Reward

The girl's wine-red eyes swept over the crowd below.

Her pale, delicate face bore a silent expression, as if it could push everyone a thousand miles away.

"Mei Misaki. Pleased to meet you."

Without even waiting for Yukari Yukino's reaction from the podium, she walked straight to the empty seat beside Yuto Arari and sat down.

"Ah… Misaki-san is a bit shy. Please look after her from now on, everyone."

The beautiful teacher smiled and nodded, gently excusing Mei's behavior without taking it personally.

"Alright, let's start the lesson. Take out your history textbooks and turn to page 115. Today, we'll be covering the Meiji Restoration period…"

"You're different."

Mei's heterochromatic eyes, typically devoid of emotion, shimmered with curiosity as she gazed at the handsome boy beside her.

"Oh? How so?" Yuto replied with a smile, intrigued by her directness.

Mei Misaki's straightforward personality was refreshing. As someone who had watched Another, Yuto had a fondness for this outwardly cold yet inwardly warm, quiet girl.

In the original story, Mei, born with the surname Fujoka, had been sent to the Misaki family at age two, taking their name and living as their only daughter. This was likely due to her birth parents' financial struggles, coupled with her aunt's grief over losing a child and her subsequent inability to conceive. Around age two, Mei was naturally adopted into the Misaki household.

"I can see your aura… It's deep and warm, yet it carries majesty and sharpness."

Staring at Yuto's striking profile, Mei's usually impassive face grew serious. "You're like me, someone who wields supernatural power."

"Deep and warm, yet majestic and sharp? …That must be the dragon's aura from my Red Dragon constitution."

Yuto fell silent for a moment. Having inherited fragments of Arthur Pendagron's spirit base, it wasn't surprising he gave off such a presence. But Mei's eye could perceive it? Wasn't she only supposed to see the auras of those near death? This didn't align with the original story.

Curious, Yuto was about to ask more when Mei tossed him a small note.

"Let's use notes to talk. Can you see those 'things'?"

"I can. Though I don't have spiritual sight, I have a Magic Meter that senses supernatural elements."

"Magic… What is that? Can it kill anomalies?"

"From my experience a few days ago, yes."

This was huge.

Mei's usual stoic expression vanished, replaced by astonishment. She lifted her head, her wine-red eye reflecting Yuto's confident face.

'Is this boy I just met some kind of hidden expert?'

"I need your help with something. Please wait for me after school."

"Sure."

Though unsure of her situation, Yuto agreed to the quiet girl's request.

He desperately needed to slay demons and monsters to earn Saint Quartz for his gacha draws. He had been stressing over how to find them, and now Mei was basically handing him the chance on a silver platter!

At the podium, the gentle teacher furrowed her brows, her expression darkening as she stared at the two students blatantly passing notes without a care.

'Even if I'm just a substitute, this is too much! Do they think I don't exist?'

"Yuto Arari and Mei Misaki, please stand up and answer this question."

"Huh?" x2

........

As the dismissal bell rang, the beautiful teacher didn't linger. She clicked her gray-black heels and left the classroom.

After a few morning classes, the lunch break arrived.

"Yuto-kun sure chatted with that new transfer student for a long time."

Hurrying to meet Utaha, Yuto didn't notice the odd looks on Megumi Kato and Marin Kitagawa's faces behind him.

His girlfriend had promised a 'reward' and he was already buzzing with anticipation.'

........

Yuto dashed up the stairs three steps at a time, racing to the rooftop where he had agreed to meet Utaha.

"Yuto-kun!"

The moment she saw him, Utaha's cool, elegant face lit up with a smile as bright as spring flowers.

Her ample chest strained against the light blue blazer, and her long, smooth legs were wrapped in tight black pantyhose, highlighting their stunning elasticity and softness.

"Utaha."

Grinning at his girlfriend's radiant smile, Yuto didn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her slim waist and kissed her deeply.

Huff… huff…

Utaha's breathing quickened.

Under the dazzling sunlight, her charming face grew even more alluring.

Her eyes shimmered with captivating waves of emotion, layer upon layer, drowning Yuto in the sweetness hidden within.

"Ouch…!"

Suddenly, Yuto yelped and let go.

Utaha had bitten his tongue!

"Idiot, let me breathe! I was about to pass out!"

Utaha's face was flushed as she stuck out her tongue, flashing a mischievous smile.

She didn't have Yuto's Red Dragon constitution.

His lung capacity was ridiculous now he could probably kiss for ten minutes straight without stopping.

Utaha was genuinely worried he would get carried away and kiss her into a faint.

"Let's rest a bit. We still have an hour and a half."

The stunning senpai leaned her head on his shoulder, exuding a cat like laziness and grace.

With a teasing smile, she reached out a slender finger and lightly hooked it under his chin.

"Or do you want to claim your 'reward' right now?"

"I've rested enough. I want it now!"

Holding his gorgeous, stocking-clad senpai's curvaceous body, how could any man resist?

At least, Yuto couldn't.

"Sigh, you're hopeless."

Utaha let out a soft sigh. She pulled a purple hair tie from her bag, skillfully tying her cloud like black hair into a ponytail. Then, she knelt down, her shimmering eyes bashfully meeting his.

"Just so you know, I had no idea how to do this before. I learned it online yesterday."

"Thanks for the effort."

Yuto gently patted her head.

She was so good to him, always finding new ways to make him happy.

......…

"What? All sold out?"

Standing at the cafeteria counter, Yukino Yukinoshita pressed her lips together, staring expressionlessly at the cafeteria lady.

"Sorry, dear. The pork cutlet rice is so popular that it needs to be reserved in advance. You're too late today."

The cafeteria lady scratched her head apologetically.

"Oh, and didn't I notify everyone in the class LINE groups yesterday? Didn't you get the message?"

"…"

'I'm not even in the group!'

Yukino rubbed her temples, unable to argue.

With her icy personality and aura that kept people at a distance, it was no wonder no one had invited her to join.

'What now? No pork cutlet rice, and even the other set meals are sold out…'

'I'm going to starve again…'

Touching her stomach, which was as flat as her chest, Yukino's expression darkened.

Walking through the school corridors, her foul mood seemed almost tangible, causing students to scatter in her wake.

"Yukino-san looks so gloomy… Her aura is terrifying."

"Shh, keep it down. She's brutal when she snaps. I heard she even shut down President Kaguya Shinomiya once, and almost made Secretary Chika Fujiwara cry."

"Wow, she's that fierce? Even daring to go after someone as cute as Fujiwara-san?"

"Well, she's the daughter of the Yukino family from Chiba. I hear they're quite influential in Tokyo now."

"Whoa, let's go, she's looking this way!"

"Hmph, bunch of idiots."

Yukino retracted her knife sharp gaze.

The students' gossip meant nothing to her.

Known as the 'Snow Woman,' she had faced malicious stares since childhood.

But what could they do to her?

Yukino had never lived for anyone else's approval.

"I'll go to the rooftop. It's the only place in this school where I can relax."