"You and yirlfrieo have a really good retionship!" Shizuka couldn't help but ent after Ryuji hung up the phone.

  "..."

  Was it just me, or did that sound a bit sarcastic?

  "Miko is indeed very well-behaved!" Ryuji replied with a casual shrug, pletely unfazed by her remark. He didn't mind if she knew about his retionship with Miko.

  "Tsk!"

  Shizuka clicked her tongue in frustration. His open and nont admissio her at a loss for words. For some reason, she felt annoyed. After all, hadn't he flirted with her despite having a girlfriend? What a scumbag!

  "Alright, let's take care of business first," she said, trying to shift the versation.

  Yukino, who had initially wao join them, was quickly rejected by Shizuka.

  "Don't think I don't know what you're up to!" She gred at Yukino, clearly displeased. She could easily guess that Yukino just wao sneak a photo of her transformed state.

  With that, Shizuka grabbed Ryuji and walked out, leaving Yukino standing there, fuming.

  "If I had known this earlier, I would've taken the picture first and then found you someoo help!" Yukino muttered to herself in frustration.

  ---

  "I didn't realize you were so wealthy!" Ryuji said with a smirk as he stepped out of Shizuka's sports car and looked up at the rge vil before him. He raised an eyebrow.

  "Tsk!"

  To her, the vil wasn't a big deal. "With your abilities, Ryuji, it wouldn't be hard for you to buy a pce like this," she remarked, knowing that as a sorcerer, he could easily earn a lot of money if he wao. Mahy families would likely flo ohey discovered his talents.

  "I don't want to deal with all that hassle," Ryuji replied nontly. He knew what she meant, but he had no i iiangled with the rid powerful. If he had the time, he'd rather spend it with someone he liked.

  "I never realized you were so indifferent to fame and fortune," Shizuka said, genuinely surprised.

  "..." Indifferent to fame and fortune? You've got quite the imagination, Ryuji thought to himself but didn't bother correg her. If that's what she wao believe, then fine.

  Following her inside, Ryuji ehe vil. The pce acious and luxurious, but clearly not maintained well. Items were scattered everywhere, giving the vil a cluttered look.

  Ryuji raised an eyebrow. Given her personality, it wasn't too surprising that her pce was a bit messy.

  "Ahem!" She cleared her throat, feeling a little embarrassed. "I fot to call the ing staff today. They'll e by tomorrow."

  For some reason, she didn't want Ryuji to think she couldn't keep up with basic housework.

  "Let's just deal with my problem first!" she quickly added, trying to ge the subject.

  But Ryuji wasn't in a hurry. "Don't worry, it's still early. Sihis is my first time at your pce, I want to take a look around," he said with a grin, strolling deeper into the vil.

  He wahrough the kit and study on the first floor, enting oylish yout.

  Shizuka followed behind him, unsure of what he was looking for but deg not to stop him. However, her expression ged when she realized where Ryuji was headed her bedroom on the sed floor.

  "Wait! Not there!" She called out, her face paling slightly.

  "Is this the bedroom?" Ryuji asked ily, but it was too te. He had already opehe door.

  Upon seeing the interior, Ryuji raised his eyebrows slightly and then calmly closed the door.

  "..." She didn't say anything, but her face was flushed red, her head lowered in embarrassment.

  "Who would've thought? You're actually quite wild at heart," Ryuji teased with a chuckle.

  Ihe room were some unundered clothes, including Shizuka's more personal items. The colors and styles of those garments were… bold, to say the least.

  "I-I just like those kinds of things, okay? Is that s?" Shizuka stammered, her face burning with embarrassment.

  "Of course not! I like that too," Ryuji said with a mischievous grin.

  "You!" She wao retort, but before she could, Ryuji stepped closer to her, l his head slightly.

  "W-Wait, what are y to do?" Shizuka stammered.

  "Rex," Ryuji said, leaning in closer.

  "Successfully tacted a target: Shizuka Hiratsuka!

  A goldery has been triggered. Do you want to load it?"

  Ryuji blinked in surprise. Anoldery? He hadn't expected that.

  Pushing her against the wall.

  "Wait… wait a minute!" Shizuka's voice trembled slightly as she backed away, but her resistance was minimal.