A few weeks had passed since the events from the last chapter.
School was, well, school.
I was still top-tier in grades, but not by much. Thanks to Sona, I stayed around the upper ranks, not the absolute best but enough to make my family happy
I wasn't trying to be a genius. I wasn't trying to be a slacker either. Just coasting by, letting the reputation of being the heir of the Mishima Corporation do the work for me
The whole "Kuoh Academy Most Handsome Man" title started circulating around school a while back. I honestly didn't know how to feel about it. On one hand, yeah, I guess I was kind of attractive in a "too-good-to-touch" kind of way.
Take that Kiba!
On the other, it made me feel like I was just some pretty face for the students to gawk at. Whatever. If it made them back off and not ask questions, I was fine with it.
Still, I kept it cool. Played the role of the rich, aloof heir. The mysterious guy who never lets anyone get too close. And so far, it was working. Most people were content to admire from a distance.
The rest of school? Well, it was a blur. Teachers droned on, students babbled like they had anything important to say, and I sat there, trying not to zone out. My mind wasn't on the lesson plan, though.
No, I was more interested in my next manifestation. What weapon would I create next? Every day, my mind worked on it—an endless loop of ideas, designs, and strategies.
At night, though... things changed.
I went hunting. The devils were out there, lurking in the shadows. I found them and ended them.
Since then, my nightly excursions have become routine.
And damn, it felt good. There was something exhilarating about it—the thrill of battle, the release of pent-up energy after another day of monotonous schoolwork.
Every fight seemed to make my senses sharper. I could feel every little change in the air, hear even the tiniest rustle from miles away.
It was like the world was moving slower.
I am leveling up every day.
The devils I encountered became less challenging as I gained more experience. But still, I was cautious. I wasn't invincible yet.
But something strange had started happening. I'd get this feeling, like I was being watched. It wasn't often, but there were moments when I'd get the sense that I wasn't alone.
Like someone, or something, was out there just watching me. My senses would go on high alert, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up, but whenever I tried to look around, there was nothing. Not a damn thing.
The feeling would fade as quickly as it came, leaving me wondering if I was just being paranoid. Or maybe it was something more... something I couldn't quite pin down. Either way, it was always there in the back of my mind.
Anyways, the Arcanum Grimoire was almost ready—just a few more days.
Same with the Senzu beans. I've got five of them in my inventory now, and after the next batch, I'm definitely manifesting another weapon.
I can't keep relying on these disposable steel swords forever. They get the job done, but I need something with a little more... staying power.
Back to school.
My relationship with Issei had actually improved. He was a good guy, if you could look past the constant perversion, the borderline obsession with boobs, and the fact that he probably couldn't hold a decent conversation without mentioning something inappropriate.
But hey, he was honest, naïve, loud, and kind of annoying. Honestly, he was like a hyperactive puppy, the kind you couldn't help but roll your eyes at but still sort of like. That's what makes him a good friend, right?
Speaking of Issei, I bumped into him between classes. Naturally, he had something weird to say.
"Yo, Leon!" he shouted, his eyes almost popping out of his head. "You gotta help me, man! I was thinking of talking to that new girl in class, you know, the one with the long hair... and I swear she looked at me like she wanted me—" He stopped mid-sentence as if he had just realized the inconsistency in his logic. "Wait, no, she totally didn't. But she definitely smiled at me. That's gotta mean something, right?"
I blinked, trying to catch up. "Issei... She smiled at you because you're staring at her chest like you're trying to measure it with your eyes."
"No way, man! That's not—" He faltered, looking down at himself. "Okay, maybe a little, but you see, I'm just being friendly! A little eye contact never hurt anyone!"
I just sighed. "No, Issei. It's not friendly. It's harassment."
He gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like he'd just been shot. "Whaaat? You're breaking my heart, bro! You think I'm a perv now? No way, man, I'm just... uh, a guy with... 'appreciation' for the finer things in life."
"Uh-huh." I raised an eyebrow. "You know what, you should probably just... chill. Focus on school, not on hitting on every girl in sight."
His face lit up. "You know, that's actually great advice, Leon. Focus on school... but can I still, y'know, fantasize about my future harem while doing that?"
I shook my head. "You'll be lucky if you don't get a slap in the face before you even reach graduation."
Issei just laughed, completely unfazed. "What's the fun in that? I mean, come on, who else is gonna appreciate a guy with a face like this?" He pointed to his face like it was some kind of masterpiece, puffing out his chest like he was a god among men.
"Yeah, well, keep dreaming, buddy. I'll be over here actually passing the exams and not getting slapped."
As I walked away, I could hear Issei still muttering about how his "good looks" were going to get him through life. I couldn't help but chuckle. If anyone could make it through life by sheer luck and perversion, it was him.
—
I had just finished lunch, and I was relaxing in my seat when I noticed Tsubaki walking toward me. She had that serious, no-nonsense look she always had. She didn't waste words.
"Mishima-san." she said, standing in front of my table. "Souna-sama wants to speak with you in the student council room."
"Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She didn't say, but it's important."
"Right," I muttered, getting up. "If the queen calls, the peasant must answer."
Tsubaki didn't respond but there was a slight shift in her expression. Maybe it was amusement, but I couldn't tell. She turned and started walking away, and I followed.
The last thing I needed was to accidentally reveal that I knew more than I let on. As far as Sona was concerned, I was just another rich kid with no clue about the supernatural world. And that was exactly how I wanted to keep it.
A few minutes later, I was standing in front of the student council room. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Sona was sitting at the head of the table, papers in front of her. She didn't look up at first but then met my gaze, her expression steady.
"Mishima-san," she said, her tone professional. "Please, take a seat,"
Ahh. still serious as ever.
I sat, crossing my arms, trying to keep the cool rich kid act up, even as my brain was running circles. "So, what's this about? Business stuff?"
Sona gave me a small, professional nod. "Yes, precisely. As the heir to the Mishima Corporation, you have considerable influence, which could be very valuable. There are some business ventures we could explore together, potentially benefiting both parties."
I raised an eyebrow. "Business ventures? Like what?"
She leaned forward slightly, her voice steady. "Nothing too complex. It would involve joint investments and expansion of influence. As the heir of a major corporation, your resources could help facilitate certain projects I've been considering. It would be mutually beneficial."
I leaned back slightly in my chair, adopting the same businesslike tone I used when dealing with actual business matters. "Well, I'll need to see the proposal first before I make any decisions. Can't just take your word for it, after all. I need to assess whether these investments are as beneficial as you claim."
Sona didn't flinch, her gaze unwavering. "Of course. I have the details here. We can review them together and discuss the finer points to ensure everything aligns with your expectations."
I nodded, keeping the smooth, calculating tone. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go over the specifics then. I'm all ears."
She leaned forward, her expression sharp and professional. "I'm confident we can come to an agreement that works for both sides."
I flashed her a smile, letting the charm slip through just a bit. "I'm sure you'd make an excellent negotiator, Souna-kaichou. I'm sure you can convince me easily."
She froze for a split second, her expression turning slightly pink. Her usual composed demeanor faltered, and I saw the faintest hint of a blush on her cheeks. "T-That's not what I was trying to do…" she stammered, quickly looking down at the papers in front of her.
Ahh. She is so cute
I leaned back in my chair, a small, satisfied smile tugging at my lips. I had a feeling things were going to get interesting.