3:30 PM.
Over the Oi River in Kyoto's Arashiyama.
Luo Shu leaned against the quaint and elegant Togetsukyo Bridge, gazing down at the egrets strolling along the riverbank below.
Turning his head, he observed the occasional pedestrians and passing cars on the street, his eyes sweeping over the beautiful women dressed in colourful kimonos. He couldn't help but remark cheerfully:
"How fortunate to avoid massive crowds during the holiday season~"
"Though Japan doesn't celebrate Qingming Festival anyway."
"He actually only booked one room..."
Behind Luo Shu, Suzuka Dairenji clutched a black keycard, her face completely tense.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it..."
Noticing this, Luo Shu chuckled: "Seems she didn't hear a word."
"You teased her too much, Shu-kun."
Beside Luo Shu, visible only to him, a girl playfully remarked:
"Deliberately taking her to buy Durex at the drugstore when leaving the hotel – what wicked humour."
Looking at Kurumi Tokisaki beside him, Luo Shu smiled and replied:
"Wouldn't it be boring not to mess with such a tsundere girl?"
After speaking, he deliberately slowed his pace and placed his hand on Suzuka's shoulder.
The moment Luo Shu's hand made contact, he could clearly feel Suzuka's body stiffen instantly, as if transforming from a living person into a jointed puppet.
"When you're out enjoying yourself, fussing over trivialities just ruins the fun."
"...And whose fault is that?!"
Suzuka muttered under her breath.
She raised her hand to swat Luo Shu's hand away, but when she reached for her shoulder, he caught her hand instead.
The sudden movement left Suzuka frozen in place.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu gazed smilingly at the distant forest and asked:
"What's that forest up ahead?"
Hearing this, Suzuka tried to shake off Luo Shu's grip. After two unsuccessful attempts, she reluctantly gave up and followed his gaze towards the distant mountains:
"That direction... should be Mount Atago?"
"Mount Atago?" Luo Shu murmured, then narrowed his eyes with a smile. "The Atago Mountain, where the Asakura family secludes themselves?"
"...That's what the rumours say."
Suzuka made another attempt to free her hand. Failing again, she switched tactics and decisively interlaced her fingers with Luo Shu's:
"It's said the Asakura main family has always remained within multiple barriers deep in Mount Atago, never leaving the Kyoto area – but that's just hearsay."
"Aside from the shrine maidens of the Asakura family stationed near Mount Osore, it's rare to see members of the Asakura family in the outside world. Hence, there's a theory that the main family has always remained on Mount Osore."
"The main family is actually on Mount Atago, according to SDS intelligence."
Luo Shu gazed at the distant mountains with a faint smile, then attempted to release Suzuka Dairenji's hand—only to have her grip it tighter.
This left Luo Shu momentarily stunned as he turned to look at Suzuka Dairenji.
At that moment, Suzuka Dairenji flashed a sly grin and said:
"Director, there's always been a girl by your side that I can't see, hasn't there?"
"Though I've never been able to see or hear your conversations, the glances, lip movements, and expressions are pretty obvious."
Her tone brimming with curiosity, she continued:
"So, who could this invisible third person be?"
"The SDS's secret weapon? Or perhaps the Director's secret lover?"
"I'm absolutely dying to know!!"
Hearing this, Luo Shu chuckled. "If you're curious, why grab my hand?"
"The hotel room was actually booked with that invisible person, wasn't it?"
Suzuka Dairenji waved the hotel's black card in her hand, grinning mischievously:
"A luxury king-sized bed, no less. I don't need to spell out the implications, do I?"
"So..."
Her smirk widened as she added:
"I imagine you wouldn't want to be holding hands with me while secretly meeting your lover, would you, Director?"
Luo Shu blinked, then glanced up at the faint, translucent figure of Kurumi Tokisaki, who was watching the scene with amusement, before shrugging.
"Honestly, I don't mind."
"After all, doing it in front of others can be quite thrilling."
"Eh? Wrong guess? So she's not your lover?" Suzuka Dairenji's face fell in disappointment.
She had been hoping that if the hidden person was Luo Shu's lover, she could stir up some trouble to get back at him for teasing her earlier.
Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case...
And worse, it appeared the hotel room might genuinely be meant for her and Luo Shu to share.
"My dearest Director~"
Suzuka Dairenji clung to Luo Shu's right arm, pressing close as she cooed in a sickly sweet voice:
"I know I was wrong, so... couldn't we book another room?"
"I'll give you a special service no one's ever seen before~~"
"Just let me off the hook this once, okay~?"
Listening to her exaggerated, honeyed tone, Luo Shu remained unfazed.
"And after letting you go, I'll just hear you call me an idiot and a fool behind my back tomorrow, won't I?"
Suzuka Dairenji pouted. "...Must you ruin the mood like that?"
"Honestly, boys who act a little dumb are way more popular with girls, don't you know?!"
At this, Luo Shu turned his head slightly, regarding her calmly before delivering the fatal blow:
"What use would I have for your affection?"
Suzuka Dairenji froze, only snapping out of it when Luo Shu tugged her along. Fuming, she exclaimed:
"Cruel! Heartless! A brute who only thinks about sex!"
"Shouldn't you be saying something sweet like 'I love you most, Suzuka-chan' at a time like this?"
"At the very least, give me some excuse to console myself with!"
"I'll give you my excuse tonight."
As Luo Shu was about to step off the bridge, he paused, narrowing his eyes at the golden-haired girl ahead. She stood by the roadside, wearing a bright red kimono paired with white thigh-high boots - an eccentric blend of foreign flair and Japanese tradition.
After a moment, Luo Shu approached with a smile and asked:
"Are you Lieutenant Colonel Angelina Shields?"
The golden-haired girl looked up, her clear eyes filled with confusion as she studied Luo Shu.
At that moment, Luo Shu smiled and said:
"I'm Luo Shu from the Hidden Management Department. Pleased to meet you, Head-Captain of the Direct Action Team~"
"Luo...Shu?"
Angelina blinked in surprise, then slowly her mouth fell open before she covered it with her hands, exclaiming:
"Ehhh————!!"
"You're the Chairwoman's rumoured boyfriend?! No way!!"
'Why is that the surprising part?'
Luo Shu's expression began to crack.