Izumi stared at the girl standing before him—Yukinoshita Yukino.
He listened quietly to her request, yet didn't reject her outright.
Instead, he asked with a lazy voice,
"And the reason is?"
"Why exactly should I train you?"
"You can't just tell me to help you and expect me to agree, right?"
"That'd make me look like I have no pride at all."
Her strange attitude genuinely puzzled him.
What happened to make her come to him of all people for help?
Was she shaken that badly by Totsuka Saika earlier?
Given Yukinoshita's personality, it was practically impossible she'd seek anyone out—least of all him.
Hearing Izumi's blunt question, Yukinoshita was momentarily stunned.
A reason?
Did she even have one?
The more she thought, the clearer it became—she had nothing to justify her request.
She and Izumi were hardly close.
He wasn't someone with any obligation toward her.
There was zero benefit in taking time to train her.
And yet… she couldn't think of anyone else.
Sure, she could go through Hiratsuka Shizuka, who knew her sister, and maybe receive instruction that way—but Yukinoshita couldn't bring herself to ask that.
Aside from Izumi, there was really no one capable of helping her.
Her parents? Normal people—they knew nothing about supernatural training.
Her sister? Absolutely not. That was impossible.
Then there were the rare individuals with ice capabilities.
In this academy, only Sona Sitri could compare.
But if Yukino wanted Sona's aid, she'd have to throw away her humanity and accept the status of a devil's servant.
There was no universe in which she'd agree to that.
In the end…
the only person she could turn to was the boy in front of her.
And unfortunately, he didn't seem eager to help.
Silence wrapped around her.
Izumi smiled casually.
"See? You can't give me a reason."
"So don't just say things randomly."
"I've got my own party members who actually need my training."
"Why would I waste time on someone outside my team?"
"If that's all, I'm leaving."
After saying that, Izumi turned and walked away with his group without hesitation.
He wasn't the type to leap in just because a pretty girl asked nicely.
That would be pathetic.
And Yukinoshita… honestly, she didn't have anything worth demanding from her.
Well, okay—there was one thing, if he wanted to be vulgar.
Her body.
And as a certified LSP, Izumi wasn't immune to temptation.
But Yukinoshita was not the type who'd sell herself for power.
She'd rather die first.
So he didn't even bother factoring that in.
Maybe, someday, if they grew closer, he could help her a little.
But right now? He had no interest.
There were beautiful girls everywhere in this world.
He wasn't desperate enough to drool just because someone had a nice face.
That would be pathetic.
Yukinoshita watched Izumi's departing figure, unsure what to feel.
For the first time in her life, she realized—
She was nothing here.
It was humiliating.
Beside her, Yuigahama Yui glanced over, uneasy.
"Yukinon… you okay?"
Yukino let out a small, self-mocking breath.
"I'm fine."
"I just realized I was more naïve than I thought."
With that, she turned and walked back toward the classroom, expression unreadable.
Izumi and the others returned to their classroom, packed up their things, and prepared to leave school.
Just outside the gates, they unexpectedly crossed paths with Yukinoshita again.
She didn't speak.
He didn't speak.
They passed each other like strangers.
Yukino stared at his back for a moment before lowering her head and quietly walking on.
Once outside the school grounds, Sawamura Spencer Eriri finally voiced what was on her mind.
"Why didn't you agree to help her?"
"She's, like, super beautiful."
"And aren't you into beautiful girls?"
That was something she had wanted to ask for a while.
Izumi was a notorious womanizer—yet he refused?
Even Katou Megumi looked curious.
Yukinoshita basically said she'd accept any condition, didn't she?
Wasn't that a great opportunity?
Izumi rubbed his temples dramatically.
"What kind of guy do you think I am?"
"Why should I help her?"
"Just because she's attractive?"
"Do you think I lack beautiful girls around me?"
"Aurora and Asia aren't exactly inferior to her."
"Not to mention Eriri, Ophis, and… the sisters…"
"So tell me—how exactly does Yukinoshita compete?"
When he looked at it objectively, Yukinoshita really didn't have much value here.
Izumi knew too many exceptional girls.
If he really wanted, even Rias Gremory and the other nobles probably wouldn't reject him.
Eriri and the others fell silent.
It was sad, but true.
Next to Izumi, Yukinoshita Yukino had no advantage at all.
Izumi didn't care in the slightest.
He walked leisurely down the street and continued,
"Besides, you're all members of my party."
"Your strength hasn't even started growing yet."
"Why would I devote time to some outsider?"
"She's not my teammate."
"And my team is full right now."
"I don't plan on adding anyone."
"Maybe once I establish a proper organization after graduation, I'll reconsider."
"But that's in the future."
For now, he had his own plans.
Train his team.
Grow stronger.
And maybe, someday, explore other worlds again.
But that required coordinates—and time.
He didn't even have time last night to throw all those artifacts into the system.
As for his own strength? He wasn't worried.
He could feel it.
He was close to breaking into SSS-class.
So for now, his priority was simple—
Train his girls.
Make them stronger.
Once he reached four-digit rank, then he'd think about the rest.