Chapter 129: The arrival of "Laura Sakagami"

Hina didn't respond immediately.

Kai felt her grip tighten even more around his arm.

It wasn't just tension.

It was alarm.

She knew something.

Or, to be specific, she knew that something was off.

A transfer student in the middle of spring? When semester is almost finished?

Kai turned slightly toward her, trying to read her expression, but Hina kept her eyes fixed on the ground, as if processing the situation.

"This can't be a coincidence…" Kai thought.

Then, as if realizing her own reaction, Hina forced a smile and nodded.

"Oh? A new transfer student? How interesting~. I wonder who she is~." Hina said to Yuna, while clinging to Kai's arm.

Kai immediately sensed the artificial tone in her voice.

But Naomi didn't notice and continued:

"Yeah! The teacher told us a new girl would be joining today. She didn't mention her name, but she said she's a bit shy and wants to make new friends. It's a complicated matter, she came here directly from Italy to enjoy our festival..." Naomi added.

Hina gave a weak smile, but Kai caught the way she subtly held her breath.

"Let's say that her family was a generation of people who worked with the justice against criminals... and her father lives here." Yuna added, until everyone's attention moved to the sound of a loud car engine.

Then, it happened.

A car stopped directly in front of the school gates.

There was a big logo on the door of the car, which said "Sakagami & Family"

Two men in suits stepped out first, scanning the area like bodyguards.

Then, the back door opened.

A girl stepped out.

Her presence alone was enough to draw murmurs from the nearby students.

She walked toward the entrance, escorted directly to the gates, where Kai, Hina, Naomi, and Yuna were standing.

"Ah, that must be her!" Yuna exclaimed, smiling curiously.

"Oh yeah! She's-" Naomi continued.

Kai turned his gaze forward.

And there she was.

"-Laura Sakagami." Hina mumbled in a low voice, to herself.

Her eyes were open wide as she was observing the girl, like a predator does with its prey.

Laura Sakagami...

...Or rather—Lala.

She looked completely different from what Kai vaguely remembered.

Her hair was a bit longer, her posture more controlled, and her outfit perfectly neat, like someone who wanted to give off the perfect impression of an ideal student.

Her uniform was pristine, without a single wrinkle.

Her face held an uncertain, timid expression, as if she was nervous about being in a new place.

That's why Kai didn't realize who that "mysterious" girl was.

She looked too "innocent".

But despite he didn't recognize her, Kai's gut told him something was off.

He couldn't place it, but there was something about her… something familiar.

Hina, however, recognized her immediately and she understood the whole situation.

Her body stiffened for a split second.

Meanwhile, Yuna didn't react at all.

She didn't recognize her.

Despite the fact that Lala had been present at her kidnapping.

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to dig through his memory.

"Have I seen her before…?" he asked to himself.

Then, "Laura" raised her gaze.

And for a brief moment—just a single second—her eyes met Hina's.

And that was all it took.

A silent war began.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them moved.

But Kai could feel the tension, like an invisible force pressing down on the air.

Then, suddenly—Lala smiled.

Not a smirk. Not a knowing glance.

A warm, genuine smile.

It was the perfect act.

Too perfect.

And with a polite step forward, she spoke with a gentle, friendly voice.

"Ah… um, good morning! My name is Laura Sakagami. I'm a new transfer student. My father is Japanese, and my mother is European. I hope to get along with everyone~. Are you Naomi and Yuna?" She asked, with a very clumsy and "cute" expression on her face.

"Oh! She's adorable!!" Yuna and Naomi thought in her mind.

They both nodded her head and then introduced themselves and shook hands with her.

"Yeah! I'm Yuna, and she's Naomi. It's very nice to meet you, Sakagami-San!" Yuna said, with a cheerful tone.

"Oh!! There's no need for formalities!! Just call me... Lala~!" She replied with an almost "teasing" voice, like she was trying to bother Hina.

"Oh! Okay then, Lala-Chan." Naomi said, in a "happy" way".

Kai felt a shiver run down his spine when he heard that name.

Then, Lala turned her gaze towards Kai and Hina and looked at her with a "strange" expression.

She put her index finger on her mouth and then she asked in a very friendly way:

"Oh? Are you also students from this school?" 

Kai's body trembled a little when her eyes met his.

Hina, instead, remained completely still.

Then, slowly, she lowered her gaze and forced a smile in return.

"Oh… Yes. We are from this school. My name is Hina Ishikawa, and this is my boyfriend Kai Suzuki." She said, with a an almost menacing tone of voice.

Kai had never heard Hina's voice sound that sharp in a while.

But no one else noticed.

Except Lala.

She then offered her hand to the new arrival.

Lala hesitated when she saw Hina offering her hand with a very sadistic smile.

But she knew that she had to act like she didn't know her.

"Y-Yeah. Nice to meet you, Ishikawa-San, Suzuki-San." She said with a formal tone, while reaching Hina's hand for a shake.

And in that moment, Hina's grip on her handshake was very, very, tight, for a split second, enough to scare Lala.

She felt her blood circulation stopping, and if Hina would've continued for more, she would've probably broke her fingers.

Hina probably did that to mark her territory, and to send a clear message:

"Stay out of my business." That's what she probably wanted to say.

Kai watched the whole scene with confusion.

He noticed a strange behavior in Hina, but since he didn't know who Lala really was, he kept wondering why she looked so passive-aggressive towards a new student.

"Let's get along, shall we~?" Hina said, with a sadistic tone of voice, before leaving her hand.

Lala immediately retired her hand.

She knew that a single mistake in her plan would've meant death for her.

"Y-Yeah. I'll count on you." Lala said in a fake but formal tone, with a bow.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Kai thought in his mind...

Kai also noticed the small tremble in her voice.

Was she nervous? Or just acting?