From the back of the crowd, Shizuka finally made her way over.

  With a stern expression, she gred at the students around her.

  "Have you all fotten that css has already started?" M reading time wasn't that long, and by now, the first css was underway. Yet, these students showed no signs of returning to their seats.

  "But, Ms. Hiratsuka—"

  It was clear that these students respected and were a little scared of Shizuka, but they still wao justify their behavior. After all, who could focus on school now?

  Bang!

  Knowily what they were about to say, Shizuka didn't waste her breath. Instead, she puhe wall o her. A deafening noise echoed as cracks spread out from the impact, leaving a deep imprint of her fist on the wall.

  That's right—thanks to Ryuji, Shizuka had bee a sorcerer. However, uhe girls, she had only gaihe ability to harness cursed energy and hadn't awakened any specific teiques. But even so, the cursed energy greatly enhanced her physical strength and durability, bined with her barrier cat abilities. If she hadn't held back, that single punch would have shattered the entire wall.

  Hiss!

  The students who were about to speak fell silent, wide-eyed and stunned. Was this real? If that punded ohey'd be out cold in an instant. There was no doubt left in their minds that Shizuka, too, was a sorcerer.

  In truth, they barely uood what being a sorcerer entailed, but Shizuka had always been intimidating enough that this didn't seem out of character for her. She'd been known as the "tiger" of the school for a reason.

  "Now, everyourn to your s. If I hear any noise in ten minutes, don't bme me for what happe. Got it?"

  Her voice, tinged with a threat, left no room fument.

  "…"

  No one dared argue. They knew she was trying to scare them back to css, but they weren't willing to test her. The crowd began to disperse.

  "Wait, don't step on me!"

  "Help, I don't want to get trampled!"

  "This is scarier than a cursed spirit!"

  It was safe to say that Shizuka's reputation would skyrocket after today.

  Ten mier, the hallway that had been packed with students was y.

  "Tsk."

  Shizuka rolled her eyes at the chaos she had to handle. Couldn't they just listen for once? She gnced over at Ryuji, atg her with an amused look, a her face flush. Did he have to see her act like this? But then she quickly brushed off the thought.

  Who was she kidding? Ryuji had seen every side of her. There were s between them.

  Her initial embarrassment faded, and she shot Ryuji a slightly sulky look. Was he ign her on purpose by not visiting for so long?

  Ahem.

  Ryuji shifted unfortably at her stare. He was just trying to get through the school day, but clearly, things weren't going as pnned. Rumors were already flying around the school about his mysterious and powerful aura, and students tio e up to him between csses. If not for Shizuka keeping them in li would have been impossible to attend.

  "As expected, I'm like an animal in a zoo," Ryuji muttered as he entered Shizuka's office between csses. She was alone, and the hallway was finally empty.

  Leaning ba the sofa, Ryuji sighed. "So, this is what you meant when you said things had calmed down?"

  Shizuka looked a bit sheepish. The school had felt quieter retly, and holy, she'd missed Ryuji and wao see him back.

  "Leave it to me. I'll make sure they stay in line," Shizuka promised.

  Ryuji wasn't a fan of unnecessary disturbances, and Shizuka khat.

  And for her, handling problems with her fists was sed nature.

  "Alright then."

  Ryuji knew better than tue when Shizuka was determined. Plus, he trusted her ability. After a moment of silence, Shizuka's voice softened.

  "So, if I hadn't asked you to e, would you have fotten me?"

  Ryuji chuckled. It was funny to hear her say that out loud. Tilting his head, he met her eyes with a pyful smile.

  "Who says I didn't e because I missed you?"

  "Huh?"

  Shizuka's demeanor ged in an instant, the irritation in her eyes repced with surprise and delight.

  "Really?"

  "Of course!"

  It wasly true, but Ryuji wasn't going to admit that.

  "You, rememberih all the girls around you?"

  "…"

  Ryuji hadn't realized Shizuka could be so self-scious. He stood up from the sofa and walked over to her.

  "What are you doing?"

  Despite secretly hoping for it, Shizuka couldn't help the hint of embarrassment in her voice.

  Ryuji, though, was more straightforward.

  "You—"

  ---

  When Ryuji arrived at the Service Club room, the girls were also surprised to see him, even if he'd mentioned his return beforehand.

  "You really do know how to make arance, Ryuji. I heard the school was buzzing this m!" Mai said with a smirk as she approached him.

  Ryuji lightly flicked her on the forehead.

  "Ow! One day you'll knock me silly!" she teased.

  "Don't worry. Even if you were, I could fix you up," he replied, referring to the incredible regeive power of his teiques.

  "Ugh…"

  Mai pouted, but the glimmer in her eyes showed her happiness. With Ryuji back, the Service Club felt lively again. When he wasn't around, the room was silent, each girl absorbed in training. It was clear—Ryuji was the glue that kept them together.

  The pyful atmosphere brought smiles to the girls' faces. Everythi right again.

  Seeing them joking around, Ryuji couldn't help but smile himself. School life was definitely more enjoyable with them around.

  But theiced Yukino looking distant and frowned.

  "What's wrong?" he asked.

  "Huh?"

  Caught off-guard, Yukino bli him.

  "No, I'm fine," she said quickly, shaking her head. She was indepe, used to handling everything on her own, and rarely asked for help.

  Ryuji tapped her lightly on the forehead.

  "Do you really think I 't tell? Have you fotten who I am?" he teased, a fident grin on his face.

  Instead of being annoyed, Yuki reassured. When Ryuji was around, everythi manageable, no matter how difficult it seemed.

  "e on, tell me," Ryuji urged, genuinely curious.

  Yukiated, then sighed and shared what had been b her. She expined how she'd used her sorcerer abilities to protect her family.

  "So that's it, huh? Well done," Ryuji said, nodding approvingly. With more people aware of sorcerers, it was only natural that families would seek their help. The fact that Yukino, a retively new sorcerer, had resolved the issue on her own showed hoable she was.

  "So, what's really w you? Is it your family?"

  "Yeah," Yukino admitted, surprised at how easily Ryuji had guessed.

  "It's my sister; she's supportive. But tely, my mother has been subtly trying to pull me bato the family."

  Yukino's sister, Haruno, truly cared for her and was thrilled that she'd bee a sorcerer. She would never manipute her. But their mother, Fumino, was different.

  Since Yukino had moved out, Fumino hadn't shown muterest in her. But now that Yukino was a sorcerer, that had ged. Despite Yukino's repeated refusals, her mother kept pushing.

  "So, you think she's ied in your sorcerer status?" Ryuji asked.

  He had met Fumino before and knew she was ing and calg.

  "Isn't that obvious?" Yukino said. "Before, she didn't care about me at all. Now, suddenly, she does."

  Fumino wasn't heartless; she did care about her daughters, but her loyalty to the family's is came first.

  "Maybe. But this isn't something you o worry about," Ryuji said. He couldn't read minds or know for sure what Fumino nning, but he knew ohing for certain.

  "Hmm?"

  Yukino looked at him in surprise.

  Ryuji smiled aly patted her head.

  "You're a sorcerer, and the Yukinoshita family is just an ordinary family. Remember that. It's not you who should be worried—it's them. Do what you want and follow your own path."

  ***

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