Chapter: 12. The Targets of Bad Women Increase
“Xiao Nagi, this is the place.”
“Eh?! Is this really a student dormitory?!”
Kanao looked at Nagi beside him, revealing a mix of surprise and excitement, finding his childhood friend’s every move as adorable as a little animal.
However, he could understand why Nagi would react this way.
“What a huge building! It looks just like a villa~ Amazing~” Nagi beamed with a bright smile, like a naive child, and ran towards the dormitory in front of them with her arms wide open.
The student dormitory in front of them was called “Shikikan.”
Located in Area Seven of the Artificial Academy Island.
It was a standalone European-style building with a courtyard, and its decorative style easily evoked memories of a white medieval castle. The luxurious decorations combined with various seasonal plants in the courtyard earned it the name “Shikikan.”
It was inevitable for Nagi to compare it to a “villa.”
This building, which bore no resemblance to a typical student dormitory, was one of the more special dorms at Ark Academy.
One of its more representative aspects was that it could accommodate very few students.
Thus, it was especially suitable for those students deemed to have “low erosion rates.”
At Ark Academy, it was rare for students to willingly give up the desire to engage with the “extraordinary world.”
Most students, even when facing graduation without having awakened their powers, were reluctant to let go.
Some even aimed for logistical jobs that didn’t require special powers, hoping that such opportunities might eventually lead to an awakening.
Students like Kanao who actively “gave up” were a rare find.
That was why they were assigned to dormitories meant for only a few people.
The purpose was to help these students, who longed to return to their everyday lives, stay away from supernatural forces and reduce the risk of being eroded by magical power.
Even so, the number of students choosing to give up was still too small.
Thus, “elite” or “regular” students, like Nagi, were also assigned to live here.
However, what concerned Kanao was—
Ark Academy, in order to allow regular students to experience normal social relationships during middle school, usually wouldn’t transfer them out of regular student dorms, except for a very few “problematic children.”
—but Xiao Nagi had nothing to do with “problematic children”; in fact, she was the complete opposite. Why was she assigned to “Shikikan”?
Kanao truly couldn’t understand.
Suddenly.
A surprised shout from Nagi around the corner interrupted Kanao’s thoughts.
“Xiao Nagi?!” Kanao hurried towards the direction of the voice.
This was Ark Academy.
While it was safer here compared to facing fantasy monsters, the possibility of an invasion by fantasy creatures was not zero.
Just as Kanao rushed around the corner, what came into view was Nagi, who had fallen to the ground, and a boy who was reaching out to help her up.
Judging by the color of his tie at his collar, he was a third-year student at Ark Academy.
“I’m sorry, are you okay?” The third-year boy asked politely.
“No, I should be the one apologizing… I suddenly ran out from around the corner…” Nagi said apologetically, but just as she intended to take the hand extended by the senior—
“—Xiao Nagi, are you alright?” Kanao quickly ran to Nagi’s side, grabbing her shoulders.
This caused Nagi’s hand to miss the senior’s by a mere inch.
A fleeting look of “regret” flashed across the senior’s face.
Meanwhile, Kanao, from an angle no one could see, couldn’t help but slightly raise the corners of his mouth.
“Yeah, I’m fine~ Haha~” Nagi smiled to mask her embarrassment, stood up with Kanao’s careful help, and brushed off the dust on her short skirt and black stockings.
This gesture undoubtedly drew the attention of the two boys to the skirt’s extremely short length, which could almost be called inappropriate, and the voluptuous legs wrapped in black stockings beneath it.
Surprisingly, neither Kanao nor the third-year senior immediately succumbed to the temptation and averted their gazes.
This made Nagi start to take notice of the boy with azure hair; his willpower, confidence, and… magical presence seemed to suggest he was not an ordinary person.
“I’m really sorry, it’s all my fault.”
Even when facing Kanao, who was also his junior, the senior displayed no superiority, sincerely apologizing to both Kanao and Nagi.
“No, since Xiao Nagi says it’s her fault, then it’s not Senpai’s fault…” Kanao glanced at Nagi beside him, confirming that she was indeed fine, then turned to respond to the senior.
“Do Kanao-kun and Senpai know each other?” Nagi asked curiously.
“Yes, this Senpai, Toujou, is quite a famous person in school…”
“No, I wouldn’t go so far; I’m just an ordinary student council president,” the senior, known as Toujou, revealed a refreshing smile that could make any blooming girl scream.
“Then let me introduce myself. My name is Toujou Aoki, the current student council president of this academy. I look forward to working with you, Tsukimi Kanao-san and Hoshimiya Nagi-san.”
Toujou Aoki.
Kanao felt a complex mix of emotions while looking at this renowned figure in the academy.
Not only did he have a handsome face that could rival any popular celebrity, but his tall and slender figure could easily serve as a model. His character and abilities were perfect, making him one of the most popular boys in the academy.
He was undoubtedly one of the boys all the girls at the school dreamt of dating.
However, his fame was not solely derived from his appearance and abilities.
Beyond being the “perfect student council president,” another title perhaps left a deeper impression—
“Rank No. 3, The Azure Dragon of Thunder”
He was the third-ranked ability user among students at Ark Academy.
—Why would the No. 3 student council president appear here?
It seemed that Senpai, Aoki, saw the confusion on Kanao’s face. He nonchalantly winked at Kanao, hinting that he needed to keep the “Special Class” a secret.
Then he began to explain:
“Today the school teachers had other commitments, so they asked me to help check for ‘safety hazards’ in Shikikan, and also to assist Tsukimi-san and Hoshimiya-san with the dormitory check-in process.”
Aoki’s words carried a hint of subtext that piqued Kanao’s interest.
But with Nagi still present, he felt it inappropriate to pry further into what was happening.
“Safety hazards?” Unexpectedly, it was Nagi who questioned the term.
“Yes, after all, Shikikan has had very few students living in it, and with three students being moved here today, we can’t overlook the electrical inspections for each room,” Aoki maintained a calm and confident expression throughout, making his words oddly persuasive.
“Is that so? Thank you very much… Senpai.”
“No, no need to be polite; it’s my job. Also, Tsukimi-san, you don’t have to use formal language with me. I’d be very happy if you spoke normally. You can just call me Aoki.”
“Really? Then… Aoki-senpai?”
While saying this, Nagi stealthily glanced at Kanao with the corner of her eye.
The latter’s expression showed a hint of jealousy due to the sudden closeness between the two.
—Ah~ Kanao-kun is such an easily jealous child~
At the same time, Nagi recalled the scene from earlier today where Kanao stood together with Fuko, planning her revenge here—
“Mm, please feel free to choose a way of addressing me that you like, Hoshimiya-san.”
“Then Aoki-senpai can also call me Nagi if you want~”
Eh?! Nagi could sense Kanao’s jealousy erupting from his slightly shaken expression.
—After all, her lovely childhood friend was suddenly calling out the name of a tall, handsome senpai!
—Could this draw out a sense of urgency in Kanao-kun about losing his childhood friend to another man?
“Is that so… then…” After hearing this, Aoki first glanced at Kanao before slowly saying, “I think I’ll call you ‘Nagi-kun’ instead.”
It seemed he was mindful of Kanao’s feelings, deliberately choosing a slightly more distant address.
“And may I call Tsukimi-san ‘Kanao-kun’?”
“Eh? Ah, yes…” Kanao was taken aback when the conversation turned towards her, but nodded after a moment.
“Then, Kanao-kun, you can also call me however you wish?”
“Ah, no, I’ll just call Toujou-senpai ‘Toujou-senpai’…” Kanao declined the opportunity to get closer to Aoki.
After a round of self-introductions and small talk, Nagi and Kanao successfully registered their personal information on Aoki’s student dormitory list.
“Alright, that concludes all the formalities.” Aoki closed the roster he held.
“Welcome to Shikikan.”
Aoki flashed a bright smile at the two juniors in front of him.
“And as for Nagi-kun, regarding the dormitory you were originally supposed to stay at, you should stay here temporarily until you receive the notice to move back.”
“Y-yes.” Nagi nodded obediently.
According to the original dormitory arrangement, she should have been assigned to another western-style dormitory, but received a sudden notice to transfer earlier that morning, which brought her to “Shikikan.”
“Then, I hope we can get along well during our time in Shikikan.” Aoki added.
“Eh?!”
“Huh?!”
Both Kanao and Nagi reacted with surprise.
“Wait a second, Senpai, are you moving into Shikikan too?”
“Ah, didn’t I just say that?” Aoki had a mischievous smile: “Today, three students will be moving into Shikikan, and the third student is me.”
“By the way, I have one last question I’m quite curious about and hope it’s not too forward, Nagi-kun—”
Before leaving, Aoki seemed to remember something as he looked at Nagi.
“M-me?”
“Yes, may I ask—does Nagi-kun have a boyfriend?”
“Eh?!” Even Nagi was caught off guard by such a question in this setting, letting out a surprised sound.
“If not, may I be an alternate candidate for Nagi-kun’s boyfriend?”
—Absolutely not. Nagi’s heart answered instinctively.
But she was confused about Aoki’s true intentions. Was he genuinely infatuated with her, or was he testing her?
To maintain her current persona and avoid suspicion, Nagi had no choice but to precisely maneuver her facial blood flow, showing a shy expression as if a pure girl had been confessed to by a handsome senior.
“Eh, um, this this…” Nagi’s cheeks began to redden visibly as she fidgeted with her hands awkwardly.
And at that moment, Kanao’s heart felt as though it was in his throat.
Witnessing this scene, Aoki still wore that inscrutable and composed smile.
“Ah, Nagi-kun, you don’t need to reply right now.”
“My confession will remain open.”
“Nagi-kun can get back to me whenever she thinks it over.” Aoki bowed with gentlemanly grace, “Then, lastly, let me apologize to Nagi-kun for not only bumping into you but also for confessing so suddenly.”
“But I want you to know that my feelings for Nagi-kun are not a joke.”
After that, Aoki turned and left.
At that moment, Nagi’s brain started running at high speed.
She was a top-notch actress.
Though the developments were beyond her expectations, it seemed like a fine opportunity to stir Kanao’s unease.
So after a moment of thought, she deliberately raised her head slightly and used her peripheral vision to observe Kanao’s expression.
—Your childhood friend, who you care about, just got confessed to by a handsome guy, and the first thing you do is look at my face, right?
—What does this mean? Shouldn’t you realize something?
