The man's face turned beet red with rage as Kaito stood his ground, his eyes flashing with anger. "How dare you!" the man spat, his voice venomous. "You think you can just waltz in here and tell me what to do? You think you're above me?"
Kaito shrugged, his expression unchanging. "Ain't about bein' above ya, bro. It's about treatin' people with some basic respect. Ya know, like humans."
The man's anger seemed to reach a boiling point, and he took a step forward, his hand raised. But Kaito didn't flinch, his eyes locked onto the man's with a fierce determination.
The man's face twisted in rage, and with a sudden burst of speed, he lunged at Kaito, his hand swinging wildly. Kaito's eyes flicked up, and in a split second, he sidestepped the attack with ease. As the man's momentum carried him forward, Kaito seized the opportunity to strike, his fist flying towards the man's jaw with precision.
The man's eyes widened in shock as Kaito's fist connected, and he felt his body lift off the ground. Time seemed to slow down as he sailed through the air, his cape fluttering behind him like a dark cloud. The sound of his body crashing onto the table was like a crack of thunder, plates and utensils shattering around him as he landed with a deafening crash.
The hall fell silent, the only sound the man's labored breathing as he struggled to sit up, his face a mess of blood and shame. Kaito stood over him, his chest heaving slightly, his eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity.
The maid beside Ryo remained impassive, her gaze fixed on her plate. Ryo watched the scene unfold, his expression neutral. Kaito's eyes flicked towards him briefly, but Ryo's gaze didn't waver, his interest in the scene purely observational.
Kaito turned back to the man, his eyes still blazing with intensity. "You might wanna think twice before treatin' people like dirt," he said, his voice low and even.
The man's face twisted in anger and humiliation, but he seemed to think better of retaliating, instead choosing to nurse his wounded pride.
As the man stormed out of the hall, the sound of his angry mutterings and the crash of his footsteps echoed through the space, leaving behind a trail of tension. His maid, battered and bruised, struggled to her feet, her body language a stark portrayal of fear and submission. Her eyes darted towards Kaito, and for a fleeting moment, their gazes met, a silent understanding passing between them. She nodded almost imperceptibly, a hint of gratitude flickering across her face before she followed her master out of the hall, her footsteps quiet and hesitant.
At the entrance of the hall, a maid with light red hair, styled in short, choppy bangs, had been watching the scene unfold with keen interest. Her deep yellow eyes, partially hidden behind her mask, sparkled with concern as she observed Kaito. Her nicely shaped lips, painted a soft pink, were pursed in worry, and her slender figure seemed tense with anxiety. As she called out to Kaito in a formal tone, "Kaito-sama!" her voice was like music, melodious and sweet.
She rushed towards him, her long strides eating up the distance, but her enthusiasm proved to be her undoing. Her feet tangled, and she tumbled forward, landing with a soft thud on the polished floor. Kaito's eyes rolled heavenward as he let out a sigh, his hand covering his face in exasperation. "Aww, c'mon, Emily, whatcha doin'?" he muttered in a Kansai accent, his voice laced with amusement and annoyance.
Emily's face scrunched up in embarrassment as Kaito pulled her to her feet. A small trickle of blood flowed from her nose, staining her lips and chin. Kaito gently patted her head, cleaning the blood with his sleeve, his expression softening. "You're such a clumsy thing, ya know?" he teased, his voice warm with affection.
Ryo watched the exchange, his gaze lingering on Kaito's face. His features were rugged, with sharp angles and a strong jawline that spoke of a life lived hard and rough. His eyes, however, told a different story - they sparkled with warmth and kindness, a stark contrast to the rough exterior. Ryo's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by the disparity between Kaito's appearance and his character. There was more to this man than met the eye.
The grand hall's opulent chandeliers cast a warm glow over the bustling crowd, the soft clinking of silverware and gentle hum of conversation filling the air. Emily's lips quivered as she apologized, her voice barely above a whisper, "I-I'm sorry, Kaito-sama... when I came back with your meal, I saw you with that scary man, and I accidentally spilled it..." Her eyes welled up with worry, her brow furrowed in distress, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink behind her mask. The delicate porcelain of her mask seemed to gleam in the light, her deep yellow eyes sparkling with tears.
Kaito's face creased into a wry smile as he placed his hands on his head, his eyes rolling heavenward in exasperation. "Ah, ya really know how to make an entrance, don't ya, Emily?" he said, chuckling low in his throat. His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his lips curled up in amusement. "Now, where's the food?" he asked, his gaze scanning the area with a hint of amusement.
Emily pointed sheepishly to the tray and plates scattered across the polished marble floor at the entrance, her hand trembling slightly as she did so. The remains of the meal lay in disarray, like a miniature battlefield, with shards of porcelain and splatters of sauce scattered everywhere. Some onlookers stared, their faces twisted in disgust at the display of carelessness, their whispers and murmurs weaving through the air like a disapproving breeze. Kaito noticed the gazes and nodded towards the door, his expression turning serious. "Guess we should get outta here for now. Don't wanna cause any more commotion."
Emily's face fell, her eyes welling up with tears behind her mask as she quickly gathered the scattered utensils, plates, and tray. Her movements were hasty and awkward, her fingers trembling as she tried to corral the chaos. As they cleaned up the mess, Kaito teased her good-naturedly, his voice warm and gentle. "You're really somethin' else, ya know that?" His eyes sparkled with amusement, and his smile softened the edges of his face.
As they were leaving the hall, Kaito caught Ryo's eye and flashed him a brief smile, his lips curling up in a subtle acknowledgement. Ryo, caught off guard, reflexively looked away, his expression remaining lazy and unchanging, a mask of indifference that hid his curiosity. The soft glow of the chandeliers seemed to fade into the background as their eyes met, the air thickening with unspoken understanding.
Ryo's gaze drifted to his maid, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed her features. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and even. "I didn't catch your name." His apology was perfunctory, a habitual politeness rather than a genuine expression of regret.
The maid's response was calm and detached. "You don't need to apologize, sir. My name is Ravenna." Her voice was smooth and even, like a gentle breeze on a summer day.
Ryo's thoughts wandered as he absorbed the information. He wasn't exactly the type to initiate conversations or ask for people's names. It was just his nature – a bit detached, a bit... absent-minded. "Guess I forget stuff easily," he thought to himself, a faint hint of self-awareness flickering in his mind.
As they finished their meal, Ravenna stood up with precise, economical movements. She cleared the table with swift efficiency, her slender fingers moving with a quiet confidence. When she returned, her mask glinted in the light, and her voice was as calm as ever. "Sir, we should be going. We're a little behind schedule."
Ryo's response was automatic, his eyes scanning the mental schedule she'd laid out for him. "The lecture hall, right?" he asked, his voice flat.
Ravenna's reply was curt, her voice firm but polite. "Yes, sir. Thompson is about to give a presentation on advanced strategies. Please follow me quickly." Her eyes seemed to convey a sense of urgency, but her tone remained detached.
Ryo pushed himself to his feet, his movements relaxed and unhurried. He followed Ravenna, his eyes fixed on the back of her head as she led the way. "Efficient, I suppose," he thought to himself, his mind wandering to the tasks ahead.
As Ryo followed Ravenna through the corridors, he couldn't help but reflect on the brief encounter with Kaito in the cafeteria-like hall. Two observations stood out to him. Firstly, the importance of hierarchy in this establishment was palpable. The way people reacted to the altercation between Kaito and the man of higher rank was telling - despite the man's abuse of power towards his maid, no one intervened, seemingly due to their own lower ranks.
Ryo's eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered the implications of this hierarchy. He wondered what kind of power dynamics were at play, where those of higher rank felt emboldened to mistreat those beneath them without consequence.
The second observation that caught his attention was the disconnect between hierarchy and strength. Kaito, despite being of lower rank, had quickly defeated the man when he lashed out. This raised questions in Ryo's mind - did hierarchy not necessarily determine one's abilities or strength? Was Kaito an anomaly, or were there others like him who defied the expectations of their rank? Ryo's analytical mind kicked in, and he found himself wondering what other factors might be at play in determining one's place within the hierarchy.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The large hall unfolded before Ryo like a precisely crafted canvas, its auditorium-style seating and meticulous layout a testament to the facility's attention to detail. As he entered, the soft hum of conversation and the rustle of clothing filled the air, punctuated by the occasional creak of a chair as someone shifted in their seat. The room was a sea of unfamiliar faces, yet Ryo's gaze was drawn to one person in particular - Mei, who had taken a seat at the far end of the hall.
The demographic distribution of the newcomers was a mix of males and females, a fact that didn't particularly surprise him given their recent departure from the Moonless Hall. What did catch his attention, however, was the notable absence of the thick capes worn by the Group of Jasmine Ranks and the Lotuses. The people in this hall, the other 69 newcomers, seemed to be dressed in attire that was more subdued.
As Ryo took his seat, he observed the maids standing far behind their masters, their silence a stark contrast to the murmurs of the newcomers. The pairing of masters and maids seemed to defy traditional expectations, with male "butlers" serving female masters and vice versa.
Mei's eyes locked onto his across the crowded hall, and for a fleeting moment, she seemed uncertain how to react, her gaze darting between him and the sea of unfamiliar faces. Then, with a hint of awkwardness, she half-raised her hand in a tentative wave, her lips curling into a brief, wry smile that seemed to say, "This is awkward, but I'll play along." Ryo responded with a similar gesture, his fingers brushing against his thigh as he lowered his hand, and they both faced forward, their eyes fixed on some point in front of them. The moment hung in the air, a brief, awkward exchange that seemed to dissipate as quickly as it had begun, leaving behind only a faint sense of unresolved tension.