Akeno watched Haruto with amusement. Only at times like this did he seem like a true rookie.
"Stop poking. It has no physical form, and ordinary people can't see it," she explained. "It's a minor spirit I took in a while ago. Not much combat ability, but decent for surveillance."
"Thanks, Akeno-senpai." Haruto chuckled and stopped teasing the little creature on his shoulder.
What he needed was a surveillance tool—something that didn't require rest and remained invisible to normal people.
Originally, he had considered asking about detection or surveillance skills or items. But even if he got a skill, he wouldn't be able to learn it quickly. Between items and familiars, he'd ultimately chosen the latter.
Items were lifeless—familiars were far more useful.
Akeno raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Ara ara~ Wasn't someone just insisting they didn't need my help?"
Haruto grinned. "This doesn't count as help. It's just necessary preparation."
Rolling her eyes, Akeno ignored his sophistry and turned serious again. "Be careful. If anything seems off, contact me immediately."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Leaving the Occult Research Club, Haruto glanced at the little creature on his shoulder, paused, then changed direction.
...
At the gates of Aiho Academy, Haruto pulled out his phone and showed the small black orb photos of the Takamine sisters and Sakura one by one.
"Got them memorized?"
The little black orb bobbed up and down, mimicking a nod.
"Good. Focus on these three for now. But if you see any other pretty girls with that glasses-wearing fat guy I described earlier, notify me right away."
The little black orb bobbed even faster.
Haruto felt a bit dizzy from the shaking and reached out to place his hand on its round, smooth head to stop its movements.
"Alright, alright, go on. I'll put in a good word for you with Akeno-senpai later."
The little black sphere circled Haruto once before floating into Aiho Academy to begin its search.
"Floats pretty fast..."
Haruto watched it for a distance, muttering under his breath.
"Didn't expect it to feel so nice when touched with magic covering it."
The little black sphere was a relatively low-level familiar, with its invisibility and intangibility only effective against ordinary people without magic.
Thinking this, Haruto edited a LINE message and sent it to the Takamine sisters.
Better to avoid them getting startled by the 'ghost' following them and accidentally beating up the little thing.
Hmm... given their barely detectable magic levels, they might be the ones getting beaten instead.
After arranging the little black sphere, Haruto returned to Kuoh Academy.
He couldn't forget the ice cream he promised Koneko Toujou. Cats and women both hold grudges, and the white-haired loli was both—who knew how long she'd remember this.
Under the stares of people around him looking at him like some creepy uncle, Haruto fed the strawberry ice cream to Koneko, whose eyes blinked eagerly.
"School's not out yet, but I got it for you early. I have something to do after school, so I won't be going to the club room."
"Mmm~ I... kn...ow... th...ank... you..."
Haruto rolled his eyes. "Speak properly."
The white-haired loli reluctantly pulled the ice cream out of her small mouth. "Do you need me to keep it a secret from Akeno-senpai?"
"No need, Akeno-senpai already knows about this."
Ruffling her soft silver-white hair, Haruto chuckled. "Being so easily bribed—be careful or the president and Akeno-senpai might find out and you won't get any more treats."
"Not gonna happen~"
Licking the cream off the ice cream, Koneko said seriously, "I wouldn't eat things from just anyone! Only from everyone in the club!"
"Wow, you really have principles..."
Haruto sighed. So eating his stuff was doing him a favor, huh?
The afternoon classes passed without incident.
He received replies from the Takamine sisters on LINE, and thanks to Koneko's antics in the morning, he spent the rest of the day under the scrutinizing gazes of teachers and classmates.
Haruto was gradually getting used to being stared at.
It was completely opposite to his usual low-key approach, but things had developed this way, and there was no helping it.
It wasn't like he could deliberately distance himself from the girls at school just to stay under the radar.
That would be missing the point.
...
Standing at the entrance of Aiho Academy, Haruto felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
In just a few hours, this was already his third time here.
He'd probably be coming back many more times until Tanaka Hajime was dealt with.
Leaning against the wall, Haruto waited for Sakura Miyajima to come out.
Before Sakura appeared, the Takamine sisters emerged first.
"Yuri-nee, Ayame-nee."
"Haru-chan!"
Takamine Ayame bounced over and threw herself into Haruto's arms, her ample chest drawing envious looks from the male students leaving school.
A few of the shyer boys even hunched over slightly, their faces turning as red as a monkey's bottom.
Sayuri wasn't as bold as Ayame. She watched her elder sister with envy, biting her lower lip.
But with so many people coming and going, she couldn't bring herself to actively cling to Haruto and act spoiled.
This was also why Haruto had contacted Ayame at noon instead of her.
"Don't you two have club activities today?" Haruto held Ayame in his arms and asked curiously, "Why did you come out right after school?"
"It's boring. Sayuri and I are planning to quit the club."
Ayame pouted her small mouth and whispered in Haruto's ear, "We'd rather spend that time practicing magic more. Magic is way more interesting than swimming, hehe~~"
Haruto looked at Sayuri, who shyly lowered her head and nodded slightly.
She did enjoy rhythmic gymnastics, but she wanted to learn magic even more. Otherwise, she felt like she might be left behind by Haruto someday.
After chatting for a while, a glimpse of elegant lavender appeared in Haruto's vision.
He patted Ayame's perky bottom, eliciting a coquettish protest.
"Haruto~ There are so many people around~"
"Alright, you two go back first. I have something to do tonight and might be back very late."
Haruto released his embrace and turned to look at Sayuri.
"Sayuri-nee, don't prepare dinner for me tonight."
"Haruto~ No way, it's rare for you to pick us up after school. Let's go back together~"
Ayame held Haruto's hand, not letting him leave.
"Since starting high school, we haven't gone home together even once~"
Sayuri didn't speak, but her hopeful eyes said everything.
"Be good. I already have plans with someone else today."
Haruto walked between the Takamine sisters. "Tomorrow, I'll come early tomorrow, and we'll go home together."
"Ugh~"
Ayame still tried to change Haruto's mind by acting spoiled.
Before she could speak, Haruto's tone suddenly turned cold. "Don't forget your place. I'm not discussing this with you."
"Oh..."
Ayame froze, feeling a bit wronged in her heart, but she obediently let go of his hand.
Sayuri also felt somewhat upset, but at the same time, an indescribable excitement spread through her body.
Glancing at Sayuri's subtly clenched thighs, Haruto confirmed one thing again.
Sayuri really had masochistic tendencies...
As expected, the more proper someone usually acts, the more depraved they are deep down...
After bidding farewell to the Takamine sisters, Haruto quickly walked to Sakura's side.
Amidst the heartbroken gazes of a group of single guys, the newly arrived girl from the kendo club bloomed with a serene violet-like smile.
"You're here."
"Yes, Miyajima-senpai, good afternoon."
"Who were those two?"
Sakura tilted her head slightly, looking at the Takamine sisters who kept glancing back as they walked away.
"Oh, they're my sisters, though we're not related by blood."
Haruto briefly explained his family situation. Before Sakura could overflow with maternal concern, he preempted, "Miyajima-senpai, I'm doing very well now. Not only is someone taking care of my daily life, but my physical needs are also being well taken care of."
Sakura didn't react at first until Haruto showed a meaningful smile.
"Tch..."
Sakura suddenly remembered that this seemingly innocent and gentle junior of hers was actually a true carnivore at heart.
How could anyone spend every day with such a pair of bewitchingly beautiful sisters—both stunning in appearance and figure—and not take a bite?
As Haruto and Sakura walked away, chatting and laughing, countless boys would likely spend the night heartbroken and sleepless.
Hmm... There were probably girls too, gazing at Haruto's retreating figure with a pang of sorrow, wondering how to endure this lonely night...
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