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Early the next morning, I woke up and practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard. After familiarizing myself with Zangetsu, I rushed to the academy, arriving in my classroom just minutes before the first bell.
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Now, through practicing basic swordsmanship, the techniques were already deeply ingrained in my memory.
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What I needed to do now was to constantly engage in combat to further Improve and familiarize myself with the swordsmanship I had mastered.
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This way, when I used Zangetsu''s Bankai, I was confident that my combat power would increase significantly!
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However, just as I was about to sit down, the red-haired girl in front of me politely greeted me.
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"Good morning, Kyoya-kun."
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"Good morning, Rias, Akeno."
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"Ara ara~ Even though you confessed to me yesterday, making me your girlfriend, you greeted Rias before me this morning! It''s really quite hurtful..."
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Akeno covered her face and pretended to cry, but her eyes were constantly, secretly observing my reaction.
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Having already familiarized myself with Akeno''s personality, I knew her tricks all too well. So I simply ignored her theatrics.
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"Alright, that''s enough, Akeno. Your attempt at acting pitiful is making me feel sorry for you, but it''s completely useless. I won''t be fooled so easily. I know you like the back of my hand."
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"Oh? Does that mean you have some deep, dark secret, Kyoya-kun? Or did you secretly investigate me? Why else would you say you know everything about me?"
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Akeno lowered her hands, her pretty face full of confusion and surprise. Rias, beside her, also stared at me with wide, astonished eyes.
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However, I calmly sat down and took out the textbook for the upcoming class, all while looking tenderly at Akeno.
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"If you want to know the truth, Akeno, as I said yesterday, you need to become a member of my family. So, are you considering becoming my family? Will you be my girlfriend?"
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Hearing my bold and ambiguous confession again, Akeno fell into a rare silence.
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Rias, observing this strange scene, watched the two of us with great interest.
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"Geez, really, we''ve only just met, and you''re already asking me to be your girlfriend, Kyoya-kun. You''re so forward, but I don''t mind if we start dating first, you know!" Akeno teased playfully.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
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Akeno made a show of looking regretful, which made me sigh helplessly in my heart. But I didn''t get discouraged.
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She hadn''t explicitly rejected me, which was a good start. It meant she had some positive feelings towards me.
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Seeing my calm expression, Akeno seemed to have thought of something, and she instantly dropped her playful act.
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"Oh, that''s right, Kyoya-kun. Be sure to come to the Occult Research Club after school today! You promised yesterday, so you can''t refuse us today."
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"..."
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Being invited again, I stopped what I was doing, looked at the smiling Akeno and the serious Rias, and nodded slowly.
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"Alright, I''ll ask Koneko-chan to take me there after school."
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...
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I spent the entire day spacing out and sleeping in class.
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For a genius student who always got the top scores on exams, the teachers were already used to it. And so, the school day ended quickly.
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"Looks like I''ll need to ask Koneko-chan about this later," I muttered to myself.
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"Hm? Is there something you need Koneko''s help with? If possible, we can help too." Rias said, her gaze fixed on me as she organized her textbooks.
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Meanwhile, Akeno added with a hint of dissatisfaction, "That''s right. I''m already Kyoya-kun''s ''potential'' girlfriend. If you have any questions, why don''t you just ask me? Why go to Koneko-chan? Do you perhaps prefer petite girls like her? It makes me sad..."
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"..."
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Catching the faint smile at the corner of Akeno''s mouth, I let out a soft sigh and calmly ignored her teasing.
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After the system awakened yesterday, I had gotten into the habit of constantly checking it for new tasks.
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And just this morning, while I was practicing my swordsmanship, I received a new task from the system.
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[Ding! Task issued: Go to the Kendo Club and defeat Sona Sitri''s Knight, Tomoe Meguri.]
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The corners of my mouth twitched as I read the system''s task. This damn system, this task is clearly telling me to go and make enemies. But I have to do it. I''m still too weak.
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"Could you wait a moment, I..."
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Just as I was about to say something, Akeno shot me a fierce glare.
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"KYOYA-KUN! You promised just now, didn''t you? Are you going to try and make up some excuse to get out of it now? You can''t go back on your word."
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Hearing this, I immediately waved my hands weakly and said, "No, no, of course, I won''t go back on my word."
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Because if I didn''t explain myself now, not only Akeno but probably even Rias would be very displeased with me, which would significantly lower their opinion of me. So, I naturally wouldn''t do something so foolish.
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Rias and Akeno exchanged glances, completely confused about what I was playing at.
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Then Rias asked hesitantly, "Then what do you mean?"
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"It''s a personal matter. I have something I need to take care of today, and I''d like Koneko-chan to take me to the Kendo Club. After I''m done, I''ll go straight to the Occult Research Club with her. Don''t worry. Why else would I pass up two such beautiful ladies...?"
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"In that case, Akeno and I will head back to the clubroom first and wait for you."
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Rias nodded with a faint smile. Then, the two of them left the classroom, disappearing from my sight.
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...
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I let out a sigh of relief. Then, I found Koneko-chan and explained my intentions.
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Although Koneko was a little confused as to why I was interested in the Kendo Club, she still agreed to my request.
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Then, under Koneko''s guidance, I headed towards the Kendo Club.