"If you don't understand, then never mind. If you two have nothing else, I still need to prepare for tomorrow night's task of conveying the favored person's identity, so I'll be taking my leave. Please be careful in the future. Seeing you two so injured, your parents are probably the most heartbroken, alas."
Mashima-sensei sighed deeply, moved by his own words, and then slowly stood up.
Amane noticed that in just a moment, Mashima-sensei's figure seemed to have grown much heavier. She figured he must be disappointed in Karuizawa.
However, Mashima-sensei didn't incite Karuizawa to stand up and resist like those hot-blooded extremists.
Ultimately, everyone had their own difficulties. How could anyone not wish to live happily every day, free from worries about livelihood and danger?
But reality was cruel, and it was also fair.
When the iron hammer of reality fell heavily, all manner of monsters would reveal their true forms before it. Rather than constantly worrying about when the hammer of reality would fall on one's head, choosing to abandon dignity and retreat into a birdcage where reality could not harm them, becoming a caged bird, was not necessarily a bad option.
Mashima-sensei seemed to have sensed Karuizawa's helplessness and didn't pursue the matter further, nor did he ask what had just happened. He knew without asking that she had undoubtedly suffered extremely cruel torment not long ago and had only just managed to escape. If he were to subject an innocent girl to another round of mental torment just to satisfy his own curiosity... he probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
"Thank her for me."
Amane's voice made Mashima-sensei stop.
"You sensed her presence?"
Mashima-sensei was not in the mood to play games with Amane like "What are you talking about? I don't understand what Miyako-san means." He answered Amane's probe simply and directly, and at the same time, he asked a question, intending to let the person hiding and eavesdropping know that the news of her existence did not come from him or the teachers.
It had to be said that if Mashima-sensei were still a student, Amane admitted she would probably find it very difficult to gain any advantage over him.
"Whether it was your attitude during the meeting discussing the disciplinary committee member's removal, Mashima-sensei, or the fact that you would agree to help me, a student, get a room card for a luxurious suite, it's less about you fulfilling my needs and more about the person currently spying on me fulfilling my needs. Although I don't know who it is, it's undoubtedly someone connected to me and definitely a woman."
Amane's confident attitude made Karuizawa, in her arms, show an indescribable expression. She had countless times pretended to be very confident in front of outsiders, but when she truly saw the confidence Amane displayed, she realized her own pretense was as ridiculous as a clown's, probably seen through by others at a glance, right? Could it be that everyone was just playing along with her act?
Mashima-sensei slowly turned, his arms crossed.
His gaze met Amane's.
No wonder Rin said she believed she wouldn't lose to Amane, but seeing Amane's youthful and spirited demeanor, he couldn't imagine Amane losing.
Mashima-sensei recalled their recent conversation.
From the very beginning, Amane's choice of words was "she," which was very strange. Unless Amane's entire family consisted of women, there was no way Amane could determine the gender of the person without even knowing who they were.
"How do you know it's'she' and not 'he'?"
Mashima-sensei was only curious about this point.
Amane saw Mashima-sensei looking lost in thought, even his brows furrowed, and couldn't help but feel a little smug.
"I guessed."
"Guessed?"
Upon hearing this answer, Mashima-sensei was about to deny such an unreliable statement, but then he quickly realized he had fallen into a trap.
Amane's phrase "Thank her for me" was a double-edged trap.
It both probed whether someone was secretly watching and helping her, and it also probed that person's gender.
If Mashima-sensei had played dumb, it would have proven that the person indeed existed.
But Mashima-sensei chose to be direct and, inadvertently, stepped into Amane's second trap.
Essentially, Amane had used one sentence to expose the person behind the scenes.
In Amane's mind, the candidates had already been narrowed down to two.
It was practically the same as being exposed.
"I can understand why Karuizawa-san is willing to take a gamble on you."
Mashima-sensei gave Amane a deep look, then turned and left with a slight smile.
A formidable younger generation.
When Amane brought Karuizawa to the room, she was startled by the sight inside.
The formerly normal room was now resplendent and magnificent.
Aside from the bed, which still seemed normal, all the furniture instantly conveyed a sense of exorbitant cost.
Was this really still a guest room? She wasn't staying in the room reserved for the most important guest on the top floor, was she?
Well, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Anyway, she didn't have to pay for it.
Amane placed the dumbfounded Karuizawa by the bed, then, like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, she leaped onto the bed herself. The incredibly springy bed immediately bounced Amane up.
The pale blue duvet was cool and very comfortable, yet soft and smooth. Amane happily rolled back and forth on the large bed, which could easily fit five or six people.
Karuizawa remained in a daze for a while before finally reacting.
Just as she was about to ask Amane if this room was really for her, she saw Amane's childlike behavior and couldn't help but smile.
"I didn't expect Amane to have such a childish side."
Karuizawa believed she would never, and would be too ashamed to, engage in childish acts like rolling around on a bed. Even if she did roll... it would probably be in another sense... Karuizawa tried to reconcile the image of Amane as a cool demon in her mind with the current childish Amane, but no matter how hard she tried, she found them to be like two different people.
So... which one was the real Amane?
"Kei."
Amane's call brought Karuizawa back to her senses.
Having played enough, Amane reverted to her somewhat sweet and deceptively smiling demeanor.
With one hand outstretched, Amane subtly gestured to Karuizawa with her eyes.
Karuizawa didn't hesitate to take off her shoes and climb to Amane's side.
"It's okay not to be so careful."
After all, the bedding here would surely be changed and cleaned every day. Even if it were kept spotless, it would still be replaced, so there was no need to worry too much about whether shoes would dirty the sheets or duvet.
"The bed is too clean... I... I'm worried I'll dirty the sheets."
Karuizawa turned her head away.
Amane naturally sensed the melancholic atmosphere, but at this moment, she wasn't in the mood to comfort Karuizawa.
Pulling Karuizawa into her arms, Amane naturally began her tasting.
Held in her arms, Karuizawa, still with a look of terror on her face, was forced to comply with Amane's somewhat rough actions.
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