"Soft, isn't it?"
A teasing voice drifted out from inside the room, carrying a note of unmistakable familiarity.
Kisaragi Akira froze—half startled, half reluctant—as he slowly lifted his face out of the fragrant, unbelievably soft surface it had been buried in. His nearly-sealed consciousness resurfaced just enough for him to register what he was looking at.
A pristine white captain's haori.A gentle smile tinged with mischievous darkness.A flawlessly beautiful face.
Standing there was none other than Umetsu Hanae, the Fourth Division captain, who had apparently come to visit Kagetsu Tessa.
But the one teasing him… was someone else entirely.
As Akira's gaze shifted, he found himself staring at a familiar dark-skinned girl. The moment he saw her, the memory of her nearly twisting his arm clean off surfaced so vividly that his soul winced.
Why is she here…?!
The girl grinned, baring a sharp white canine fang with predatory delight.
"That's exactly what you were thinking, right?"
Akira's mouth twitched. He didn't confirm it, of course. He simply tore his eyes away—only to meet Hanae's smiling gaze instead.
Her eyes curved gently, unfazed by his very physical collision with her.Her voice remained soft… too soft.
"Even though the way we 'ran into' each other was a bit improper," she said warmly, "you and I really do have a wonderful connection, Akira-kun."
Then she tilted her head.
"So? Have you considered joining the Fourth Division after you graduate?"
That gentle curve of her lips—just a little too sharp—sent a chill crawling down his spine.The air around her smile suddenly felt like the gleaming edge of a blood-stained blade.
—Hiss.
Akira inhaled sharply as instinct warned him of the danger.He immediately regretted not staying buried for a few more seconds. A few more seconds of softness wasn't worth his entire future!
At his current "market value"?That was at least a half-percent loss.And he wasn't even naked.
"A-Actually… that's not something anyone can force," he began awkwardly. "Just now, Professor Kaede gave me a major demerit. Whether I can even graduate is another matter…"
The dark-skinned girl, Shifuin Yoruha, nodded along like a serious elder imparting life lessons.
"That's right! That's exactly it!"
"Boy, you must never let beauty cloud your judgment."
"Captain Umetsu may be stunning, but her suitors stretch from Shiratama Gate all the way to Seiryū Gate. With your tiny mortal frame, you'd never beat the competition."
Then her tone shifted. The golden mischief in her eyes flickered like a fox's glow.
"But! If you join the Second Division, you'd start as an officer. From there, you could rise to vice-captain."
"And best of all…"She leaned in conspiratorially."Our division has lots of cute, fresh, youthful girls."
"With your authority and rank… just a little nudge here, a little push there—heehee—"
Akira listened as she painted him a future filled with flowers and sunshine. For a moment, he genuinely saw it—warm, bright, blissful.
Then he snapped out of it and scoffed, turning his head in disdain.
"Do you really think I'm that shallow? You underestimate me."
Yoruha blinked in surprise.Hanae's eyebrows lifted slightly.Even Kagetsu Tessa—wrapped up like a rice dumpling in bandages—paused his breathing for a moment.
They suddenly found their estimation of him rising.
To think… behind Akira's constantly flippant, borderline irresponsible behavior… there was a man capable of resisting temptation?
Perhaps they had judged him too harshly.
But Yoruha, ever the analyst, wasn't convinced for long.
Her instincts—known to be frighteningly sharp—whispered that something here was wrong.
After all, this was the same Akira who didn't dodge when he suddenly fell into Captain Umetsu's chest. Ordinary men would have reflexively jumped back.Akira not only didn't move—he'd lingered.
He practically radiated "hopeless pervert."
"So…" Yoruha rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "How about I introduce two girls to you first?"
"I remember a new recruit in the Punitive Corps… a petite, adorable girl named Hachiura Aya. Her looks are pretty top-tier—"
Before she finished, Akira's eyes curved like crescent moons and he flashed a suspiciously joyful grin.
"As expected of you. You've got great taste."
"Time and place. I'll be there."
Yoruha froze.
Even Hanae looked bewildered.
Kagetsu Tessa quietly retracted his earlier praise.
After a brief round of comedic chaos, both women tacitly decided to abandon the topic altogether.
Regardless of future recruitment battles, Akira first had to finish this semester.
A qualified Reaper-in-training needed more than strength—he needed theory.Without that, his only career path left would be the Eleventh Division.
And when Akira finally graduated, whether he joined the Second or Fourth Division would depend entirely on who managed to win him over.
Both Yoruha and Hanae clearly had the same thought at the same time. Sparks all but crackled between them as they exchanged a look.
Kagetsu Tessa cleared his throat.
"So, Akira, what brings you here today?"
Finally, the conversation returned to its rightful track.
Akira pulled out the three boxes of premium eggs he'd brought with him.
Tessa blinked in surprise.He genuinely hadn't expected such a thoughtful gesture from this troublemaking student.
Perhaps… deep inside… Akira really wasn't a bad kid.A little pervy, maybe.But not bad.
"Thank you," Tessa said, accepting the gift.
Akira stiffened as translucent text flashed in front of his spiritual vision:
[Kagetsu Tessa's trust level reached. Sign-in conditions fulfilled.][Sign-In Target: Kagetsu Tessa][Reward: Kidō Level +5 — Current Level: 28][Reward: Spiritual Pressure +2 — Current Level: 55][Reward: Exclusive Trait — "Craft of the Master"]
Craft of the Master:A true master always keeps the heart of a student. Innovation in Kidō increases by 100%.
Akira's eyes sparkled.
Three boxes of premium eggs… and he'd basically bribed a department head.This was the legendary "Emperor Qin touching the electric cable" level of profit—electrifying and wildly efficient.
Tessa noticed the odd expression on Akira's face but didn't pry.Given Akira's very flexible moral baseline, motives were often best left unknown.
"Well, if you're doing fine, I won't stay and disturb you."
Akira bowed politely and turned to leave—
"Please wait a moment, Akira-kun."
Tessa's voice stopped him.
Though slightly awkward, he spoke earnestly:
"It may be a bit early to bring this up, but I think it's necessary."
Both Hanae and Yoruha stiffened instinctively, dread pricking at their senses.
"With your talent…" Tessa scratched his head self-consciously. "If you join the Kidō Corps… I can promise you待遇 equal to a Grand Kidō Chief."
"And, uh… the Kidō Corps has many lovely girls."
"And if you could convince Arisawa Sōma to join as well… that would be ideal."
Silence.
Two women turned their heads in unison, staring at Tessa as if he had suddenly grown a second head.
YOU?!
YOU, the straight-laced, square-jawed, righteous Kagetsu Tessa—
You joined the poaching war TOO?!