024 Everyone Likes Rooftops

As soon as Anjima Ryoko stepped out of the burned-down Happiness Mansion, she saw the reporters pointing their cameras and microphones in her direction.

She then looked at the human wall formed by cult officials on the other side of the cordon, separating the reporters from her car.

Anjima Ryoko, with a gentle smile, first walked towards the reporters, who were eagerly thrusting microphones and recording pens at her like hungry chicks, loudly shouting things like:

"What is the Future Happiness Cult's stance on this incident?"

"Is this an attack targeting the cult, or an accident?"

"If it's an intentional attack, will you cooperate with Inspector Minato to solve the case?"

Looking into the cameras, Anjima Ryoko's face displayed a captivating smile as she said to the reporters' lenses,

"Yes, this was a deliberate attack against the Future Happiness Cult. However, as a member of the cult, I will work with Inspector Minato to investigate and solve this case, which has severely negative implications. We believe that all evil will eventually be brought to justice. Please look forward to it, everyone."

After a slight bow to the cameras, Anjima Ryoko cast aside the reporters, who, upon hearing the news, reacted as if they were on stimulants, almost shoving microphones down her throat if not for the cordon. She turned and walked towards the path separated by the human wall.

After getting into the white luxury minivan, Anjima Ryoko again extended her hand to the young woman sitting beside her.

The young woman dialed a number, then placed the phone in Anjima Ryoko's hand.

"Moshi moshi? It's me. The police are involved. Yes, I understand. It will be handled."

After hanging up, Anjima Ryoko again held out her phone.

This time, after taking the phone, the young woman looked blankly at Anjima Ryoko's hand, which hadn't been withdrawn.

Realizing that what she wanted hadn't appeared in her hand, Anjima Ryoko turned to look at the young woman.

Upon seeing Anjima Ryoko's gaze fall upon her, the young woman began to tremble uncontrollably, and beads of sweat quickly appeared on her forehead.

Anjima Ryoko reached out her hand, which was suspended in the air, towards the young woman, gently stroking her face.

The moment her hand touched the young woman's cheek, tears immediately streamed from the corners of the young woman's eyes. She looked at Anjima Ryoko with large, pleading eyes, like an innocent fawn.

"Why are you crying? Don't cry, it won't look good."

Anjima Ryoko wiped away the tears sliding down the young woman's face with her thumb.

"You two are my closest to perfect creations; there can be no flaws, understood?"

The young woman nodded.

"Give me Ito Takeshi's recent activity report, and when we get back, go wait for me in the sublimation room."

Anjima Ryoko gently pinched the young woman's cheek, then took a tablet from the young woman's hand and began to review it.

Meanwhile, at Aoyama High School.

Uesugi Kazuki, who was standing in the hallway being punished, suddenly saw a strange achievement pop up inexplicably in front of him.

[Life Achievement Triggered: First Time Trending.]

[Everyone look at me! Look at me! I have an announcement to make!]

[Reward: Oratory +1]

[Charm +1]

I didn't even do anything, so how did I suddenly trend?

After class, Uesugi Kazuki was finally able to put down the bucket and sit back in his seat when he overheard the girl in front of him discussing the "fire" that occurred last night at the Future Happiness Cult.

Uesugi Kazuki pondered.

Infiltration, no one saw me.

Surveillance... Tokyo has a handful of public cameras, and I avoided all of them.

I pushed the car into the sea myself, and I set the house on fire.

There shouldn't be any problems...

Thinking about how he still had three revives left, Uesugi Kazuki decided that focusing on class was more important.

After all, he had almost forgotten everything he learned in high school, and he hadn't done his homework for three days.

If he didn't study harder, his test scores wouldn't look good.

Compared to Uesugi Kazuki, whose nerves were as thick as steel wires and whose mind was wide enough to race cars, enabling him to listen attentively and attend classes calmly,

Akichi Aya was not in good spirits that morning; she seemed somewhat absent-minded.

She didn't even react to the news that the school was about to hold a cultural festival.

At lunchtime, Uesugi Kazuki had just pulled out his bento box, ready to eat.

Akichi Aya walked past Uesugi Kazuki, but after she passed his desk,

A note appeared on Uesugi Kazuki's desk, reading [Meet me on the rooftop.]

After a moment of thought, Uesugi Kazuki put his bento box back into his desk drawer.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Uesugi Kazuki had just stood up when he ran into Takeda Masaaki, who was walking over with his bento box.

"I have something to do."

After patting Takeda Masaaki's shoulder, Uesugi Kazuki left the classroom and leisurely made his way to the rooftop.

As soon as Uesugi Kazuki stepped onto the rooftop, he found Akichi Aya and Tokushima Masako, who was holding a wooden sword, facing each other on the rooftop.

As the wind swept across the rooftop, it also tousled the girls' hair and skirts.

Seemingly noticing Uesugi Kazuki's arrival on the rooftop, Tokushima Masako smiled at Akichi Aya, who was standing opposite her.

"Akichi-san, I have said all I need to say. Sayonara."

After speaking, she turned and left the rooftop.

As she passed Uesugi Kazuki, it was as if he didn't exist.

After Tokushima Masako left, Uesugi Kazuki walked onto the rooftop.

"Kazuki-kun."

Seeing Uesugi Kazuki, Akichi Aya's face first bloomed into a radiant smile.

Then she walked up to Uesugi Kazuki and quietly asked him,

"Uesugi-kun, with what happened last night, should we hide? A Japanese passport allows visa-free travel to 193 countries. If I sell our house..."

Before Akichi Aya could finish, Uesugi Kazuki extended a finger and pressed it against Akichi Aya's lips.

"Don't worry, I handled it very cleanly. And did anything even happen last night?"

As he spoke, Uesugi Kazuki removed his finger from Akichi Aya's lips.

"Even if there are problems, I'll solve them. Don't underestimate the Masked Bicycle Rider."

Uesugi Kazuki smiled at Akichi Aya.

"Come on, let's go back and have lunch. I'm a bit hungry."

Seeing the confident Uesugi Kazuki, Akichi Aya nodded.

"Okay."

The two walked down from the rooftop and had just returned to the classroom when Uesugi Kazuki saw Takeda Masaaki looking at him and Akichi Aya with a surprised expression.

"Ohh~~~ I see!"

Takeda Masaaki put his lunchbox aside, pointed a finger at Uesugi Kazuki, and wore an expression that said, 'Little rascal, I caught you red-handed, didn't I?'

He walked up to Uesugi Kazuki.

"You rascal~ hehe~ it's with Aya, isn't it?"

Takeda Masaaki walked up to Uesugi Kazuki and put an arm around his neck.

"Confess honestly, when did it start, and how far have things progressed?"

"Idiot."

Akichi Aya, walking beside Uesugi Kazuki, threw out a comment before returning to her seat.

Uesugi Kazuki broke free from Takeda Masaaki's embrace, then scrutinized Takeda Masaaki up and down with an extremely disdainful expression and a look that said, "Son, Dad is very disappointed in you."

Without a word, he returned to his seat, pulled out his bento box, and began to eat.

He left Takeda Masaaki standing there alone, staring blankly at Uesugi Kazuki and Akichi Aya, scratching his head.

He began to wonder if he had misread the situation and misinterpreted the relationship between Uesugi Kazuki and Akichi Aya.

After all, the school didn't forbid dating, so there was no need for these two to hide it.