"I don't need friends..."
Koizumi Akako huddled under the covers, muttering softly.
With only half its head and a pair of flickering red eyes showing, it looked just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on but was trying to remain calm.
Yuzuru rested his chin on his hand, watching with great interest the witch's rare, adorable appearance after shedding her sharp edges, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Even witches need friends, Akako. Always shutting yourself off will make you miss out on a lot of fun things."
His tone was flat, without the slightest hint of sympathy or pity, as if he were stating a simple fact like "the sun rises in the east."
But it struck right at the deepest part of Koizumi Akako's heart, the loneliness that even she herself was unwilling to admit.
From a young age, she was told that she was the sole heir to the Red Magic and bore the heavy responsibility of reviving the family's magic. Her world was almost devoid of color, consisting only of magic books, potion ingredients, and various dangerous magical experiments.
Friend? What's that?
Can you help her understand ancient magical script or help her concoct magical potions?
She had long been accustomed to using arrogance, a sharp tongue, and a witch's laugh of "heh heh heh" to disguise herself, and was used to staying alone in this empty, cold castle where only magic accompanied her, as if the whole world had nothing to do with her.
Until this bastard appeared, using the most unreasonable and devastating methods, he forcibly tore away her disguise and glimpsed the unknown desolation and loneliness in her heart.
Koizumi Akako pursed her lips and remained silent, only silently pulling the blanket up to bury half of her burning cheeks, revealing only a pair of complex red eyes as she quietly observed Hanyu Nanasu.
The glow of the setting sun cast a warm golden hue over him, making him look exceptionally...pleasing to the eye, even damnably charming.
Yu Sheng Nan tucked the blanket around her and stood up.
"Alright, I should go back now, or the girls at home will be getting impatient." He smiled. "The chocolate tastes really good. Next time I can make more... um, the kind without any toppings."
He walked to the door, glanced back at her, and waved: "I'm leaving now. See you at the next seminar... or you're welcome to come visit Qingzi anytime you want."
The door was gently closed, making a soft "click" sound.
Silence returned to the bedroom, broken only by the shifting light and shadows of the setting sun outside the window and... the increasingly rapid heartbeat of the witch on the bed.
Koizumi Akako buried herself completely in the blankets.
Like an ostrich hiding in the face of danger, it hid for a long time until it was sure that the dangerous person had really left, before quietly and little by little peeking out.
The annoying guy was no longer in the room, but the air seemed to still carry his cool yet warm scent.
She stared blankly at the intricate classical carvings on the ceiling, her mind a jumbled mess, like a ball of yarn that had been played with by a cat.
So much happened today, so much information.
It's almost overflowing...
Okay, it's already "overflowed".
The witch touched her reddened lips, where the bastard's taste still seemed to linger.
A failed potion, loneliness that's been seen through, and those... intimate moments that make you blush...
"Friends...?"
She murmured to herself, a hint of confusion and a faint expectation that she herself was unaware of flashing in her crimson eyes.
perhaps......
Why not give it a try? It might not be a bad idea.
Anyway... anyway, it's all just to better observe and study the people around that guy, gather intelligence, find his weaknesses, and then eventually conquer him.
Yes! That's it!
Everything is for the great cause of the revival of Red Magic!
Miss Witch found a reason for herself in her mind, and then, as if to convince herself, she turned over forcefully, buried her burning cheeks deep into the pillow that still held someone's scent, and let out a muffled, ambiguous whimper.
Outside the window, the setting sun was like blood.
.........
The sunset in the evening was beautiful.
The blood-red hue permeated the clouds, possessing a breathtaking, bewitching, and alluring beauty, like the hem of a witch's skirt, carrying a grand and poignant sense of impending doom.
At least Hanyu Nan, who had just "deeply" savored the beauty of the witch, wholeheartedly agreed and even had a little lingering reminiscence.
The reason he didn't choose to take advantage of Hongzi in the castle wasn't because he suddenly had a change of heart and decided to be a virtuous man like Liu Xiahui who could remain unmoved by temptation.
Instead, he felt that the process of completely conquering a proud and sensitive witch like Akako was inherently enjoyable.
The real sense of accomplishment and ultimate enjoyment comes from taking her from initial resistance and disdain to later half-hearted acceptance and panic, and finally to willing submission and even active indulgence.
He's very particular about "romance" and "mutual consent."
(Vermouth/Urashi Seiran/Kuroba Chikage: So?)
Well... different approaches and rhythms are needed to deal with girls of different personalities.
It's about teaching according to aptitude and adapting to local conditions.
For someone as aloof as Koizumi Akako, who uses a hard shell to protect her soft heart, besides needing someone stronger to break down her defenses, the gentleness and well-timed "care" afterwards can often achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The most satisfying and unforgettable experience is the complete conquest, the perfect union of spirit and flesh.
After leaving the castle, Hanyu Kusunoki walked down the quiet, tree-lined path, enjoying the sunset along the way, before leisurely strolling to the Ekoda tram station to take the tram back to Beika Town.
"Um... hello?"
While waiting for the bus, Yuzuru Hanyu suddenly heard a gentle but uncertain voice behind him, which then turned into a reassuring greeting.
Yuzuru turned around curiously.
A middle-aged woman, dressed in a well-tailored, sharp-lined prosecutor's uniform, wearing sophisticated black-rimmed glasses, and exuding an aura of competence and elite status, stood not far behind him.
The other person was carrying a classic briefcase, and seemed to have just finished get off work.
She was scrutinizing him with a look that said, "It really is you."
But there was no malice in his gaze; instead, it carried a hint of barely perceptible curiosity and... an increasingly obvious satisfaction?
Yuzuru was slightly taken aback at first, then quickly searched his memory bank and successfully matched the other party's identity.
Nakamori Hiko.
Aoko's mother is an elite prosecutor at the East City District Prosecutors Office. She is widely regarded by her colleagues and superiors as a strong candidate for "future Prosecutor General." She is a woman who appears strong, decisive, and logical, but deeply values her family and has a frighteningly keen observational ability.
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