Chapter: 40. Like a Newlywed Wife Eager for Honeymoon
“I’m so tired…”
Nagi felt an unprecedented exhaustion wash over her, possibly due to the influence of the Kao La Box.
Even though Erica supported her on the way back to the dorm, the formal dress she wore, a gift from the “Arsenal,” felt restrictive at this moment. The area around her chest was particularly oppressive—it was so uncomfortable she could barely breathe.
As soon as Nagi stepped into the room, she couldn’t help but try to remove the black “moonlight” from her body, not even waiting for Erica to help unzip the back; she reached in front and pushed down the neckline of the strapless dress.
After all, this was the girls’ dormitory—besides Erica, there was no one else in the room. Nagi decided to disregard her modesty as a girl—
However, just as she caught her breath, the lights in the room suddenly turned on.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you; actually, I need your help—”
It seemed like the person had been waiting in the room for quite some time. They turned as soon as they heard the door opening.
However, before he could finish his sentence, he stood frozen in place at the sight before him.
The S-Class ability user from Tsukiyama Academy, known as the proud and cold Black Flame King, turned beet red at that moment like an innocent young boy—
And Nagi also froze suddenly.
—Kano-kun is fine… That’s such a relief…
—But why is he here?
—Wait, am I not…?
Nagi’s thoughts first passed through relief, then into confusion, and finally morphed into complete embarrassment—
In the end, it was Erica who reacted quickly, hurriedly yanking the uniform coat hanging nearby to wrap around Nagi’s exposed upper body.
Kano also immediately turned his head away.
Though he had looked for less than two seconds, Nagi’s mind uncontrollably conjured up the fantasy of “someone just looking over her from head to toe with a licking gaze.”
Her heart began to race.
Her cheeks and skin started to heat up inexplicably.
Even between her legs, she felt a slight itch—
—No, no, no!!!
—Why am I suddenly fantasizing alone!?
It was clearly just an accident, the same kind of lucky lecherous event as before.
Yet Nagi unexpectedly experienced a sensation akin to “thirst” or “impatience.”
She felt like a newlywed wife, not long married, who yearned for her honeymoon and fluttering romance; even the slightest reaction felt magnified throughout her body, linked to those sorts of thoughts—Am I an idiot? Am I an idiot? Am I an idiot? Is this the time to be thinking about such things! I’m such a pervert! A deviant! A love-struck girl!
“I, I’m… sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Kano finally settled his emotions and apologized.
For him, that was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
He thought he would never be nervous or moved by anyone other than “her” again… until that very moment.
The memories of being with that girl and the fluttering of his heart seemed to revive all at once.
Kano had lost track of how long it had been since he felt that accelerated heartbeat.
Clearly, she was just a girl he had known for less than a day.
—What an idiot! Idiot! Idiot!
With a sense of guilt, Kano willed himself to regain his composure and spoke while maintaining his posture facing away from the two of them:
“Actually, I’m here to ask for your help.”
“…Help? What do you mean!” Erica responded on behalf of the seemingly still-dazed Nagi.
At the same time, she stepped forward to stand between Nagi and Kano, as if to protect the girl behind her—having witnessed Nagi’s current innocent reaction and recalling her usual cool and reliable demeanor… a protective instinct surged uncontrollably.
Erica felt a maternal instinct welling up, like seeing her own daughter:
Though he was an S-Class, the renowned Black Flame King, she had to protect her adorable and obedient daughter from this unknown boy.
On the other hand, Erica had promised that she would stay by Nagi’s side and protect her until she recovered.
So when she heard that the S-Class had come to ask Nagi for help, she immediately became vigilant, placing herself defensively in front of Nagi.
After all, Nagi’s current physical condition was very poor, and she desperately needed ample rest.
“This news, perhaps Star Academy hasn’t announced it yet, but you will receive it shortly.”
“It concerns Professor Amagi Shinkou; he has been kidnapped in this incident, and we need your help to rescue him.” Due to the earlier awkward incident, Kano had to keep his posture turned away from them.
As a result, he didn’t notice the two girls’ faces, which held no signs of surprise despite clearly not being supposed to know this information.
Also, because his beast-like intuition was temporarily ineffective due to magic nullification, he couldn’t feel their emotional feedback.
So at this moment, both were silent.
Kano took their silence as surprise and bewilderment.
Finally, it was Nagi who broke the silence:
“…What can I help with?”
“I have a teammate whose ability can help you find clues to locate Professor Amagi—” Kano seemed to realize that his request sounded like asking someone to take a risk, so after pausing, he added, “—But don’t worry; we will do our utmost to protect you and won’t let you fall into danger.”
“But we haven’t received any notification from the academy.” Erica’s words remained cautious.
Even though the man before her was the well-known S-Class ability user, that didn’t mean Erica would trust him unconditionally, especially in a situation that might threaten Nagi’s safety.
Erica’s statement also hit upon Kano’s awkward situation.
Star Academy would never cooperate with him.
So the notification would never come.
However, it was clear he couldn’t answer truthfully—
Just as Kano hesitated to lie or directly kidnap his dance partner for the evening.
It was Nagi who spoke up instead:
“I understand now; I’ll help.”
This left Kano a little puzzled as he turned back around.
“Though I know this might sound strange, why…?” Kano blurted out.
He felt an incredibly familiar and nostalgic sensation from the girl before him.
So much so that he couldn’t help but ask a strange question.
However, the next thing she said only made the girl’s figure overlap in his mind—
“Because I believe in you. (Because I believe in Kano-kun.)”
“Little… Nagi…”
This made Kano murmur softly, but he quickly regained his composure: “Thank you for your trust and assistance; we shouldn’t delay—”
“If Miss Nagi is going, then I’m going too!”
Erica said in a resolute tone that brooked no argument: “Miss Nagi will be protected by me.”
Hearing this, Kano hesitated.
He was unsure whether he should involve other innocent people in this disaster.
Because his actions were undoubtedly an abduction, and abducting one student wasn’t that different from abducting two students, was it?
