"You know, Hara-kun," Hayasaka Ai leaned forward with a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes, her voice dropping to a near whisper, "I happen to know what you've been doing after school."
Her lips curved into a teasing smile. "You've been wandering around Tokyo, hunting down gourmet food spots, haven't you?"
"And I happen to know what you've been doing after school, Hayasaka-san," Hara Kei replied, mimicking her tone, his words laced with quiet amusement. "You've been—"
"N-no! Don't say it!"
Even though there were only a few people left in the classroom, Hayasaka Ai visibly flinched. She darted a panicked glance around, then reached out frantically — as if to clamp a hand over his mouth.
But Hara Kei, as if expecting the move, simply raised a finger and stopped her hand midair.
He didn't press the matter further.
He didn't think there was anything embarrassing about being a tokusatsu fan — a lover of special-effects hero shows — but since Hayasaka clearly considered it a closely guarded secret, he had no desire to torment her over it.
He understood why she hid it so carefully.
In Sakurajima's social climate, people who liked "non-mainstream" culture were treated with little more than thinly veiled contempt. Once someone was labeled a tokusatsu nerd, it didn't matter how much they claimed not to care — classmates would inevitably start seeing them differently. Even old friends might distance themselves.
That was the price of Sakurajima's suffocating "fit in or die" culture.
The same people who sneered, "Ew, people who read manga are disgusting otaku," were the ones who lined up to watch Demon Slayer. The ones who scoffed, "People who watch anime are gross," were also crying over Your Name.
Hypocrisy at its finest, Hara Kei thought. But then again, not my problem.
He lightly brushed her hand aside and glanced at her face. Even now, inside the mostly empty classroom, Hayasaka Ai still wore her mask — the flawless gyaru facade of a fashionable girl who seemed untouchably confident.
But even if she took it off, it wouldn't change anything. Not until she broke free from her "fate," from the shadow in her heart.
He had a hunch why she'd fallen in love with tokusatsu in the first place.
It was because she longed for what those stories celebrated — courage, justice, light.
The more someone lacked those things, the more desperately they sought them.
That was just human nature.
"So, Hayasaka Ai," he said at last, his voice calm but firm. "What exactly do you want from me? And don't feed me some nonsense about wanting my study tips. You bombed the midterm on purpose, didn't you?"
"…"
Hayasaka froze, staring at him with wide eyes.
How did he know?
The thought spun through her mind, but she didn't bother asking. He wouldn't answer even if she did.
What a terrifying man… wrapped in layers of mystery.
Would her and Yukinoshita Yukino's plan really go smoothly?
Suppressing her doubts, Hayasaka lowered her voice until only Hara Kei could hear.
"Actually," she murmured, "besides being a student, I have another job. It's important — and exhausting. But I can't quit it."
Hara Kei raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His expression didn't even flicker.
So he already knows about that too? she thought with a sinking feeling. Right — the first time we met outside school, it was under Yukinoshita's orders. I was supposed to approach him. I must've slipped up then.
Still, she continued, "But… this job does have days off. And tomorrow, I'm completely free."
She leaned in a little closer. "I know what you've been doing after school — wandering Tokyo, looking for the best places to eat."
As she spoke, a faint blush touched her cheeks. She couldn't help but recall that one embarrassing encounter — when she'd run into him completely by accident during one of his food hunts. The memory alone made her toes curl.
Still, she was secretly relieved.
If anyone else had seen her that day — her true self, stripped of all pretense — it would have been catastrophic. Thank goodness it had only been Hara Kei.
Her tone softened, turning sincere.
"I was born and raised in Tokyo," she said. "I know all the best food spots by heart. I've never really had time to visit them because of work… but tomorrow's my chance. I want to spend the whole day 'eating through Tokyo.'"
"So you're inviting me along," Hara Kei said mildly. "Why?"
He was genuinely curious. Every time they'd met outside school, Hayasaka had ended up flustered or defeated. Yet here she was, inviting him again.
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. "For love and peace, of course."
The line was delivered playfully, but there was warmth in her voice as she added, softly, "Honestly, I just wanted to thank you… for introducing me to tokusatsu."
It wasn't flattery. She meant it.
From a very young age, Hayasaka Ai had lived in darkness — not the literal kind, but one made of obligations, masks, and silent despair. She could see no light ahead, only the deepening void of duty and expectation.
That suffocating darkness had crushed her for years. The only relief she'd ever found came from watching short, meaningless videos before bed — things breaking, shattering, falling apart — just to remind herself that something else could crack besides her own soul.
Then came Hara Kei.
Despite his coldness, or maybe because of it, his influence had given her something different. Through him, she'd discovered worlds where heroes stood tall against despair — worlds filled with color, fire, and hope.
To him, it might have been nothing. But to her… it was a tiny fragment of light.
Faint, but precious.
She truly wanted to repay him for that — which was why she'd spent so much time planning this little "food tour."
But…
Her chest tightened. Because she knew the truth — that this "food date" was only a pretext. The real purpose was to pave the way for Yukinoshita Yukino's upcoming outing with him.
And yet, for some reason, the thought made her feel… prickly.
As if her heart were being brushed by rough grass — not quite painful, but uncomfortably sharp.
Why does this feel wrong? she wondered. If the plan works, Hara Kei and the mistress will both get what they want. Isn't that enough?
She didn't know. Maybe she didn't want to know.
After all, she was just a servant. A tool.
As long as she remained "useful," that was all that mattered.
A quick glance around told her their classmates were beginning to return from the hallway, where the results were posted. Some wore the expressions of bitter regret; others, smug delight.
Time was running out.
So she smiled again — that flawless, polished smile she'd mastered through years of acting — and said, half teasing, half nervous,
"So then, Hara-kun… would you do me the honor of letting this humble girl repay her debt?"
For a long moment, Hara Kei said nothing. Then, after a quiet pause, he nodded.
Hayasaka's eyes widened — then sparkled.
Yes!
She clenched her fists tightly, her heart fluttering with excitement.
Whether that thrill came from the success of her plan… or something else entirely — even she couldn't tell.
Not yet.