«I'm happy to introduce you to another new classmate,» Professor Misaki Yuunami announces.
Standing next to her is a stunning girl with sharp European features, long red hair tied into a ponytail, and two icy eyes that pierce straight through you. Her expression is stern, eyes half-lidded like a soldier analyzing her surroundings. Her figure is clearly athletic—her chest a bit smaller than Yuzu's, yet still impressive—and her hips and thighs look almost identical to Rika's. It's like she's the perfect blend of both.
~Wait... why does she look so damn familiar...?~
Professor Yuunami continues. «...She comes from the most prestigious high school in all of France. Her name is Chantal Carreaux.»
The moment he hears that name, Hakuto's eyes shoot wide open and his jaw drops.
~Chantal Carreaux...? No way... That Chantal Carreaux?! Those cold eyes... There's no mistaking it, it's her!~
His face doesn't show surprise—it's pure terror.
«As the professor mentioned, my name is Chantal Carreaux. I am honored to join the esteemed Tsugumi High School, and I will do my best to live up to its standards,» declares the girl in flawless Japanese, laced with a soft French accent. Her tone is stiff, her posture military-level straight.
So this is the surprise my dad mentioned last night...?! That bastard... I swear, the moment I get home, I'm giving him hell!
«Hakuto, are you okay? You've got the face of a U.S. soldier reliving 'Nam flashbacks,» asks Itsu, clearly catching the expression on his seatmate's face.
«Do I look okay to you?!» Hakuto snaps, earning a sharp glare from Professor Yuunami. She clears her throat and gestures for Chantal to take the empty seat behind him.
Without hesitation, Chantal walks to her seat—her steps straight, precise, like a soldier on parade. The air around her is thick with authority and discipline, so much so that every student in Class 2-B instinctively averts their eyes when she looks their way.
Even when her eyes land on Hakuto, she doesn't pause—just scans him with the same cold, analytical stare before looking away.
Hakuto exhales in relief, shoulders slumping.
~Maybe... just maybe she didn't recognize me? It's been six years, after all. Even I didn't realize who she was until the professor said her name. Let's just hope she never figures it out...~
Still, Hakuto feels like his back is glued to a slab of ice—just having Chantal behind him is enough to send nonstop chills down his spine.
♡♡♡
«That smug know-it-all... She's only been in our class for a day and I already hate her guts!» grumbles Rika, clearly irritated.
It's mid-afternoon. Rika and Yuzu—who's clinging tightly to Hakuto's arm—are walking home from school. It's their usual routine, since the Narkhalis' mansion is just a thirty-minute walk from Tsugumi. They're now in the final stretch: a narrow forest path that leads straight to their gate.
«Tell me about it...» Hakuto mutters, still lost in thought.
That morning had turned into a full-blown showdown between Rika and Chantal—a battle of brains, each one racing to answer the teachers' questions faster and more accurately. It ended in a tie, leaving the whole class stunned. Up until yesterday, Rika was the unchallenged genius of Tsugumi. But now? Chantal's arrival was shaking that title.
The only silver lining for Hakuto? She didn't say a single word to him—not even during break. She acted like he was a complete stranger.
«And who's this...?» chimes in Yuzu, totally out of the loop—being a first-year and all.
«Some girl who transferred from France! Oh, you should see her—so proper, so composed, that smug 'I-know-everything' face and—it's her!!!»
Rika suddenly cuts herself off.
Because right in front of them, blocking the path, stands Chantal. Her icy, sharp gaze locked directly on the three of them.
Hakuto gulps, a cold sweat forming on his forehead. This can't be good.
«At the end of this road there's only our house! What the hell are you doing here?!» Rika shouts, clearly pissed.
Chantal doesn't answer. Her eyes slowly shift... and lock onto Yuzu.
«Get your hands off my boyfriend, you filthy demonic whore.»
Her voice is flat, emotionless—yet every word cuts like a knife.
Shit... not only does she remember me, but my dad must've told her everything... We're screwed...
«W-What did you just call me...?!» Yuzu snaps, her tone boiling with rage.
In response, she clutches Hakuto's arm even tighter, smashing her massive breasts against him—her focus clearly stuck on the word slut rather than demonic.
Rika, on the other hand, takes a step back—her legs shaking.
«W-Who is this girl...?» she whispers, her voice small and trembling.
«It's been a long time, Hakuto... but I never imagined you'd change this much. We swore eternal love, and now look at you—surrounded by two little whores from N'raeth.»
«W-We never swore anything! And for the record, watch your damn mouth when you talk about my sisters!»
«Your sisters...» Chantal shakes her head, clearly unimpressed.
«Don't be ridiculous. They're nothing but two filthy demonic sluts. I wonder... did you tell them about our kiss? About the promise of eternal love we made?»
«KISS?! ETERNAL LOVE?!» Yuzu and Rika shout in perfect unison, their eyes blazing as they glare daggers at Hakuto.
«We were eight! At that age I didn't even know how to spell the word 'love', let alone understand what it meant! And it wasn't even a real kiss!» Hakuto blurts out, his face beet red with embarrassment.
«Damn it... Those two demonic whores must've brainwashed you with their filthy magic. But don't worry, Hakuto—I'll break their spell myself!»
«I told you—never call them that again. Their names are Yuzu and Rika. Don't make me say it twice.»
Hakuto's eyes narrow, his voice firm. His fists are clenched tight, his stance unshakable.
«Or what?» Chantal snaps back, the coldness in her eyes replaced by a sharp, defiant glare.
In a flash, Hakuto's right arm begins to crystallize from shoulder to wrist. A massive sword forms in his hand—its blade shining like diamond, its hilt trimmed in gold.
His whole body ignites in blazing white flames—Visflamma.
«I'll make you apologize to them... by force!»
Chantal's smirk deepens, her eyes gleaming with challenge. Her body erupts in the same blinding white flames, and within seconds, the fire gathers in her hand—forming a sword identical to the one Shin summoned the night before.
Without even blinking, Chantal mutters: «Demonic whores.»