Chapter 183: A Different Flavor

"...What?"

Arisu's words left Masumi momentarily stunned.

This wasn't something she had expected at all.

The Sakayanagi family's car wasn't just any ordinary luxury car, it was spacious enough in the backseat to fit several people comfortably. Normally, even with multiple passengers, she and Arisu would sit together in the back.

But this was the first time Arisu had explicitly asked her to sit up front as the co-pilot.

It caught Masumi off guard, though she quickly pieced things together.

Her gaze flickered to Ryuji, then back to Arisu, a knowing look crossing her face.

"I get it," Masumi said with an exaggerated eye roll.

Arisu's meaning was clear. She could already see how things were going to play out.

"She really does forget her friends the moment a man shows up," Masumi muttered to herself, sighing in resignation.

Still, she wasn't the type to be overly stubborn or cause unnecessary drama. Insisting on sitting in the backseat at this point would just make her look like a fool.

With a quick shrug, she closed the back door and jogged to the passenger seat, slipping inside with a huff.

Even the driver gave her a strange look, as though he found her sudden relocation odd.

"Just drive," Masumi muttered, not bothering to explain further.

"Understood," the driver replied simply, starting the car without further questions.

Meanwhile, in the backseat, Arisu reached over and pressed a button, raising the partition between the front and rear compartments of the car.

"Of course," Masumi grumbled quietly, noticing the screen rising. She already had a pretty good idea of what was going on, but seeing it confirmed still made her click her tongue in annoyance.

Arisu, sitting comfortably in the back now, didn't pay any mind to Masumi's reaction. Her focus shifted entirely to Ryuji, who sat beside her, his expression calm and composed as always.

"So," Arisu began, her tone casual yet probing, "there's something I've been wanting to ask you, Ryuji."

Ryuji tilted his head slightly, his arms crossed as he glanced her way. "You're talking about your heart condition, right?"

His words hit the mark immediately, catching Arisu slightly off guard.

Still, she smiled faintly and nodded. "That's right."

She shifted a bit closer, closing the small gap between them.

"Technically, my father already has plans to find a compatible donor heart for me. But if possible, I'd prefer to keep my original heart."

Her tone softened as she spoke. Though she always carried herself with an air of confidence, there was a vulnerability to her words that she rarely showed.

"The success rate for these kinds of surgeries isn't high. Finding a matching donor is a challenge in itself. And even if the surgery succeeds… there are no guarantees."

Arisu's gaze dropped slightly, as though lost in thought.

For all her composure, her congenital heart condition had always been a shadow looming over her life. She had learned to mask it well, never showing any outward signs of weakness or discomfort.

But deep down, she couldn't help but wish for a life without those limitations, a life where she wouldn't have to force herself to stay calm just to protect her fragile heart.

Some moments in life were meant to be exciting, after all. And yet, for her, even a surge of strong emotion could be dangerous.

"If it's you, Ryuji…" she said softly, her eyes meeting his with a glimmer of hope. "I'm sure you can heal me."

Her confidence in him wasn't baseless. She had seen his power before, how effortlessly he had healed others. If he could restore someone like Nishimiya, surely her heart condition wouldn't pose a problem.

Of course, that was just her assumption. She didn't know the specifics of Ryuji's abilities. All she could do was look at him with quiet anticipation.

"Of course," Ryuji said without hesitation, his tone calm yet reassuring.

He leaned back slightly, giving her a small, knowing smile. "Heart disease, injuries, anything like that, it's just a matter of how much cursed energy I need to use."

His words weren't boastful, merely factual. With his mastery of techniques like RCT and Idle Transfiguration, he had every reason to feel confident in his abilities.

Still, while he was willing to acknowledge his capability, that didn't necessarily mean he would agree to help without question.

Ryuji tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting with a hint of curiosity. "But… why should I help you? What's in it for me?"

His tone wasn't cold, but there was an edge of practicality to it. After all, when he had helped Shouko, there had been a clear benefit gaining Sadako, the special-grade cursed spirit.

But in Arisu's case, there didn't seem to be any tangible reward.

Arisu, unfazed by his question, simply smiled.

It was as if she had expected him to ask that. In fact, if Ryuji had immediately agreed to help her without hesitation, she might have found it strange.

"Money isn't something that would interest you, is it?" she said thoughtfully.

Though her family was wealthy, she doubted that a man like Ryuji could be swayed by something as simple as financial gain.

A moment of silence passed as Arisu seemed to consider her options. Then, her smile turned playful, and she leaned in slightly.

"To borrow a phrase from certain… enthusiasts," she began, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "someone like me would probably be considered a loli, don't you think?"

Ryuji blinked, staring at her with a raised brow.

Her petite frame and youthful appearance did give her a certain look, though he refrained from commenting. Instead, he nodded slightly, signaling his understanding.

"So," Arisu continued, her voice dropping just enough to be suggestive, "would you like to try a different flavor for a change?"

As she spoke, she set aside the cane she had been holding, making her intentions abundantly clear.

Ryuji's gaze remained steady, though his lips curled into a faint, amused smile.

"You're bolder than I expected," he remarked, his tone light. "I suppose the title of Little Tyrannosaurus fits you well."

Not everyone could say such things so directly and with such confidence, after all.

Arisu's playful demeanor faltered just slightly, her eyes betraying a hint of nervousness.

"What? You don't like me like this?" she asked, trying to sound casual but clearly seeking reassurance.

She had always been confident in her charm and appearance, but what if Ryuji wasn't interested?

For a brief moment, she even considered the possibility of pushing Masumi toward Ryuji instead. Though, of course, she doubted Masumi had any idea she was being considered for such a role.

Ryuji's calm expression softened into a smile as he met her gaze.

"The conditions you're offering…" he said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of teasing, "are very appealing."

His answer was clear, though it carried just enough ambiguity to leave her guessing.

After all, trying something different could be… interesting.

***

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