"..."
Uta paused, somewhat surprised that Rize would make such a request.
But it was understandable. She probably just didn't want his hands touching her face.
After all, taking facial measurements involved such close contact...
"No problem. Then I'll leave the measuring to Amaha-kun."
Uta naturally didn't mind.
"Fine."
Byakuya went over to assist.
Meanwhile, Itori sidled up next to Touka. "So, little Touka, do you have a boyfriend now?"
Touka's expression shifted slightly. "...No."
"Is that 'absolutely not' or 'not yet'~?"
Itori asked meaningfully.
"Absolutely not."
Touka insisted firmly.
She had no desire to answer such questions.
"Ah... With such a great environment at school, not dating would be such a waste, wouldn't it? I'm getting worried for Renji on your behalf."
Itori sighed.
"School is for studying."
Touka's expression grew slightly impatient as she retorted.
But she lacked confidence saying this, since her grades at school were among the poorer ones.
"Is that so? I think that Amaha-kun is pretty good, you know. He's quite handsome, and very capable too."
Itori suddenly brought up Byakuya.
"Are you stupid? It's not like you don't know he's an investigator!..."
Touka said very quietly.
Seeing this, Itori's lips curved upward. She could tell that little Touka had just wavered a bit.
"Who says an investigator can't date a ghoul? Besides, Yoshimura-san told us before that young man has been taking great care of everyone at Anteiku. He's clearly not the type of investigator who's completely hostile to ghouls, right?"
Itori said with a smile.
"...Anyway, I don't want to think about that kind of thing right now. University entrance exams are coming up soon—that's what I need to focus on."
Unable to argue with Itori, Touka could only change the subject.
On the other side, Byakuya was using tools to measure Rize's facial dimensions.
It was done in no time.
"Alright, the measurements are complete. So, Kamishiro-san, do you have any specific requirements for the mask?"
Uta said while recording the measurement data.
"A white mask will do."
Rize said casually.
She didn't really care much about things like masks. She just felt the white mask Byakuya had given her before was nice to wear, so she made a similar request.
"Would you like some decorative patterns added?"
Uta asked for details.
"Sure."
Rize's response remained casual.
"Alright. Once the mask is finished, I'll have it delivered to Anteiku. That's all for now."
With that, Uta went to begin making the mask.
"Then we'll head back."
Byakuya said.
But just then, Itori suddenly spoke to them. "No need to rush off, is there? Since you've come all this way, why not stay and chat for a bit before leaving?"
As she spoke, she walked toward Byakuya. "Young man, I'd like to have a little chat with you. Mind indulging me?"
"...Alright."
Byakuya nodded expressionlessly.
Since he knew Itori's deeper identity as a member of the Clowns, he instinctively assumed there was something important to discuss, so he agreed.
But when he sat down at the front counter with Itori, the question she asked was beyond his expectations.
"So~ I'm curious about something. Which one do you like, Amaha-kun?"
Itori rested her chin on one hand, tilting her head as she asked Byakuya.
"..."
Byakuya fell into brief silence.
He had thought it was something important, but it turned out to be such a pointless topic...
He had originally found it strange. If it were truly something important, they should have spoken privately, not sat at the front counter where Touka and the others could easily hear.
Yet the moment Itori spoke, Touka's reaction was even greater than Byakuya's. Though her gaze didn't sneak over—pretending she didn't care—her ears were pricked up, trying to hear Byakuya's response clearly.
Even Rize couldn't help but pay attention to what was happening over there. Unlike Touka's furtive manner, she stared directly at Byakuya's direction.
Uta had already begun making the mask according to Rize's facial measurements and requirements.
"What do you mean?"
Byakuya asked.
"You know what I mean..."
At that moment, Itori leaned closer to Byakuya and whispered, "I'm asking which of them you like? Is it the pure but slightly tsundere Touka-chan, or the strong and elegant Kamishiro-san?"
"..."
Byakuya didn't want to answer this question.
[Ding! Host has activated a Choice Mission!]
[Choice 1: Answer "I like Kirishima Touka." Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
[Choice 2: Answer "I like Kamishiro Rize." Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
[Choice 3: Answer "I want them all!" Reward: 100 Fusion Points!]
Seeing the choice mission pop up before him, Byakuya felt even more speechless. This system really was something...
Especially that third option—wasn't that a textbook scumbag declaration?
But when Byakuya thought about his current situation, especially the situation at home, it seemed... the nature of things really was pretty much "I want them all."
Since that was indeed the truth, there was nothing he couldn't say.
Seeing Byakuya remain silent and unwilling to answer, Itori continued in a whisper, "Just tell me secretly. Don't worry, my lips are sealed. I won't tell anyone."
At this moment, Touka couldn't hear what Byakuya and Itori were whispering about, and she couldn't help feeling a bit anxious.
Although Rize's sensory perception was a tier above Touka's—and "sensory perception" naturally included hearing—she could only barely make out some unimportant content.
"I'll just say this: I want them all."
Just then, Byakuya gave his answer.
I want them all.jpg
[Ding! Host has completed Choice 3. Reward: 100 Fusion Points!]
Hearing this, Itori froze for a moment.
This was an answer she had completely failed to anticipate, leaving her astonished.
Besides Itori, only Rize had barely heard what Byakuya said.
Upon hearing it, her eyes widened, and she fixed Byakuya with a cold, somewhat frightening stare.
Clearly, this was not the answer she had hoped to hear.
Yet seeing Rize's unhappy reaction, Touka immediately formed a misunderstanding..
...
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