It wasn't until the afternoon school bell rang that the girls relutly left.

  "Phew!"

  Though it was o be surrounded by so much admiration, the stant chatter had been a bit overwhelming. Now, finally, there was some quiet.

  Ryuji was about to head back to his for the lesson when Shizuka, the club advisave him a look with a hint of mischief.

  "Are you sure you want to go back to the ?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Hmm?" Ryuji stopped and looked at her in fusion. "What's up?"

  "There are probably still quite a few students hanging around outside your . After everything that's happened, I doubt anyone's going to be fog on lessons," she said. "Some of them are there just to gawk, but others are probably hoping to get closer to you."

  Ryuji sighed, already picturing the crowd. He could uand why they'd be curious, but the idea of being mobbed didn't sound appealing.

  "Well, if I don't go to css, where else I go?" he asked, giving her a curious look. He'd noticed something in Hiratsuka's gaze, as if she had an alternative in mind.

  Clearihroat, she replied, "I don't have any csses this afternoon, so you could hang out in my office for a bit. After a couple of days, when the excitement dies down, things should go back to normal."

  Some of the girls who hadn't left the clubroom nodded, clearly thinking it was a good idea. They trusted Hiratsuka's suggestion without a sed thought.

  Before long, it was just Ryuji and Shizuka alone in the y clubroom. The spacious room felt even rger with everyone else gone.

  Notig Ryuji's amused gaze, Shizuka turned her head slightly, looking away with a bit of awkwardness.

  "Let's go," she said in a serious torying to cover up her flustered expression. "I'll take you to my office."

  But just as she turo leave, Ryuji reached out aly pulled her back.

  "You…" Before she could react, Ryuji leaned in and whispered with a smirk, "I think this space is big enough. Don't you?"

  After all, ohe clubroom door was closed, no one would e in. They had the ptirely to themselves.

  Ryuji's words made Shizuka's steps falter, and she nearly tripped.

  "Whatever… suit yourself," she muttered, gng away as if giving him permission, though her expression said otherwise.

  Seeing her rea only made Ryuji's grin grow wider. With everything that had been happening tely, it'd been a while since he'd had the ce to enjoy moments like this with her.

  While Ryuji was busy in the clubroom, the live broadcast from earlier had stirred up waves in other pces as well. People across various circles were iigating Ryuji and Gojo, having reized them as some of the stro sorcerers alive.

  For the powerful ahy, this meant opportunity. If they could win over one of these sorcerers, it would be a game-ger for their influend security. The potential bes were too tempting to ignore.

  ---

  At the Shinomiya mansion, Kaguya Shinomiya sat with her maid, Ai Hayasaka, watg the recorded footage of the live broadcast. Though Kaguya wasn't particurly tech-savvy, Ai had been more than happy to set everything up for her.

  Watg the footage, Kaguya's gaze was filled with awe. She'd seen Ryuji's strength in a once before, back at one of her family's properties, but that day was nothing pared to the spectacle in the live stream.

  It made sense now, she realized. No wonder her father, Gan'an Shinomiya, had insisted on holding a birthday ba for her this year, a rare occurrehe purpose was clear: to try and bring Ryuji closer to the Shinomiya family.

  And how would he aplish that? The answer was obvious. By using her as bait.

  Kaguya sighed, feeling a familiar bitterness at the idea of her life being dictated by her family's ambitions. But after witnessing Ryuji's power, her feelings were mixed. There was a strange sense of admiration within her, a quiet aowledgment that she was drawn to his strength.

  "Hayasaka!" Kaguya called out, her voice more hesitant than usual.

  "Yes, Miss?" Hayasaka responded, looking at Kaguya with her usual posed expression.

  "Have you prepared the dress for the ba?" Kaguya asked, her tone carrying a hint of ay she rarely allowed herself to show.

  Hayasaka immediately uood her mistress's unease. Smiling softly, she replied, "Don't worry, Miss. The head of the family personally approved the dresses. He made sure they're perfect for the occasion."

  Of course, Gan'an Shinomiya would want Kaguya to look her best. If the pn was to win over Ryuji, Kaguya's appearance would o be fwless. Anything less would be an embarrassment to the Shinomiya name.

  "I see…" Kaguya murmured, feeling somewhat reassured. But then, ahought surfaced, and her expression turned worried again.

  "But… what if he doesn't like me?" she asked quietly, a vulnerable look crossing her face.

  Although Kaguya was the Shinomiya family's designated successor, being an illegitimate child meaatus within the family was alrecarious. Despite her usual cold and dignified facade, only Hayasaka knew how insecure Kaguya could be behind closed doors.

  "Miss, you have nothing to worry about," Hayasaka reassured her, her voice softening. "You're beautiful and intelligent. I'm sure Ryuji will be impressed. And if the two of you do end up together, no one in the Shinomiya family would dare look down on you again."

  Privately, Hayasaka herself hadn't fully grasped the significe of sorcerers until the live broadcast. She'd ohought of them as nothing more than artists. But now she knew better. Sorcerers were like walking natural disasters, capable of bending the very fabric of reality. It was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

  Still, seeing her mistress's nervousness, Hayasaka kept her owions in check, fog entirely on Kaguya's needs.

  "Yes… you're right," Kaguya replied, her expression firming up. "As a member of the Shinomiya family, I won't allow myself to fail."

  Seeing her mistress's determined expression, Hayasaka couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and amusement. Kaguya's serious demeanor, even about something like this, was both admirable and endearing.

  Just then, Hayasaka's phone vibrated in her pocket. Gng at the s, her face fell slightly.

  "Excuse me, Miss. I o go to the bathroom," she said politely.

  "Hmm? Oh, go ahead," Kaguya replied absentmindedly, already lost in thought as she mentally prepared for the uping ba.

  On the bathroom, Hayasaka checked her phohe message was from her than Kaguya's older brother, Oko Shinomiya. Her expression soured as she read it.

  "Don't let Kaguya succeed."

  The message was short, but its meaning was clear. Oko wanted her to sabotage Kaguya's ces with Ryuji. Hayasaka ched her teeth, feeling a surge of disgust.

  "Are you afraid, Oko?" she muttered to herself with a bitter ugh.

  It was obvious why he wanted her to interfere. If Kaguya mao form a bond with someone as powerful as Ryuji, her status in the family would skyrocket. Oko's own position as a potential heir would be at risk, and he couldn't allow that.

  Though she loathed the order, Hayasaka knew she couldn't openly defy Oko. Instead, she typed back a calcuted response.

  "Kaguya is beautiful. If Ryuji likes her, it's beyond my trol."

  She knew Kaguya's beauty and intelligence were undeniable. If Ryuji truly took an i ihere would be little anyone could do to prevent it.

  Oko fell silent, seemingly frustrated. But then, after a moment, he responded with a new pn:

  "Then you seduce him."

  Hayasaka stared at her s in shock. Was he really suggesting…?

  But she quickly realized he was serious. In his eyes, she was just another pawn, someone he could use to further his ambitions.

  "Do you think I won't destroy the Hayasaka family if you fail?" Oko added, making his threat clear.

  Hayasaka ched her phoightly, her knuckles turning white. The Hayasaka family had already fallen uhe Shinomiya family's trol after a failed business endeavor. They were no longer indepe but a subsidiary family, existing only because the Shinomiya allowed it.

  "Bastard…" she whispered, feeling a surge of anger.

  If she had the power, she'd gdly sp Oko across the face. But iy, she had no choice. With a bitter heart, she forced herself to type a single reply.

  "Uood."

  For the sake of her family, Hayasaka had no choice but to obey, even as it pained her to betray Kaguya's trust in such a way.