"My name is Mayu."
Mayu replied while displaying her kakugan.
"Good. That checks out."
Touka nodded.
Afterward, Yoshimura also welcomed Mayu to join them.
Byakuya's idea was to have Mayu help Anteiku collect human corpses regularly.
Occasionally, if the shop was short-staffed, Mayu could also help out as a server.
Since the shop didn't have a bathroom, Mayu could only wash her face and hands at the sink for now.
Ryouko kindly offered to let Mayu bathe at her place. Mayu's first instinct was to check with Byakuya.
"That's fine. Go ahead and use the bathroom at Fueguchi-san's place."
Byakuya nodded.
"Thank you, Fueguchi-san..."
Mayu turned and thanked Ryouko.
"Don't mention it. Hinami and I both welcome you."
Ryouko said with a smile.
Hinami beside her was also smiling.
Clearly, little Hinami had already told her mother about Mayu.
...
Mayu left with Ryouko for about an hour.
When she returned, she was wearing new clothes.
Apart from Byakuya's jacket still draped over her shoulders, all her old, worn clothes had been changed.
"This is..."
Byakuya guessed these were probably Fueguchi-san's clothes, lent to Mayu.
"Fueguchi-san lent them to me."
Mayu's explanation confirmed Byakuya's guess.
"My clothes fit this child quite well."
Ryouko said with a smile.
This was because Mayu and Ryouko were nearly the same height, with similar builds.
"They really do look nice. Mayu looks much prettier now."
Byakuya nodded.
The Mayu before him had not only bathed thoroughly but also changed into pretty clothes. Compared to before, she looked like a completely different person.
Hearing Byakuya's compliment, Mayu's heart filled with joy.
She loved being beautiful, so naturally she loved receiving praise—especially when it came from Byakuya.
...
Byakuya checked the time. Before "Sen Takatsuki's" fan meet-and-greet ended, he prepared to go alone for his appointment.
What he and Eto needed to discuss privately wasn't suitable for anyone else to hear—not Hinami, not Mayu.
Seeing Byakuya about to leave, Mayu wanted to say something but held back.
His jacket was still on her.
But since she'd been wearing it for so long, it wouldn't be appropriate to return it to him just like this. She planned to wash it herself before giving it back—which was why she'd hesitated.
...
About ten minutes before the fan meet-and-greet's scheduled end, Byakuya returned to the venue.
Though it wasn't officially over yet, the crowd had mostly dispersed.
He could see Eto packing up her things—today she'd brought only a small, elegant handbag.
"Ah, perfect timing, Amaha-kun. Today's meet-and-greet is almost over."
Eto spotted Byakuya and waved.
"Good to know I'm not late."
Byakuya said.
Eto noticed Hinami wasn't there. "Speaking of which, where's Hinami-chan? Has she already gone home?"
"Yes..."
Byakuya nodded slightly.
"That works out better, actually. Saves us from playing 'riddle games' later."
Eto remarked casually.
If little Hinami had been sitting beside them while Eto and Byakuya discussed things that couldn't be spoken openly, they would have had to speak in cryptic hints.
"So then... for our first date destination, where does Amaha-kun have in mind? Though I was the one who invited you, it's better if the man decides where to go, right?"
Eto immediately started joking around with Byakuya.
"Is that so? Then let's find a café. I think that kind of atmosphere is quite nice."
Byakuya played along.
Both of them knew perfectly well this wasn't anything like a date, yet they acted as if it were.
Byakuya's choice of a café was somewhat deliberate, given that Eto's father Yoshimura also ran a café—Anteiku.
Through this, Eto thought of certain things—such as the possibility that he already knew about her relationship with Anteiku's manager.
But she didn't show any concern. Besides, she often went to cafés to write and read anyway. As long as it wasn't that antique coffee shop, anywhere was fine.
If Byakuya had actually taken Eto directly to Anteiku, that would have been too much—she'd probably have turned on him instantly.
He was here to talk with Eto, not to mess around, so he naturally wouldn't do that.
Finding a somewhat upscale-looking café nearby, Byakuya brought Eto inside.
They chose a window seat on the second floor. There weren't many people near their spot—unlikely for their conversation to be overheard.
"Excuse me, Miss—could we get a couple's set, please!"
As soon as they sat down, Eto called out to a waitress passing by.
"Certainly. One couple's set for two. Please take a look at which one you'd like."
The waitress flipped the menu to the page showing couple's sets.
"Which one do you want? I'm fine with anything."
Eto handed the choice to Byakuya.
"..."
Watching Eto's repeated attempts to tease him, Byakuya felt this conversation probably wouldn't go smoothly.
He randomly selected a set without even taking a second look.
After the waitress left, Byakuya got straight to the point: "So, Takatsuki-sensei really is the 'One-Eyed Owl' of Aogiri Tree, correct?"
This served as the opening for their conversation.
"I've never admitted to that, you know. I just found Amaha-kun interesting and wanted to have a drink together."
Eto smiled lightly.
"Please just say what's on your mind, Takatsuki-sensei. It's not as if you've actually taken a fancy to me."
Byakuya said flatly.
He didn't want to beat around the bush with Eto—it felt like a waste of time.
But Eto went along with it: "Is that so impossible? Would it be so strange for me to take a fancy to you? Honestly, you're quite handsome. As an older single woman, I have needs too, you know~"
Eto could joke about her own age without a care, even calling herself an "older single woman."
...
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