"Hello, I am Alistair Vance, a student at Sakura Public Academy. We are friends with Rei Waseda. She passed out while hanging out with us today. We realized it was nothing serious, so we brought her back to rest."
Facing the beautiful woman's confusion and questions, Alistair immediately switched into his outwardly virtuous yet secretly predatory mode, answering with impeccable politeness.
"I see. In that case, please come in quickly. Is my Rei alright?"
The beautiful woman, Rii Waseda (Rei's mother), wasn't overly suspicious. She stepped aside, urging Alistair and Mina to enter. After all, Alistair was wearing a school uniform, and she was quite familiar with the girl next to him, even if she hadn't recognized her at first glance. Besides, this young man seemed polite and well-mannered—surely a good boy.
"Thank you. Please excuse the intrusion."
Alistair nodded, scooped Rei Waseda up in his arms, and walked straight into the house.
Inside, the stairs to the second floor were directly ahead. The kitchen was on the left, and the living room on the right, furnished with a sofa, a small table, and a television.
Alistair didn't know Rei Waseda's room, so he simply placed her on the sofa.
"Please have some refreshments. I apologize, Rei has caused you trouble."
Rei's mother brought over a tray with glasses of drinks, setting them on the small table in front of the sofa. She spoke apologetically, knowing her daughter's personality. That somewhat reckless attitude was something she'd exhibited before, even leading to fainting a few times.
The most recent incident was just before graduating from middle school, when she passed out from low blood sugar after not eating all day while out with friends. Rii had since reminded Rei to keep candy in her pocket, but apparently, she hadn't listened. And to go out dressed like that was truly worrying.
Rii sighed, her expression etched with worry.
Alistair felt addressed: ?
"Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I am Rii Waseda, Rei Waseda's mother. Mina-chan, you still remember me, right?"
Rei's mother introduced herself to Alistair, hands clasped over her lower abdomen.
When an elegant married woman smiles gently, especially one with her long hair tied into a shoulder-length ponytail, she is in an extremely dangerous position, because...
"Hello, Auntie Rii. My name is Alistair Vance, and I am currently Mina-chan's boyfriend."
Alistair's warm smile immediately charmed Rii Waseda, who found the young man quite endearing.
"Mina, it's been a long time. How have you been? Is your brother still causing worry?"
"I've been very well. And with Alistair-kun, my brother has changed for the better."
Mina's face glowed with happiness, making Rii slightly envious. She wondered how her own daughter could learn to get along with her childhood friend. They used to be so close, but now things were like this. Sigh~
"Auntie Rii, since Rei has been safely returned home, we won't trouble you any further."
Alistair took Mina's hand, causing her to stop her conversation with Auntie Rii obediently, and bid Rei's mother farewell.
"Alright, thank you for the trouble of bringing Rei back."
Rii waved them goodbye, watching them exit the gate. She then sat beside Rei, stroking her hair with an expression that was both doting and helpless.
"Alistair, where are we going next?"
Mina, being led by Alistair, asked curiously as they walked down the road.
"First, we'll grab lunch, then head back to school. We're in high school now; how can we not experience club activities? Hmm?"
Alistair casually responded to Mina while leisurely observing their surroundings. He suddenly noticed someone who looked vaguely familiar and watched them for a few extra moments.
It was a tall, fair-skinned girl. Alistair estimated her height at about 5'7" (170cm)—enough to make her stand out among the crowd. She was wearing the Sakura Public Academy uniform. Most of her glossy black hair was left loose, with a small section at the back tied into a ponytail.
Her slanted eyes gave her a sharp, defined look on her oval face, while her perfectly curvaceous figure made her even more tempting. Her long, perfectly shaped legs, encased in black stockings, would make any leg or foot fetishist gasp. As she walked, her massive, attention-grabbing assets stubbornly swayed despite the uniform's restraint, drawing the eyes of passersby.
Although her skirt was shortened, it stubbornly held the line against the gentle breeze. No matter how it lifted, the girl's mysterious domain remained just that—a mystery—making one want to pull back the veil and glimpse its truth.
"That... looks like Yuka Tachibana Senpai?"
Mina followed Alistair's gaze, pondered for a moment, and said somewhat uncertainly.
"You know her?" Alistair asked. He vaguely recalled the name. It had been too long since he transmigrated; he no longer remembered many characters or plotlines, but the fact that he recalled this name meant there was a plot he could potentially involve himself in.
"I saw her once on the second day of school and heard people call her name. She was also sitting two rows in front of us at the entrance ceremony. Don't you remember, Alistair-kun?"
Mina blinked her large eyes at Alistair, her gaze free of any intent besides curiosity.
"Uh, oh... I didn't notice."
Alistair casually brushed off Mina's question, his eyes still following the girl he suspected was Yuka Tachibana. He watched her walk up to a house, open the gate, and enter.
That house didn't seem far from Rei Waseda's, only five or six houses away. It looks like I can come and visit this area often in the future, Alistair mused.
Is that... the Tachibana house?
He looked at the wooden plaque hanging next to the gate the girl entered. The plaque clearly read—"Tachibana."
It seemed to be the Yuka that Mina mentioned. But why don't I have any strong memory of her? It didn't matter. There was plenty of time to get to know her slowly.
Alistair suddenly felt a lack of means. Aside from his fighting ability, he seemed to lack any real information-gathering skills. What if someone else—another blond thug—gets to the girls I want before me?
One-quarter of his own class were blond thugs, not to mention those in the outside world. If he relied solely on his unreliable lottery power, it would take forever. It seemed necessary to find time to recruit a crew of underlings. Otherwise, if The Bull Warlord was bullied by others, he would be furious!
Beep—Beep—
Mina's phone rang.
"Moshi moshi, Mama?"