“I’m sorry!”
“N-No, don’t worry about it...”
Guh, my knees are buckling. That was a good slap.
Riran, perhaps feeling guilty, started stroking my cheek.
It’s ticklish, so I’d like her to stop. Hey, it’s really embarrassing. Don’t keep poking me.
“...Your skin is so clear. I’m about to snap.”
Why? Yours is definitely clearer.
Wait, right now isn’t about me...!
I hurriedly looked toward Leeza-san.
And... Leeza-san and Ryuguin were staring at each other with wide eyes.
Their faces were bright red, and neither of them moved an inch.
It was like a samurai’s duel. Or a gunslinger’s standoff.
Yeah, I don’t even know what I’m saying.
“Hey, Akito. Those two are scary. They’re glaring at each other...!”
“Ah—yeah. I wouldn’t call it glaring, more like staring intently.”
“...What do you mean?”
I hadn’t expected Riran to be here, but... she’d find out sooner or later.
“Those two are connected by a red thread.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. By the way, that silver-haired half-Japanese woman, Leeza-san, is my kickboxing master.”
“I-I see... So Akito is here to act as a bridge between Rion and Leeza-san, then?”
“Ah... Y-Yeah, that’s right.”
“Why are you talking like a robot?”
“...Don’t worry about it.”
Honestly, I wanted to go home with all my might, but I only stayed because of Leeza-san.
“...I see, with Rion...”
“...Riran?”
Riran had a subtle expression on her face. No, it felt more complex than that.
“I-It’s nothing. ...Still, the world is a small place. I wonder if this is the power of the 『Red Thread of Fate』.”
Seriously, tell me about it.
Riran seemed quite surprised, watching the two of them with bated breath to see what would happen next.
I thought so before, but Leeza-san is surprisingly naive. You could even say she has no backbone. She’d probably send me flying if I said that to her face, though.
Now then, let’s see what happens...
Leeza-san’s face, as she stared at Ryuguin, gradually turned redder.
In response, Ryuguin’s cheeks also began to turn a light cherry-blossom pink.
...It’s embarrassing just watching them.
After waiting for several seconds, or perhaps dozens of seconds.
The one who opened her mouth first was Ryuguin.
“...Ah, um... E-Excuse me.”
“Y-Yeth...!”
“N-Nice to meet you. I am Ryuguin Rion.”
“Ah, I am Elizaveta Jissoji...! P-Please call me Li-Li-Li-Leeza...!”
Hey, who is this person? Is she really my master?
Ryuguin bowed gracefully like a refined lady, while Leeza-san bowed repeatedly at stiff right angles. She’s way too nervous.
“...Um, since we’re out here, why don’t you come to my home? Sanada-kun as well. I was just about to hang out with Riran-chan anyway.”
“...Riran?”
Leeza-san’s eyes turned toward Riran.
Leeza-san looked stunned for a moment, but then her eyes sparkled when she saw her.
“A-Are you by chance Karura’s younger sister!? The boy’s Fated Person?!”
“Y-Yes. Nice to meet you... wait, Karura? Cal-oneesan... do you know my sister?”
“Mm. Karura was my junior in university.”
“...Really, the world is way too small...”
I strongly agree.
So, basically, Riran and I are connected by a red thread, and Leeza-san and Ryuguin are connected.
Then, Leeza-san and I have a master-disciple relationship, while Riran and Ryuguin are best friends.
Leeza-san and Karura-san were senior and junior in university, and Riran is Karura-san’s sister... Man, this is getting complicated.
...Well, I’ll sort that out later.
“Ryuguin. Is it really okay if we intrude on your home? Weren’t you planning to hang out with Riran?”
“Ah. Riran-chan, what do you think?”
“I don’t mind, but... is it really okay for Akito and me to be there?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Hmm...”
Riran seemed hesitant. I understand that feeling.
My role was just to watch over Leeza-san and Ryuguin until they met.
I figured it would be better to leave the two of them alone from here on out.
While I was thinking that, my eyes met Leeza-san’s.
(Stay by my side, boy!)
(No, no, it’s better if it’s just the two of you.)
(I’ll get too nervous! She’s a literal angel in person! A super Yamato Nadeshiko! Just the two of us is impossible, impossible, impossible!)
(Are you a maiden?)
(I’m a pure-hearted girl, you got a problem with that?!)
(I didn’t ask about that, ma’am.)
(If you refuse, your next training session will be triple what it was yesterday!)
(Are you a demon?!)
(Then stay!)
This was eye contact born from a long relationship. This exchange took less than a second.
Dammit. I’m definitely going to make this person cry one day.
“Riran. Let’s take her up on the offer.”
“...Well, I guess so. We did have plans to hang out anyway.”
Leeza-san let out a sigh of relief.
Behind her, Ryuguin also breathed a sigh of relief, placing a hand on her chest.
It seems Ryuguin was nervous too, after all. These two are quite alike.
“Well then, shall we move? Let’s go, Leeza-san.”
“Y-Y-Y-Yeth. Please excuse the intrusion...!”
Prompted by Ryuguin, Leeza-san followed after her.
As I tried to follow... someone tugged on my clothes.
“Hmm? ...Riran, what’s wrong?”
“...Didn’t you two just have a long stare-down?”
This girl is sharp.
She wasn’t exactly angry, but she was looking at me with intense scornful eyes.
It felt somewhat awkward.
“I-It’s nothing shady. It’s just because we’ve known each other for a long time, so I can tell what she’s trying to say through her eyes.”
“Muu... must be nice...”
“...Eh?”
“! I-It’s nothing! Come on, let’s go!”
Riran’s face turned bright red as she hurriedly followed the other two.
“Must be nice”... she’s jealous, isn’t she?
“...That’s not fair, damn it.”
Aware of a heat in my cheeks that wasn’t from a slap, I followed everyone through the gate of the Ryuguin estate.