said so, he naturally reached out without hesitation.
Then.
Maria's beautiful absolute territory was blocked by her.
Maria held what seemed to be a lunchbox in her hands, placing it over her absolute territory, effectively blocking Kaito's reaching hand.
"No, you can't."
Maria's voice remained as gentle as the Virgin Mary's.
However.
There was a hint of gentle complaint and annoyance in her tone.
"Because Mr. Sora is very Ecchi."
"Ecchi?"
Kaito looked at Maria in confusion.
He didn't recall ever bullying Maria or her sister Alisa, did he?
"Yes, very Ecchi."
Under Kaito's gaze.
Maria's cheeks puffed up adorably.
In a gentle yet annoyed tone, she said.
"You promised to treat me."
"But I waited and waited."
"Until the next morning, and Mr. Sora still didn't come."
"The next day, Mr. Sora was busy with other girls."
"You completely forgot about me, your patient."
By the end.
Maria was looking at him with a deeply resentful and angry expression.
"Sorry."
Kaito felt a bit awkward.
With so many things happening over the past two days.
He had completely forgotten about his promise to treat Maria.
"I don't want an apology."
Maria still wore that harmless, gentle yet pouty expression.
"To wait for Mr. Sora, I stayed up for two nights."
"I even have dark circles now."
"Mr. Sora must compensate me properly!"
Kaito looked closely.
Indeed, there were faint dark circles under Maria's golden-brown eyes.
"Then today, or tomorrow."
Considering he might have some plans tonight.
Kaito changed his tone. "Within these two days, I'll give Miss Maria a thorough 'treatment,' how about that?"
Hearing Kaito's teasing tone.
With its obvious hints and suggestive emphasis.
Maria's cheeks flushed slightly, and she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, letting out a soft hum.
"If Mr. Sora stands me up again."
"I won't pay attention to you anymore."
"I definitely won't this time."
Only then did Maria seem satisfied, handing the box to Kaito.
"What's this?"
"It's the lunch I specially made for Mr. Sora this morning."
Kaito opened the box to see.
Fried fish, spicy chicken, mapo tofu, and stir-fried greens.
All dishes he liked.
"It looks delicious."
Although he had just finished a large meal prepared by Kocho Kanae, Kaito could always eat more.
He picked up a piece of fried fish with his chopsticks and took a bite.
"How is it?"
"Delicious."
The saltiness was just right.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside.
Thanks to the good insulation, the fish was still slightly warm.
Most importantly...
"No bones?"
"Yes."
Hearing Kaito's praise, Maria's smile grew even gentler. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "I removed the bones while cooking."
"So, Mr. Sora can eat without worry, taking big bites."
Kaito ate heartily, his eyes still on the girls' legs on the sports field.
Maria, meanwhile, chatted softly about interesting things happening at school.
"Mr. Sora, do you know Nakano Nino?"
"Yeah, what about her?"
"I heard the reason she was late to school today is quite special."
"Special?"
"Mhm, a classmate who arrived late saw her entering a hotel with a boy, and she was limping when she came to school."
Kaito's eating speed increased slightly.
How the hell was there still a high school student not at school by 10 a.m.?
Are they keeping her around for New Year's?
After chatting idly with Maria until the end of class.
She went off to student council work.
Kaito went downstairs, bought an iced cola from the vending machine on the first floor, and drank it in one go. Not knowing what Saeko liked to drink.
He bought a cola, a juice, and a black tea, planning to visit the kendo club during lunch to see Busujima Saeko.
But just as he reached the school building's entrance.
He saw a familiar figure.
White hair, blue eyes.
And legs just as plump and enticing as her sister's, clad in white knee-high socks with golden trim.
Alisa.
"Hmm?"
Kaito stopped, curious, and looked at Alisa.
She didn't seem to be doing well.
Three boys had cornered her at the entrance, with many students watching but no one stepping forward. In fact, Kaito noticed many seemed to be enjoying the spectacle.
Though Alisa still appeared strong, Kaito could sense her unease.
Kaito was about to step in.
When he heard a girl's dissatisfied cry from behind.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Kaito paused.
He saw.
A girl with golden, slightly curled hair walking past him, frowning.
Behind her were a girl with light peach-colored hair in a bun, wearing a peacemaking smile, and another with black hair and slightly old-fashioned glasses.
"It's Miura."
The leader of the three boys looked at Miura Yumiko, who had stepped in front of Alisa.
He frowned. "I thought you didn't get along with her?"
"Whether we get along or not is beside the point. What are three boys doing bullying a girl?"
Miura Yumiko frowned不满地.
"Especially you, Toi. Bullying a girl here, are you even a man?"
"This shouldn't concern you, right?"
Being scolded in front of so many people, the boy named Toi clearly felt embarrassed.
"And before you help her, why don't you ask what she did?"
"What did she do?"
One of the boys beside Toi pointed at Alisa. "She tattled to Ms. Hiratsuka, got us scolded."
"Three-thousand-word reflection."
"And our parents were called."
"Don't you think we should have a chat with her?"
"You were the ones bullying classmates first."
Alisa stood her ground, arguing firmly. "I warned you to stop bullying others, but you kept doing it. I had no choice but to tell the teacher!"
"Bullying classmates?"
Toi sneered, then turned and gestured to the crowd.
"Hey, Maruo, come here!"
A skinny boy with glasses walked over, head down.
In the sunlight, Miura Yumiko could clearly see the boy's right eye was bruised, and he was limping—clearly, he had been beaten more than once.
When Maruo reached them, Toi slung an arm around his shoulders.
With a smile, he said, "Maruo, tell everyone."
"Did we bully you?"
"Alright, let's end this here. We're all classmates, no need to make a scene."
Miura Yumiko, sensing things were getting out of hand, quickly intervened.
Toi didn't argue with her, instead turning to Alisa, who was shielded behind Miura.
"Hey, you said you reported us because we bullied him, right?"
"How about we make a bet?"
"If he says we bullied him, we'll never bully him again, and we'll even bow and apologize to you and him in front of everyone."
"If he says we didn't bully him, it's simple."
"We're not petty people."
"You just have to bow and apologize to us, deal?"