During the lunch break, Ryuji suddenly sneezed as he got up.

  "Do you have a cold?" Yumiko, who was nearby, looked at him with .

  "No, probably just someoalking about me behind my back!" With Ryuji's current level of power, it was impossible for him to catch a cold. The only expnation was that someone, somewhere, was mentioning him. But who could it be? He shrugged it off. Plenty of people talked about him, and there was no point in trying to figure out who it was. Even if he did, what would be the point?

  Ryuji didn't dwell on it and instead motioned for Yumiko and the others to follow him out of the .

  "e o's head to the Service Club!"

  Ever since he'd started ing back to school, Ryuji spent most of his lunch breaks and afternoons after css in the Service Club room, unless he had other obligations. Staying in the too long would iably lead to being mobbed by curious students, all eager to get a glimpse of the school's renowned sorcerer.

  "Ryuji! Ryuji!"

  Usually, things were quiet in the Service Club, but today was an exception. Saki burst into the room, eyes wide with excitement as she looked at Ryuji.

  "I've got a lead!"

  "???"

  Ryuji raised an eyebrow, and the irls exged curious gnces. It took them a moment to piece together what Saki meant.

  Then it clicked for Ryuji. "So, you've found someone being haunted by a cursed spirit?"

  Ryuji had previously told Saki that if she came across anyone dealing with a cursed spirit and looking for help, she could bring them to him. He'd ha, though any rewards would be split, with Ryuji taking the lion's share.

  The irls quickly uood what was happening but couldn't help but feel puzzled.

  "Aren't you a sorcerer now, too?" Yui asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Saki looked sheepish, scratg her head. "Well, yeah, but… I don't really know what I'm doi!"

  She had the ability but not the experience or knowledge o handle cases involving curses.

  "You should bring them in first," Ryuji said, waving his hand dismissively. "We o see what the issue is."

  "Right!"

  Saki grinned, gd Ryuji wasn't annoyed, and darted back out to get the people iion. The potential payment was good, even if she only got a small share. It would be enough to help her manage daily expenses, which was more than she could ask for.

  It didn't take long for her to return, and this time she brought two girls with her.

  They were strikingly beautiful, and their presence made Ryuji pause for a moment. Not because of their looks, but because they seemed familiar.

  The silver-haired girl with a e was her than Arisu, the clever and ing student leader from another prestigious school. Despite her frail appearance, she was known for her sharp mind and was even niamed the "Little Tyrant." The irl, with waist-length hair and a guarded expression, was Masumi, Arisu's loyal but somewhat relut follower.

  Ryuji's mind raced as he sidered the sudden arrival of these two. What were they doing here at Sobu High? They must have just transferred in; otherwise, he'd have heard something by now. With Arisu's looks and capabilities, she wouldn't have stayed uhe radar.

  "Good afternoon, everyone," Arisu said, her voice calm and steady as she offered a graceful nod. Despite the many eyes on her, she showed no signs of nervousness. She was well-practiced in public de.

  Masumi, oher hand, had her eyes locked on Ryuji, a mixture of wariness and disbelief in her gaze. It was obvious she'd e here because of him, and she still couldn't uand why Arisu would drag her along.

  They were in Css A at their previous school, with a path to secure futures if they graduated successfully. Why did they suddenly transfer, and why because of him? Just because he owerful sorcerer?

  Masumi's background wasn't particurly affluent, so her perspective was different from Arisu's. She couldn't her head around it.

  Ryuji noticed Masumi's intense gaze and smirked slightly. It was hard not to notieoaring so openly. The irls in the room noticed it too, eyebrows furrowing.

  "Masumi," Arisu called out smoothly, maintaining her polite smile.

  "What?" Masumi snapped out of her daze and looked at Arisu, fused.

  "Your staring is rather rude."

  "…"

  Masumi wao protest, but knowing they weren't alone, she kept her mouth shut.

  "I apologize for any disfort, Mr. Ryuji," Arisu said, the ers of her lips turning up as she addressed him directly.

  "It's nothing," Ryuji replied, waving it off.

  The sudden appearance of Arisu and Masumi had caught him off guard, but only momentarily. "You transferred here retly, didn't you? Was it your father's idea?" Ryuji asked, not b to hide his knowledge of who she was.

  "Yes," Arisu admitted readily. She wasn't surprised by Ryuji's awareness and saw no point in hiding it. A person of his reputation wouldn't be easy to deceive, and any attempt to do so might earn his disfavor.

  "My father thought it would be beneficial for me to befriend you. But I'm sure that's not surprising; plenty of people would have the same idea," she tinued.

  Ryuji didn't respond. It was true, after all. Arisu's father might not be a major pyer, but he was iial enough, being the head of a well-known academy.

  "However, if it had only been my father's wish, I wouldn't have agreed. I came here because I, too, am ied in you," Arisu said, her eyes sparkling with determination.

  The irls in the Service Club exged ghey could see Arisu's iion clear as day: she was here for Ryuji.

  Were they annoyed? Not really. They khat with Ryuji's current standing, many mirls would try to get close to him. Instead of being possessive, they realized that improving themselves would be a better strategy.

  Arisu noticed their reas a a touch of surprise. She had done her researd khese girls were close to Ryuji. Yet, even after she made her iions clear, they didn't seem fazed. It was different from what she'd expected. They were fident, unfazed by her arrival, as if they didn't see her as a threat at all.

  That only made Arisu more determihe harder the challehe more she wao quer it.

  "Wait a minute!" Saki interjected, frowning. "So, you didn't e here because of a curse spirit issue?"

  Great. She thought she'd brought in a legitimate case, only to find out she might have been used as a pawn to introduce these two to Ryuji.

  Saki's expression turormy at the thought.

  "No, that's not it," Arisu said, shaking her head slightly. "We did experienething strange, but I'm not sure if it's a curse."

  Saki's gre softened. As long as she wasn't just being used, it was fihe st thing she wanted was to look like an idiot.

  "Well, Ryuji is here. Tell him what's going on," Yukino said, curious along with the irls. Even those who had seen Ryuji handle curses before were always intrigued by the process.

  "It's not my problem, actually," Arisu crified, gesturing to Masumi. "It's hers."

  Masumi's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, you old me I was supposed to act like someoargeted by a curse spirit. What does that even look like?"

  Masumi had assumed that Arisu had used her as an excuse to get Ryuji's attention, but now…

  Saki's eyes narrowed. Was this a waste of time after all?

  "Rex, Masumi." Arisu still had that calm smile. She pulled out her phone and held it up.

  "Do you really think I'd do something that would leave such a bad impression?" Arisu asked softly.

  "…"

  Masumi stayed silent. She knew Arisu well enough to know that while she could be maniputive, she always kept things withiain boundaries. Even if people figured out her schemes, they didn't hold it against her in the end. If Arisu said it was serious, maybe it was.

  "But I haven't noticed anything weird!" Masumi said, frustration creeping into her voice.

  "You just don't realize it," Arisu said. "Haven't you noticed gaini these past few days?"

  Masumi's eyes twitched. What kind of expnation was that? Weight gain? Seriously?

  The irls exged puzzled looks.

  Saki was about to say something when Arisu pyed a video on her phone.

  "Everyoake a look at this."

  It was surveilnce footage from Arisu's apartment. Because of their ret transfer, Arisu had arranged for them both to stay at a high-end pce. The camera showed Masumi, in her pajamas, slowly walking into the living room.

  "Hey! Why do you have this?!" Masumi's face turned red. The weather was mild, so her pajamas were light. It was ohing in front of the girls, but with Ryuji there, it was mortifying.

  "Calm down, Masumi."

  Arisu shot her an exasperated look. "This is from st night's surveilnce. Are you sure you went to the living room st night?"

  "???"

  Masumi stared at the footage, fused. "Last night? I went to bed early and didn't wake up at all. How could that be me in the video?"

  If that was her, why didn't she remember any of it?

  Arisu's smile widened slightly. "That's why I said this might be reted to a cursed spirit. Doesn't it intrigue you?"

  "..."

  Intrigue? How could she find this intriguing? A chill ran down Masumi's spine as she watched her figure move in the footage. The idea that she could have been trolled or possessed by something unseen was terrifying.

  Looking at Arisu's calm expression, Masumi felt a creeping sense of dread. Am I really being haunted by something?

  ***

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