After dropping off his luggage in his room, Kaito decided to go down to the lobby for a bit. The cool breeze from the air conditioning greeted him, a stark contrast to the sweltering heat of the beach he'd just passed. He leisurely strolled to the row of vending machines in the corner, his eyes scanning the options displayed behind the clear glass.
His fingers moved slowly over the buttons, considering the available options. "Hmm... coffee, tea, soda... ah, cold matcha. Just right," he murmured as he pressed a button. A mechanical sound rang out, followed by the clink of a can as it fell into the machine's drawer. Kaito bent down slightly, picked up the can of matcha, and opened the lid with a distinctive click. The aroma of green tea immediately wafted into his nose.
He had only taken a sip when his ears caught a loud noise coming from the entrance. Tamae-sensei was speaking in a worried tone, trying to persuade Origami, who looked pale.
"Origami, you're sick. Don't push yourself," Tamae-sensei said, trying to hold her shoulder.
"I'm not sick," Origami replied curtly, her tone cold yet firm. "I have to find Itsuka Shido."
Kaito, who was standing nearby, merely tilted his head slightly. He took another sip of his matcha, leaning casually against the wall with one hand in his pocket. He had no intention of interfering, at least not yet. However, his curiosity kept him watching from a distance.
Origami finally let go of Tamae-sensei's grip and ran out without looking back. She had only taken a few steps out the door when she stopped abruptly. Her eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Shido walked toward the inn, carrying Tohka, who appeared unconscious. Both of his hands were busy, as on either side of him were two orange-haired girls, each tightly hugging his arm. They smiled contentedly at each other, but their gazes were filled with a fierce rivalry.
Kaito recognized them both instantly. "So they've finally appeared, the Yamai sisters…" he thought as he drank the rest of his matcha. Kaguya and Yuzuru, twin spirits who never stopped competing, even over the most trivial things.
Tamae-sensei, who had come out after Origami, immediately exclaimed, "Itsuka-kun! What happened to Tohka?" But before Shido could answer, the two girls began arguing on the spot.
"Shido! Tell me, who's more charming, me or her?" Kaguya asked, giving Yuzuru a challenging look.
"A request. Choose me, and leave the others behind," Yuzuru said flatly, though her tone held a hint of provocation.
Origami stood a few steps away, her eyes darting questioningly between the two girls. Who were they? And why were they so close to Shido?
Kaito, who had already come out behind Tamae-sensei, decided not to miss this opportunity. A faint smile appeared on his face. He stepped closer, staring at Shido with a teasing gaze.
"Wow, wow… Shido," he said in a casual tone yet laced with subtle sarcasm. "You've only been on this island for a day, and you're already carrying one girl and two others. Is this… a private vacation?"
Shido immediately blushed. "N-not like that! This is all…!"
"Hmm?" Kaito raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "You even made Tohka faint. That's amazing. Are you planning on making a collection list while you're here?"
Kaguya immediately responded enthusiastically, "If she chooses me, it's not a collection. It's an achievement!"
"Rejection. If she chooses me, it means quality," Yuzuru replied coldly.
Kaito held back a laugh. The situation was a mix of comedy and chaos. Origami remained silent, but from the look in her eyes, it was clear she was assessing who these two girls were and what their relationship was to Shido.
Tamae-sensei tried to calm the situation. "Okay, okay! Let's talk about this inside. Tohka first."
Shido nodded quickly, grateful for an excuse to end this embarrassing conversation. However, Kaito still managed to throw in one last sentence before they entered.
"Be careful, Shido. If this keeps up, it won't just be two people fighting over her."
Shido could only sigh deeply, while Kaguya and Yuzuru exchanged sharp glances, each convinced that they would emerge victorious.
Kaito, on the other hand, simply smiled with satisfaction. For him, this was just the beginning of the entertainment he would witness during his time on Arubi Island.
As soon as the group arrived at the inn's front yard, Tamae-sensei, still confused, immediately turned to Reine-sensei, who had just emerged from the lobby carrying a clipboard. Tamae-sensei's expression clearly showed her curiosity and confusion over the appearance of the two unfamiliar girls who had been so close to Shido.
"Reine-san, did you see that? Those two girls just now… I don't remember them as our students," Tamae-sensei said in a slightly panicked tone, her eyes still darting to Kaguya and Yuzuru, who were standing by the door, staring at Shido.
Reine, as usual, maintained her calm expression and her voice even. "They are indeed new students. Transfer students from out of town," she replied quietly.
Tamae-sensei blinked, as if trying to process the answer. "Eh? But… why wasn't I told earlier? And why do they… seem so close to Itsuka-kun?"
Reine looked down slightly, pretending to be reading notes on her clipboard. "Their transfer paperwork was only completed yesterday. Since this trip to Arubi Island was already scheduled, I decided to bring them directly so they could mingle with their new friends."
Reine's tone sounded very convincing, as if she were simply explaining a standard school procedure. But behind it, there was another goal that only she knew: to disguise Kaguya and Yuzuru's true identities. As spirits, they would obviously cause problems if anyone other than the AST or the Spirit Team found out, especially Tamae-sensei, who was truly human.
Tamae-sensei still looked doubtful. Her eyes shifted between the two girls, who were currently engaged in a small argument, likely still about who was better in Shido's eyes. "They are... unique," she muttered.
"Indeed," Reine replied curtly. "But don't worry, they won't be a problem for you. Just let them adapt to our school environment."
Tamae-sensei finally sighed and smiled faintly, trying to accept the explanation despite her lingering doubts. "Okay... then I'll introduce them to the whole class tonight, after dinner."
Reine nodded slightly. "That's a good idea."
In the distance, Kaito, standing casually with his arms crossed, watched the conversation with a meaningful gaze. He knew exactly who Kaguya and Yuzuru really were, and he also knew that Reine's reason for lying wasn't to protect them from Tamae-sensei, but rather to keep the flow of events as they were in the original story.
Shido, still holding Tohka, tried to ignore the curious stares from several other students who had begun to gather around. Kaguya and Yuzuru, though seemingly relaxed, still exchanged glances with a never-ending competitive gaze. Origami stood a little further away, but her eyes never left the two orange-haired girls. She had already begun gathering information in her head, trying to figure out who they were.
In the midst of all this, Tamae-sensei finally decided to divert attention. "Alright, everyone! Let's go back to our rooms and get some rest! We'll start the event tomorrow morning!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands.