Chapter 522: Modeus's Problem, Sora's Self-Destruction
Kasugano Sora huddled to the side of the street, looking small, helpless, and thoroughly pathetic. In her entire life, she feared exactly two teachers: Hiratsuka Shizuka, her current homeroom terror, and Kirisu Mafuyu, the strict educator who had recently moved in next door.
Mafuyu stared down at the silver-haired girl desperately trying to shrink into the background. She sighed, her gaze remaining razor-sharp. "Kasugano, what exactly are you doing?"
Sora averted her eyes, forcing a weak, trembling whisper. "Ahaha... Teacher, actually, you've mistaken me for someone else..."
Nearby, Soryuin Akemi and the rest of the group tilted their heads in unison. Good heavens. Only Sora could attempt a lie that absurd with a straight face.
Mafuyu glanced at the expressionless girl and slowly nodded. "Hmm, maybe I was mistaken. After all, that Kasugano girl is such a lazy shut-in, she should definitely still be rotting in bed at this hour."
Sora's mouth twitched. "Eh? Is that so? That student named Kasugano is really wasting her precious youth!"
"I think so too. Well, I apologize for disturbing you."
Sora smiled brightly, waving her hands. "Teacher, it's totally fine! We won't hold you up any longer!"
Mafuyu nodded. "In that case, I will be leaving now."
She actually turned on her heel and began to walk away. Sora secretly breathed a massive sigh of relief. That was terrifying. But before her racing heart could even settle, Mafuyu paused mid-step.
"Oh, by the way. Goodbye, Kasugano."
"Mm! Kirisu-sensei, goodbye... Uh..."
A collective sigh drifted from Akemi and the others. It was terminal. The girl had already survived the execution block, so why did she actively leap back under the guillotine?!
Sora was on the verge of tears. Mafuyu slowly turned back around, a faint, dangerous smile gracing her lips. "So... Kasugano. Are you going to keep playing this little game of hide-and-seek?"
Sora swallowed hard. "Uh... uh... Kirisu-sensei... I think I just got a little heatstroke."
"Heatstroke?"
Sora's shoulders slumped in total defeat. "Alright... I give up. Kirisu-sensei, what do you want to say to me?"
Mafuyu let out a long, tired sigh. "Why do you say that as if I am some sort of villain?"
"No, no! Kirisu-sensei is the absolute best!"
"I still have no idea what goes on in your head," Mafuyu muttered, crossing her arms. "Alright, I won't banter with you anymore. Tell me honestly, how have you been doing recently?"
Sora fidgeted with her sleeves. "I've been doing very well... At home, Brother Ren and the older sisters take amazing care of me. Since my health improved, I can eat anything I want. It's just... a little hard to adapt to the school environment..."
Mafuyu huffed, her strict teacher persona flaring back to life. "I told you to read more books beforehand. And look at you now. Not used to classes, are you? Are you still hopelessly addicted to the internet?"
"Kirisu-sensei..." Sora whispered defensively. "I've made great progress. Haven't you noticed that I actually go outside for walks and shopping during the day now? I think I deserve to be praised for that."
Mafuyu tilted her head, unimpressed. "Isn't it basic human function to step outside for fresh air? Why on earth should I praise you for that? Don't try to change the subject. Honestly, what is your current academic standing?"
"I... I... well... it's okay..."
"It's okay? What exactly does 'okay' mean in your dictionary? Barely passing? Actually passing? Or excelling?"
Under the intense interrogation, Sora immediately wilted into a pitiful puddle, honestly confessing her disastrous academic problems. She felt utterly miserable. Akemi and the others simply stood in silent observation. So, this was the legendary new neighbor.
Meanwhile, back at the residence, Ren was quietly reading in the study when a soft voice called down from the second floor. Setting his book aside, he walked upstairs, only to find Modeus standing in the hallway, silently pulling her bedroom door shut until only a narrow crack remained.
Ren approached, stopping just outside the threshold. "Modeus, did you call for me?"
"I can't let you in while the door is closed..." her muffled voice drifted through the wood.
A heavy silence stretched between them. The atmosphere in the dim hallway grew thick, laced with a quiet, unspoken tension.
Finally, Modeus spoke again, her tone unusually soft. "Ren... can I ask you three final questions?"
"Go ahead."
She exhaled a shaky breath. "First question. If I sign a contract with you, can I really stay by your side forever?"
Ren leaned casually against the doorframe. "That entirely depends on your mood."
"Second question..." Modeus hesitated, her voice dropping to a vulnerable whisper. "Ren, do you know what 'liking' someone actually feels like?"
Ren paused, his gaze softening as he looked at the sliver of darkness between the door and the frame. "It's probably the feeling of missing someone the moment they leave your sight. Feeling a sudden rush of warmth when they return. It's spending hours overthinking a single, casual sentence they said, or finding yourself smiling for no reason just because they're nearby. It's a quiet sort of madness... but a comfortable one. It's pretty much like that."
Another long, suffocating silence blanketed the room. The air felt heavy, charged with a strange, intimate electricity.
"Ren..." she murmured. "How do you see me?"
"How do I see you?" Ren chuckled softly, his tone dry but affectionate. "Although you can be incredibly strange sometimes, Modeus, you are also quite cute. And beneath all that bravado, I can tell you are very innocent. While that's a good trait to have, a personality like yours is also the easiest to be deceived in this world."
"I asked how you see me," she pressed, her voice trembling slightly. "Do you like me or not?"
Ren didn't hesitate. "If I had to say... yes, I do like you."
Inside the bedroom, Modeus was huddled tightly beneath her bed covers. She stared at the wooden door, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Then... then come in. It's time to start the contract..."
Ren pushed the door open and stepped inside. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, Modeus threw off the heavy blankets and stood up.
Even Ren, with his usual unshakeable calm, felt his eyes widen slightly at the sight before him. The dim lighting cast soft shadows over her figure, highlighting the raw, nervous energy radiating from her.
"Ren..." Modeus breathed, her cheeks flushed a deep, feverish red. "I still don't fully understand what liking someone means... but I just realized that I match every single definition you just gave! And a man who can earn the favor of the Boss and Lady Justice cannot possibly be a bad person. So... sign the contract with me!"
Ren recovered his composure, a faint, amused smile touching his lips. "So, what exactly does this ritual of yours entail?"
Modeus bit her lower lip, her eyes shining with a mix of intense desire and naive anticipation. "You'll know... if you come over here."
Back on the streets, Kasugano Sora had turned completely ashen. All the color had drained from her face, leaving her looking like a hollowed-out husk. She was so incredibly pitiful that she actually felt sorry for herself. What grave sin had she committed in a past life to deserve such a brutal street-side lecture?
Mafuyu finally paused to catch her breath, her sharp gaze softening just a fraction. "But despite all that... it is best that you are physically doing well, Kasugano."
Sora sighed, her soul practically leaving her body. "As expected of Kirisu-sensei. Your scolding is still as outrageous as ever."
"How am I outrageous?"
"Because I have never seen a human being capable of complaining and criticizing someone for half an hour straight without repeating a single sentence. And the key point is that you delivered it all in one breath! Truly, as expected of Kirisu-sensei!"
Mafuyu's mouth twitched. Reaching out, she mercilessly pinched Sora's soft cheek, stretching it sideways. "Just go back and study hard! You had better report your grades to me at the end of this semester! I won't ask for miracles, but you must study World History properly!"
"I unnerstannnd..." Sora mumbled through her squished cheek.
Mafuyu released her, giving a satisfied nod. "Hmm. In that case, I am going to work. Go play."
Sora rubbed her face, offering a weak but genuine smile. "Okay! Goodbye, Kirisu-sensei!"
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