Two weeks after Shinta's meal with the twins, their bond deepened. During lunch at the cafeteria, Maily announced the upcoming banquet in two weeks, where they were invited as VIP guests.
"That's right! And you can bring a guest, too. Here's your invitation," Naily chimed in, handing him a beautifully embossed card.
Shinta politely declined, explaining that he was already invited and didn't need an invitation to enter the banquet.
"Is that so? Then we'll give it to someone else," Maily said with a shrug.
The school buzzed with excitement over the banquet. It was the student council vice president's birthday, and she was also the sister of a prominent secretary.
Students in the highest social circles had already received invitations, while others scrambled desperately to snag a coveted pass.
Shinta glanced at his phone, where he was messaging someone named Minah, inviting her to the event that had everyone in a frenzy.
"Shinta, you can just say my name to get in. I've already informed the guards. What are you wearing?" Minah's message read.
Later, as he was walking away from the banquet gate, Minah called him. After he explained the situation at the entrance, she began profusely apologizing.
"I'm so sorry about what happened. I'm incredibly embarrassed. Even though I'm the one who invited you, this happened. I apologize again. The event was delayed because you didn't come. I think I'll be taking your position from now."
"Please, will you come back? I'll personally meet you and make it up to you," she pleaded over the phone.
"It's fine. I'm heading back now. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
"Really?! Thank you! Let's meet at the same gate in twenty minutes."
Minah strode confidently to the head table in the middle of the event and took the empty seat. The atmosphere was charged as she sat down.
"I'll be sitting here on behalf of the person who was meant to be here," she announced, her voice ringing with authority.
A ripple of applause spread through the hall.
Whispers erupted: "She's taking the place of the missing guest? Could it be… him? It's highly likely, since he's the only one who could command her like that!"
The guests were buzzing with questions and excitement.
Kinah, the birthday celebrant, greeted her sister and asked, "Did you really invite Sir Inoj to my birthday?!"
"Yes, I did. But… there was a misunderstanding, and a problem suddenly arose as to why he's not here."
Meanwhile, on his way back to the event, Shinta bumped into a girl. He was startled to see that she looked exactly like Yura, but he quickly realized it wasn't her. This girl was incredibly rude.
"Hey, can't you see where you're going? I didn't think this event invited someone like you! Hmph!" she snapped, her face flushed.
Shinta apologized and hurried to the meeting place, while the girl stormed off, bewildered by her reaction.
"What's wrong with me? Why did I feel so embarrassed when I saw him? And why did I feel something I don't understand? Is that what they call love? No, no, no! He wasn't even that handsome, but there was something… intimidating about him. Why did I feel like that?!"