At six-thirty in the morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, shining on the two people lingering in bed.
Yuki Asahi woke up first.
He was completely awake almost instantly, his body’s memory moving a step faster than his brain.
His lower back… was so sore.
Last night, he had spent hours in a half-sitting, half-leaning position against the headboard, letting Jiang Jian Yue use his lap as a pillow as they slept fitfully…
It felt as though his spine was about to snap.
He stiffly turned his neck to look beside him.
It was rare for Jiang Jian Yue to sleep so deeply.
She was curled up entirely within the down duvet, leaving only her fluffy, ash-gray head exposed.
Her profile rested near the crook of his arm, her breathing steady and light.
Having shed the bloodstains and madness of yesterday, she looked like an ordinary young girl at this moment, her pale cheeks flushed with a rare hint of color from sleep.
Flashbacks of last night flickered through Yuki Asahi’s mind, and his face instantly began to burn, the heat spreading from the base of his neck to the tips of his ears.
He attempted to slide his arm out from under her neck.
However, the moment he moved, those blood-colored pupils snapped open.
There was no trace of sleepiness—only coldness and vigilance, just as always.
Their eyes met.
“……Morning.”
Jiang Jian Yue spoke first, her voice incredibly raspy.
Jiang Jian Yue stared at him expressionlessly for a few seconds before slowly sitting up, wrapped in the duvet, revealing her smooth shoulders.
“My neck hurts.”
She frowned, reaching out to rub the back of her neck.
Yuki Asahi’s gaze uncontrollably slid across her lips before he jerked it away as if he’d been electrocuted.
“I… I’ll go… make breakfast!”
He threw back the covers, scooped up his undergarments from the floor, and rushed out of the main bedroom in what was practically a headlong flight.
Jiang Jian Yue watched his frantic retreating figure and blinked slowly.
Meiguan’s voice rang out faintly.
“That was quite an intense battle last night.”
“……Shut up.”
Jiang Jian Yue responded coldly in her mind, yet her cheeks uncontrollably stained with crimson.
As everyone knew, Chunan generally had two states: finishing in seconds, or being unable to come out at all.
Yuki Asahi belonged to the latter—by the end, the girl’s tongue had almost lost all sensation.
Originally, Jiang Jian Yue had been prepared to become an adult tonight—with such intense passion, Chunan surely wouldn’t have been able to help himself, right?
However, after finishing the “reward,” Jiang Jian Yue was so exhausted she could hardly bear it.
Even in the middle of it, she had fallen directly asleep several times.
Yuki Asahi felt both pained and awkward, wanting Jiang Jian Yue to stop—but Jiang Jian Yue was stubborn, swearing not to stop until she made it spit blood.
At the breakfast table of delicacies, the atmosphere was subtle.
The two ate their fried eggs and toasted bread in silence, so quiet that only the light clinking of utensils could be heard.
The usual distance was gone, replaced by a layer of fragile and brand-new… intimacy.
“I’m leaving.”
Jiang Jian Yue set down her plate.
“I… I’m ready too.”
Yuki Asahi followed quickly.
The two walked out of the apartment together and merged into the morning rush hour crowd.
As usual, one to the left and one to the right?
No, today they walked side-by-side toward the station, looking just like an ordinary student couple going to school together.
***
The bell for the end of afternoon classes rang.
Jiang Jian Yue was deaf to the noise in the classroom; she had been somewhat restless all day.
Last night’s “gift”… consumed not just physical strength, but mental energy as well.
She took out her mobile phone.
On the screen was not a work message but a notebook, recording the total amount of cash she had taken from Yuki Asahi last night.
“To be supported by a little pet, you’ve really made something of yourself, daughter.”
Jiang Jian Yue couldn’t be bothered to respond to her.
Chantui had not been updated for a long time—it had been in a lagging state for ages.
This meant that for many days, Jiang Jian Yue had been unable to use a computer for entertainment.
Coincidentally, there had been fewer matters to attend to lately, as most projects had finished their planning stages.
Jiang Jian Yue finally had time of her own to command.
As a member of the PC master race, Jiang Jian Yue valued computers more than phones; in her view, a mobile phone was no substitute for a computer.
Therefore, Jiang Jian Yue planned to buy a computer for normal use.
She carried her schoolbag out of the classroom door when a black-haired girl, the Class President whose name she couldn’t remember, greeted her.
“Jiang Jian… eh?”
The black-haired girl narrowed her eyes, looking at Jiang Jian Yue who was frozen in place, and spoke with a beaming smile.
“Today, Jiang Jian, your face looks very nourished. Did you eat something?”
What kind of description was “nourished”?
Jiang Jian Yue associated it with certain rumors about supplements and abruptly turned her face away.
“It’s nothing.”
She walked quickly out of the black-haired girl’s sight, and only when she reached the stairwell did she breathe a sigh of relief and pat her own cheeks.
The mobile phone in her skirt pocket suddenly vibrated.
Caller ID: Morita Aoya.
Jiang Jian Yue walked to a secluded corner and answered the call.
“Missy.”
Morita Aoya’s voice was as steady as ever, but Jiang Jian Yue could still detect a hint of imperceptible exhaustion.
“….Speak.”
“There’s a bit of trouble. Regarding the Dragonno Association matter from last night.”
Jiang Jian Yue raised an eyebrow, not surprised in the slightest.
“The government side… is very dissatisfied.”
Morita Aoya chose his words carefully.
“Both the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office and the National Police Agency have sent people to contact us. Our actions last night… were too much.”
“We abused the ‘Temporary Security Zone’ clause in the ‘Special Security Cooperation.’ That clause was originally only permitted to be activated when there was a clear threat to your personal travel safety…”
“But we used it to conduct a ‘private armed action’.”
“…And the result?”
Jiang Jian Yue asked impatiently.
“The Agricultural Cooperative… the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives, has placed immense pressure on the government.”
Morita Aoya’s voice dropped.
“They claim that the Dragonno Association is a ‘financial service agency’ they hired to handle bad assets. They are calling our actions ‘illegal armed intervention by foreign capital’.”
Jiang Jian Yue gave a barely audible sneer.
“With GSAC approaching, the government doesn’t want to make a scene; they need our investment and technical support.”
“But they have made two demands: First, immediately revise the terms to strictly limit the activation conditions and scope of the ‘Temporary Security Zone.’ Second, hand over all three superpower users captured last night, including Oowada Toshihiro, to the Tokushu Jishou Taiou Honbu for processing.”
“Missy, what is your opinion?”
Hand them over?
Jiang Jian Yue’s blood-red pupils instantly turned cold.
“……The people will not be handed over.”
Jiang Jian Yue’s voice held no warmth.
Morita Aoya seemed to sigh on the other end of the line, clearly having anticipated this answer.
“This will be very troublesome, Missy. The Agricultural Cooperative has extremely deep political roots in Japan, and their relationship with the ruling party…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Jiang Jian Yue interrupted him.
She went silent for a few seconds, seemingly thinking.
“However… tell the people below that they are being too noisy.”
Morita Aoya immediately understood the Missy’s meaning.
“Understood, I will have them keep a low profile.”
“The terms can be changed; let them have it. Just don’t… cause me trouble.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Morita Aoya breathed a sigh of relief.
“I will find a way to refuse the transfer of the prisoners.”
“I’m not coming in today.”
Jiang Jian Yue added.
“I’m going to buy some things.”
She hung up the phone and rubbed her aching temples.
The Agricultural Cooperative, the government…
What does any of that have to do with me, a seventeen-year-old high school student who just wants to put together a computer while passing by?
Better to ask what my budget is.
She put away her phone and was about to leave the school to find a computer market for parts.
However, as if guided by some whim, she took a turn toward the Second Hall, her destination being the Supernatural Club activity room.
She heard voices inside.
Slide——
The door to the activity room was pulled open, and the noisy room instantly fell silent.
Everyone’s gaze focused on the doorway.
Jiang Jian Yue stood there expressionlessly, her blood-red eyes sweeping over the room.
The group… was quite complete.
The entire Supernatural Club was present, including two outsiders.
Makino Yuzuha sat upright, holding a cup of hot tea.
There were some bandages on her face, but she looked to be in good spirits.
When she saw the newcomer was Jiang Jian Yue, she scrambled to her feet and gave a ninety-degree bow, her voice trembling.
“Senior Jiang! Yesterday… really… thank you so much!”
Jiang Jian Yue looked at her, and the bloody scene in the warehouse from last night flashed through her mind.
“………Mm.”
She gave an acknowledgment.
“Also…. about what happened later… I’m sorry!”
Makino Yuzuha did not straighten up, but continued speaking.
Jiang Jian Yue knew the pink-haired girl was referring to her being taken hostage, which led to the slaughter.
Although Makino Yuzuha didn’t know the specific connection between the two events, she could still tell that Jiang Jian Yue hadn’t originally intended to kill those people.
“It’s fine.”
Jiang Jian Yue stepped in front of Makino Yuzuha, placing a hand on her shoulder to help her up.
It wasn’t exactly Makino Yuzuha’s fault; after all, it was Jiang Jian Yue herself who had been too lax and had underestimated the safety risks.
And her retaliation had been a tiny bit excessive.
Jiang Jian Yue turned her head to look at the two outsiders and asked softly.
“Why… so early today?”
“A newcomer encountered that kind of thing yesterday, so of course we had to come visit… By the way, is Makino really okay? Coming to school even with injuries?”
Saori Saiyonji asked as she stuffed a candy into her mouth—she still hadn’t finished the stash from last year, and they were almost expired.
“Mm… if I fall behind in my studies… Mama Lin will be very angry.”
“Lin?”
Yamanoi Yayoi repeated with some curiosity as she unwrapped a chocolate in her hand.
“Ah… my foster parents are Chinese.”
“So that’s it! Then why didn’t Yuzuha change her surname?”
Kaori Onishi asked curiously.
“My parents said… anyway, in the future… I’ll have to change my surname when I get married, so I might as well not bother.”
Makino Yuzuha’s cheeks turned a bit pink; after all, for a high school student, speaking of marriage was still too early.
Sigh, feudal remnants.
Sigh, patriarchy…
On the other hand, looking at a certain great eastern country…
Jiang Jian Yue pulled a new chair from the side and sat down next to Yamanoi Yayoi—the space around Yuki Asahi had already been carved up by Kaori Onishi and Saori Saiyonji.
Although Saori Saiyonji sent hints with her eyes, Jiang Jian Yue ignored them completely—switching seats would be too obvious, and there was no need for it.
“Hey! Since everyone is finally here, let’s all go out for a meal together!”
Kaori Onishi’s eyes lit up, and she raised her hand high to propose.
“Yay!”
Makino Yuzuha echoed, raising her hand as well, but then seeing the others didn’t react, she pulled it back.
“I… I have no money…”
Yamanoi Yayoi was a bit embarrassed; her money was already gone.
And Saori Saiyonji’s expression was even worse.
“I am currently… in debt for 100 million Yen.”
“Huh??”
You have to admire her dedication really