Chapter 58: Dawn of Training

"Yuurei-chan… Why is she doing this? I better message her."

Angelie took out her phone and started typing.

"Of course, I-I already planned to walk you home."

Akuma closed his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows together while he crossed his arms.

"Huh? Why?!"

Angelie almost dropped her phone as she looked at Akuma.

"If s-something happens to you, I will be blamed surely by everyone since we were last seen together!"

Akuma glared at Angelie.

"That is true. And unfortunately for me, I don't feel safe walking alone at night… So, I have to reluctantly accept."

Angelie looked away.

"It was non-negotiable, anyway. I have an image to build up."

Akuma started to eat again.

"Then… why are you angry at Yuurei-chan?"

Angelie raised her eyebrow at Akuma.

"Why is it that I abducted you? Why can't it be that you abducted me? Isn't she worried about her own brother?!"

Akuma slammed the table with his closed fist.

"It's because that will never happen! Why would I abduct you?!"

Angelie then slammed the table with her open palm.

The manager of the restaurant approached the two of them and told them that they were disturbing the other customers. The two of them bowed and apologized. The manager left with a smile.

---

After eating, the two of them left the mall and hurried to catch the train. It was still a few hours before the last scheduled train, but they wanted to make sure they would be able to go home that night. Once they got inside the train, the two of them sat down and caught their breaths. The train was mostly empty, with only a few passengers that were seated far from them.

When they disembarked on their station, the two of them walked toward Angelie's apartment. There were only a few people walking around that evening.

"So, you really didn't plan to walk me home tonight, right?"

Angelie was walking a few steps ahead of Akuma.

"H-huh? What are you talking about?"

Akuma scratched the back of his head.

"You'd never think of doing something like that. Especially for me."

Angelie giggled as she covered her mouth with her hand.

"Well… that's true. Fine, you caught me. I just don't know what Yuurei would do if I didn't do what she said."

Akuma gritted his teeth.

"Are you sure you're the older brother?"

Angelie looked back at him.

"You don't know how scary she can be. Or is it your influence that turned her into that? I'm pretty sure it's the latter…"

Akuma glared at Angelie.

"Whichever it is, just lecture her about it so we don't end up in situations like today again."

Angelie quickly looked away from him and looked up at the night sky.

"Yeah. Hopefully she listens to me."

Akuma stared at Angelie's back.

They walked a little further before they reached Angelie's apartment complex. The two of them stopped walking upon reaching the area just in front of the stairs leading to the second floor. Angelie turned around to face Akuma.

"Well. Since this is the last time this will happen, I guess I should tell you I had the slightest fun today. Even though you were a pain most of the day. Also, thanks for walking me home. There, you'll never hear those words from me again. So… go home already!"

Angelie quickly ran up the stairs.

"Tch. Didn't even let me say anything."

Akuma watched Angelie as she ran up and walked to her apartment. There was a faint smile on his face.

---

The following day, Angelie went to the student council room to file a formal request to use the pool in the afternoon when classes were over. It would be a formal club activity. The requested frequency of usage would be twice during the school week and maybe on a Saturday when necessary. The Help club would also be responsible for cleaning the pool when requested by the student council.

"Good morning, Byoudou-san. Here is the formal request of the Help Club regarding pool use."

Angelie handed Teki the filled-up form.

"Thank you for bringing this, Fukushuu-san. Once the approval is done, I'll let you know. That is, if we can get the President to stay put and actually do his job."

Teki smiled at Angelie as he took the form from her and placed it on top of his table.

"I'm really amazed that you're always here early. I really believe that you'll make a good Student Council President someday."

Angelie smiled back at Teki.

"Ahem."

Hisyo, who was seated behind from where Angelie stood, cleared her throat as she glared at Angelie.

"Oh, it's almost time for class. I better go back to my classroom. Thanks again, Byoudou-san."

Angelie bowed at Teki and stepped out of the student council room. Hisyo glared at Angelie as she exited the room.

"What's the matter, Hisyo-san?"

Teki looked at Hisyo, who glared at Angelie the whole time.

"Oh, it's nothing, Teki-senpai. I was just looking at her closely because I'm not familiar with her."

Hisyo smiled brightly at Teki.

"I see… It felt like you were angry with Fukushuu-san or something…"

Teki stared at Hisyo directly into her eyes.

"You must have been imagining it, Teki-senpai."

Hisyo continued to smile.

"Well, I must have, then."

Teki then returned to his work and started to write on the papers in front of him.

(He even remembers that girl's name?! Who was that? And she was from THAT Help Club?! What a bunch of troublemakers!)

Even as Hisyo smiled, she was tightly clutching her skirt under the table.

---

During lunch break, the Help club members met at the rooftop to eat and discuss the swimming training session they would be doing. Everyone sat on the floor except for Akuma.

"I submitted the form earlier to the Student Council. They said they would give us a reply soon. Anyway, I learned how to swim so now the two of us can teach you guys and the other students."

Angelie used her thumb to point at Akuma who was standing behind her.

"Excuse me, Angelie-san. I would like to inform you that I have also learned how to swim."

Mimi raised her hand as she looked at Angelie.

"Yeah, me too. Well, I was really forced into doing it but it's thanks to Mimi here that I was able to learn."

Kiba also raised his hand and then pointed at Mimi.

"Really? Did you practice together?"

Angelie made a side glance and smirked at Mimi who was beside her.

"Yes. Hana-nee taught us together."

Mimi directly answered Angelie without flinching.

"Oh, I see… I thought it was just the two of you…"

Angelie laughed weakly.

"I think I would be dead before she ever allows that to happen. Anyway, how about your own lessons with your sister-in-law? Was it fun?"

Kiba laughed as he leaned back and had his arms supporting his weight. He then smiled and looked at Angelie.

"Yeah, it was. Although, she didn't show up yesterday when I was going to show that stupid Demon Lord I could swim already. Anyway, the good thing is that I proved to him I could swim so now we're conducting the swimming training sessions!"

Angelie pumped her fist as she smiled at everyone. Sanaka, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

"Wait… so does that mean that the two of you were alone together yesterday…?"

Sanaka put her finger on her chin as she looked up. Both Akuma and Angelie flinched at the same time.

"W-what? O-of course not! A-and we d-definitely did not spend the w-whole day t-together!"

Angelie glared at Sanaka and pointed at her.

"You do realize that you stutter when you're hiding something, right, Angelie?"

Kiba leaned closer to Angelie.

"That is an astute observation, Kiba-kun. I find it very interesting."

Mimi also leaned closer to Angelie.

"Anyway, how about you Sanaka-san? Did you learn how to swim?"

Angelie ignored the encroaching Mimi and Kiba and directed her attention toward Sanaka. When she heard her name, Sanaka froze.

"Tsk. Avoided the question."

Kiba clicked his tongue as he looked away.

"We'll find out the truth, one way or the other."

Mimi went back to her original position and sat down properly.

"Sanaka-san?"

Angelie called out to the petrified Sanaka.

"I didn't! I enjoyed during my free time without any club activities! I'm sorry!"

Sanaka groveled on the floor facing toward Angelie, with her head touching the ground.

"There's no need to grovel down, Sanaka-san. I was just asking. We didn't require everyone to practice in the first place."

Angelie reached out to Sanaka and motioned for her to sit up again.

"But at this rate… I'm the only one who doesn't know how to swim… I'll drag the club down, and also our class during the competition…"

Sanaka started to tear up.

"Then you just have to learn during our training sessions. And since I'll be working hard to teach you guys, I'll make sure you learn how to swim. Your arms and legs will be so sore you'd wish you were born a fish."

Akuma grinned sadistically at Sanaka.