Stare—!
Suzuka Dairenji fixed Luo Shu with a strange smile, looking at him as if he were some non-combustible trash:
"The Chairwoman's boyfriend, huh..."
Suzuka deliberately drew out her words, her eyes screaming, 'I've discovered your secret'.
'So this is why the SDS suddenly established a new department and appointed a newcomer to lead it. It was this kind of relationship all along...'
Suzuka smirked at Luo Shu before deliberately raising her right hand - currently interlocked with his in a tight clasp.
Noticing her words and actions, Luo Shu turned to glance at Suzuka, immediately understanding that this girl was trying to set him up.
Displaying their intimacy before the Head-Captain of the Direct Action Team? This was clearly meant to send a message to Lacus through Angelina.
So this was revenge for earlier teasing?
'Aren't you afraid I'll really deal with you today?' Luo Shu's eyes brimmed with threat.
Yet Suzuka's excited gaze gave him the answer.
Even if she ended up suffering tonight from Luo Shu's retaliation, she'd accept it for this chance to provoke him!
As Luo Shu and Suzuka exchanged silent schemes, Angelina seemed utterly oblivious to Suzuka's actions. She circled Luo Shu once before saying curiously:
"Hmm~~ So this is the man the Chairwoman chose? Doesn't seem particularly special~"
Realising she'd spoken her thoughts aloud, Angelina hastily covered her mouth:
"Sorry! I didn't mean to insult you! It's just...well...I thought the Chairwoman's choice would be more...special~"
'Is this woman blind?' Suzuka gaped in disbelief.
She'd been shaking Luo Shu's hand like rolling dice - how could the woman not notice?
Meanwhile, Luo Shu - who'd been contemplating how to deal with Suzuka later - also looked surprised. He studied Angelina with raised eyebrows before smiling:
"Now I'm curious - what kind of person was I in the rumours you heard?"
"What kind of person..."
Angelina actually pondered this seriously before beginning to describe:
"A giant over three metres tall, with arms so muscular they're bigger than a man's head, capable of crushing a yokai's skull with one hand. He can't sleep soundly unless he kills at least one yokai per day or wipes out a dangerous race every month. He snores incredibly loudly and always has a scowling face... Well, to sum it up, that's roughly the gist of it?"
Luo Shu listened expressionlessly and then asked earnestly:
"Could you tell me the source of this information? I'd like to have a proper talk with them."
"Ah, well..." Angelina immediately panicked, waving her hands awkwardly with an embarrassed expression. "Um, Sylvie and the others didn't mean to, ah, oops!"
Realising she'd let the names slip, Angelina hurriedly covered her mouth in alarm and stammered:
"Um, you didn't hear anything just now, right?"
She looked at Luo Shu with hopeful eyes, as if gazing at a shooting star in the sky.
Seeing this, Luo Shu couldn't help but sigh, releasing Suzuka Dairenji's hand and scratching his head as he said:
"Forget it, let's just pretend I didn't hear anything."
"That's great." Angelina patted herself down, speaking with evident relief.
Only after her moment of relief did Angelina notice Suzuka Dairenji staring at her with a completely blank expression.
Seeing this, Angelina asked suspiciously, "Um... is there something on my face?"
"Not! A! Thing!" Suzuka Dairenji said through gritted teeth.
She now understood—this golden-haired airhead was practically the natural enemy of a woman like her who'd grown up in the gutters!
She and this woman would absolutely never get along!! Never!!
"Really?" Angelina actually seemed doubtful of the reply, lowering her head to examine her own flamboyant crimson kimono. "I thought maybe I'd worn this outfit wrong."
Hearing this, Luo Shu and Suzuka Dairenji couldn't help but take note of Angelina's attire.
A bright red kimono embroidered with lotus patterns, clearly a winter style. A pink obi tied in a bow, yet worn back-to-front.
Most strikingly, she was wearing distinctly modern white high-heeled boots—without socks.
This neither-modern-nor-traditional, neither-Western-nor-Eastern outfit somehow looked extraordinarily youthful and vibrant on the girl.
Even Suzuka Dairenji, who most wanted to mock Angelina, had to admit that despite the bizarre fashion sense, the overall effect was undeniably beautiful enough to make her want to try it herself.
Wait, no—why would she ever wear something that only looked good on an idiot like this?
Meanwhile, after openly studying Angelina's appearance, Luo Shu nodded and said:
"That outfit... is very pretty."
"Among girls wearing kimonos, I've never seen such a uniquely creative style before."
"Really?" Angelina happily twirled in place. "That's wonderful! I was worried this might look strange—it always felt a bit different from what others wear. But if Director Luo says so, then it must be fine."
Luo Shu opened his mouth as if to say something more, but ultimately held back, changing the subject instead:
"Speaking of which, Captain Angelina, wasn't the rendezvous scheduled for tomorrow? Why have you come today?"
Angelina's expression froze instantly at the question.
Seeing this, Luo Shu was somewhat surprised.
Though there was no official internal statement, in Lacus's eyes, Luo Shu's promotion ceremony was effectively one of the SDS's top three priority missions at present.
Thus, under these circumstances, the SDS had been discreetly mobilising personnel to Kyoto to prepare for Luo Shu's promotion ceremony while avoiding undue attention.
Among them, Angelina Shields, the Head-Captain of Lacus's direct action team, and her squad were naturally the first to be mobilised.
According to the information Luo Shu received, he and Angelina were supposed to meet at 3 pm on the 8th at Togetsukyo Bridge, disguised as tourists.
But the current time was 3:40 pm on the 7th, a full day earlier than the scheduled meeting.
Moreover, Angelina clearly didn't seem to be here to meet him.
"Captain Angelina, are you here to scout the location in advance and ensure security?"
Angelina, who had been struggling to come up with an excuse, immediately widened her eyes and declared firmly:
"Yes, exactly!"
"I did come early to check the cherry blossoms... I mean, to conduct reconnaissance for the meeting point's safety."
Hearing Angelina's self-incriminating words, Luo Shu and Suzuka Dairenji fell silent.