"So it's red plaid." Shichen stroked his chin, openly taking in the glimpse beneath Himeragi Yukina's skirt.
Her base layer was red plaid—plain in style, not the least bit cutesy.
Even so, with her fair legs and smooth skin, the sight was undeniably tempting.
"Eh?"
Yukina froze, then realized what was happening and shot upright, both hands clamping down her skirt, face blazing red.
"H-how can you… look—look there…?"
"You showed me yourself. How is that my fault?" Shichen countered.
"You—!" Yukina fumed, at a loss for a retort.
So this was what the Fifth True Ancestor was like!
"By the way, you just called me the Fifth True Ancestor, didn't you? You know who I am?" Shichen asked suddenly, his expression turning serious.
"I…" Yukina's mouth opened and closed, flustered.
She'd blurted it out in shock—before she'd even started surveillance, she'd already exposed herself.
"Get up first." Shichen smiled and offered his hand.
"Eh?" Yukina stared at it, unsure how to react.
"Don't worry—I'm not going to eat you."
"…Alright." She pressed her lips together, then placed her hand in his.
With a light pull, he helped her up. "How are you this careless—falling like that?"
"I-I didn't expect you to show up here, Sensei…"
He was the subject she was supposed to monitor—the terrifying True Ancestor—suddenly appearing at her door. Of course she'd be rattled.
All her training had flown out of her head.
Clearly she wasn't cut out for this; she'd blown it before she'd even begun.
"You moved in right across from me and didn't expect me to show up?" Shichen said, needling her.
"…" Head down, Yukina said nothing, fingers nervously pinching her hem.
"May I come in and take a look?" Shichen asked.
"Eh? Ah—please…" Yukina stepped aside.
Shichen nodded and walked into Yukina's place.
It was the same apartment layout, of course—but she'd obviously just moved in: no setup yet, a few unopened boxes, and no furniture.
He glanced around, then asked the woman standing stiffly by the door, "Moved in today?"
"Mm…"
"Where'd you stay yesterday?"
"At my ment—no!" Yukina clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing she'd slipped.
"Heh. No need to hide it—I know the Lion King Organization sent you to watch me."
"Eh?" Yukina's eyes went wide.
"H-how do you know?"
"Someone told me."
"That's impossible," Yukina said, incredulous.
"You already know my identity. Given who I am, what exactly would be impossible?"
"…"
"In any case, don't worry—I won't do anything to you. I don't care about the Lion King Organization's little maneuvers."
"Then what do you want?" she asked, tense.
"Relax. I'm just a teacher. I'll do what a teacher does—unless someone decides to provoke me."
"Teacher…"
"Go finish unpacking. Come eat at my place later. Judging by this, you probably can't cook yet."
"Eh? Why?"
"Why? Isn't it normal for a teacher to look after a student?"
"B-but…"
"Heh~ If you're going to monitor me, then monitor me. Eating at my place only makes it easier."
"I…"
"There are other people at my place—it's not just me. You don't have to worry I'll do anything to you."
"…"
"Still uneasy? Then call it compensation for the 'benefit' you just gave me."
"B-benefit—mm!" Realizing what he meant, Yukina squeezed her knees together, hands pressed to her skirt, glaring at him in mortified outrage.
"Settled, then?"
"Sensei… are you, um… a very lecherous person?"
"Come on—I'm a normal man."
"Mm…"
"Alright, I won't keep you from unpacking. I'm heading back. Make sure you come over later—or I'll tell everyone you wear plain panties."
"Sensei, are you a pervert?" Yukina stared at him, cheeks crimson.
"Talking to me like that? Looks like you're not scared anymore." Shichen chuckled, left her apartment, and headed home.
Yukina watched him until he stepped inside, then bit her lip and shut the door, conflicted.
This Fifth True Ancestor wasn't quite what she'd imagined—he seemed like a good guy… if a bit bad. In any case, it looked like she could proceed with the mission.
When Shichen returned, he found Avrora and the others watching TV with Minamiya Natsuki.
"Back already—who was it?" Natsuki asked without turning.
Shichen sat beside Avrora. Just as he reached for a tangerine to peel, Prote—sitting next to Avrora—held a wedge to his lips. He opened, chewed, swallowed, and answered, "A young woman from the Lion King Organization."
"Lion King Organization?" Natsuki glanced over.
"Mm. Here to keep tabs on me," Shichen said, unconcerned.
"What are they planning?"
"Who knows. Nothing to worry about."
"Don't shrug it off. They have some nasty weapons," Natsuki warned.
"Relax—they won't work on me."
"Fine… By the way, you said it was a girl?"
"Why so interested, Natsuki?" Shichen smiled at her.
"Why would I be?" she said flatly. "How old a 'girl'?"
"About nineteen or twenty."
"Fourteen or Fifteen…?" Natsuki narrowed her eyes.
"Mm. She just transferred into Saikai Academy's program. Name's Himeragi Yukina."
"Himeragi Yukina? I know her!" Avrora raised her hand.
"You do?" Natsuki looked at her.
"Mm-hmm. She's the new transfer in our class."
"I see… What does she look like?" Natsuki asked, feigning indifference.
"Pretty cute—but not as cute as me. Right, Shichen?" Avrora hugged his arm, grinning.
"Mm-hmm. You're the cutest."
"Hehe~"
"Want more tangerine?" Prote offered another slice.
"Yeah." Shichen opened his mouth.
Smiling softly, Prote placed it between his lips; her fingertip grazed them, then she peeled another slice for herself and put both fruit and finger into her own mouth.
Kaguya watched silently.
Enatos watched, amused; if Natsuki weren't here, she'd have already claimed the other side—or his lap.
"What is the Lion King Organization up to—why send a young woman?" Natsuki muttered.
"No idea."
"Maybe they discovered your thing for lolis?"
"Hey, hey—don't slander me, Natsuki. How could I possibly be a lolicon?" Shichen protested
righteously.
"…" Natsuki only stared at him, expressionless.
"Ahem."
"Mind yourself," she said coolly.
"Relax. I'm not that kind of man."
"Heh~"
"Oh—by the way, I invited her to have dinner here."
"Mm? Why?"
"She looked pretty pitiful—sent alone to keep tabs on me, and her place looks bare."
"Sure it's not because she's cute?"
"What kind of question is that, Natsuki! I'm a teacher—what's wrong with looking after a student?"
"Wonderful," Natsuki said with an eyeroll, done arguing.
"Shichen, are you interested in that Himeragi girl?" Avrora asked suddenly.
"Nope. Don't talk nonsense."
"Mm-hmm, that's better. That Himeragi girl isn't as cute as me anyway." Avrora lifted her chin proudly, still hugging his arm.
Catching the scene, Natsuki said, "Avrora, haven't you got homework? Try doing it first, like Yiyi and the others."
"Eh? Can't I do it later?" Avrora complained.
She was finally feeling the pain of school—fun as it was, classes and homework were truly exhausting.
"No. If you don't, there'll be no dessert from Shichen tonight."
"Aw, come on… Fine." Avrora dragged herself off to her room to do homework.
Kaguya and the others followed.
"Hehe~" Enatos beamed, stood up, and slid into Avrora's spot.
"What are you doing, Enatos?" Natsuki frowned.
"Oh, the view of the TV's better from here," Enatos said.
"TV? Shouldn't you be doing homework?"
"I already finished mine," Enatos replied with a smile.
"…"