Whether she had finally exhausted her list of grievances or simply found a new target, the sharp edge in Akane's gaze softened. However, it was replaced by a look of clinical appraisal. She was no longer looking at a guest brought in by a relative; she was looking at Tatsuya Shiba.
"By the way... am I correct in assuming you are the object of young Honoka's unrequited affection?"
Tatsuya had been searching for a polite excuse to make his exit, but Akane had cut him off before he could speak. To her, the preamble was over; she had no intention of letting him escape until she had seen what lay beneath his surface.
"Regardless of the terminology," Tatsuya replied, "I am the person you are referring to."
The phrase "object of unrequited affection" was one Tatsuya found considerable resistance to agreeing with. It might have been a trivial hang-up, but for him, it was a necessary piece of self-assertion he refused to yield.
"You don't even blink. How reliable," Akane remarked.
Oddly enough, his refusal to be flustered seemed to earn him points in her book. Perhaps she appreciated that he didn't try to feign ignorance or deflect. Her smile shifted, losing its stiff, ceremonial quality and becoming suddenly—and perhaps dangerously—friendly.
"But tell me, why haven't you said yes? Honoka-chan is quite the catch, isn't she? Even if she doesn't quite reach your sister's level."
The "friendliness" in her tone felt more like the interest of a predator watching a pet. It was the look of someone watching a small animal run frantically on a hamster wheel for their own amusement. She seemed to be waiting for the moment Tatsuya's gears would finally start to slip.
"I believe she is very charming," Tatsuya said evenly. "Not just in her appearance, but in her character as well."
"My, my... then I understand even less. Her looks, her body, her personality—they're all top-tier, yet you turned her down. And besides, Honoka-chan is useful. She would serve you with absolute, unwavering loyalty."
The comment was a bombshell. It was far too heavy a statement to be considered a mere tease toward a daughter's classmate. For one magician to say such a thing to another was both disturbing and profoundly improper.
An ordinary high school student wouldn't have understood the dark subtext of Akane's words. Any sixteen-year-old boy with a normal set of sensibilities who did understand would have been unable to hide his disgust.
Tatsuya, however, merely stared back at Akane, his face a perfect mask of nothingness. That Akane managed to maintain her own smile was a testament to her standing as the wife of a great entrepreneur.
"...I see. So you can maintain that face even while knowing the truth," she murmured.
Despite her composure, her voice had grown perceptibly stiff.
"I have no intention of pretending I don't know," Tatsuya replied.
"I see... You understand the power of the Elements and their value as assets, yet you maintain this distance—neither accepting her nor pushing her away. Is it all a cold calculation, I wonder?"
"I have no intention of 'utilizing' Honoka," Tatsuya said.
Akane didn't specify what she meant by "utilize" or "value," but Tatsuya grasped her meaning perfectly. He understood the accusation and the slander hidden within her words. Even so, he didn't shrink back in shame, nor did he rise to the bait to defend himself.
"And yet, you let her tag along for your little 'vampire hunt,'" she challenged.
"I saw no reason to exclude a comrade."
Akane likely felt she was being mocked by his stoicism. A flicker of irritation began to color her voice. Realizing she couldn't provoke him into an emotional outburst, she decided to change her trajectory.
"...Honoka-chan is like a sister to Shizuku. My husband and I think of her as our own daughter. And Shizuku herself is quite fond of you; her trust in you goes far beyond that of a mere friend."
Tatsuya looked back at her, his eyes asking, And what is your point? Within him, the restraint born of her being "Shizuku's mother" had already begun to evaporate.
"That's why I took the liberty of looking into you, Tatsuya Shiba."
"I don't find that particularly pleasant, but I understand the motivation."
"Who are you? I used the North Mountain... the 'Group's' entire intelligence network, and yet your personal data is essentially a ghost."
"I believe there must be some mistake. Without Personal Data, I wouldn't have been able to enroll in high school in the first place."
"Don't patronize me, boy. Certainly, your PD has everything it 'needs.' It has just the right amount of filler and a perfectly balanced amount of negative evaluations so it doesn't look too clean. If I hadn't heard about you from Shizuku, I wouldn't have given it a second thought."
"Is there something suspicious about it?"
"No, nothing. And that is what's wrong. From what Shizuku tells me, you are a rare talent... no, a 'monstrous' talent is more apt. Talking to you face-to-face only reinforces my impression that you are anything but ordinary. There is no way your records should be this 'normal.'"
"Records are merely data," Tatsuya said. "They are not the person."
"...So you're saying it's only natural for the impression to differ?"
"If you are asking who I am in terms of name and history, it is exactly as registered in my data. If you are asking for my impression, you are seeing it now. Beyond that, I have nothing more to say about myself."
"You're going to play the fool to the end!?"
Her voice remained low, but her tone had turned savage. Aside from a few exceptions, members of the upper class are highly sensitive to the emotional shifts of those around them. The sight of the hostess arguing with a guest was beginning to draw the attention of the other attendees.
"Akane, calm yourself. Shiba-kun, please excuse my wife's rudeness."
Ushio Kitayama had stepped in.
"Not at all," Tatsuya replied, bowing his head respectfully to Ushio. "I am the one who spoke out of turn. I am but an immature youth; I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my impudence."
His words were incredibly polite, but the sentiment behind them was almost mockingly detached.
"If you'll excuse me, I believe I should take my leave from your presence for a moment," Tatsuya added.
"Yes, of course," Ushio said with a weary smile. "I'm sure my daughter is waiting to speak with you."
Tatsuya saw his opening. He addressed Ushio directly, ignoring Akane entirely. Ushio, sensing that his wife needed time to cool down, nodded in agreement. Tatsuya gave a final, formal bow and made his way toward Shizuku and the others. Meanwhile, Ushio gently took Akane's arm and guided her toward a set of chairs by the wall.
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