With Ryuu's agreement, Gan'an Shinomiya made a swift decision.
Not wanting to intrude on their interaction, he left his daughter behind and departed.
Now, it was just the two of them.
Kaguya stood before him, the distance between them far closer than before.
Ryuu took the opportunity to observe her more carefully.
Her waist-length black hair, usually tied up, was left to flow freely, cascading over her shoulders like a silken curtain of midnight.
This subtle change, combined with her icy expression, made her appear even more distant and untouchable.
This was the infamous "Ice Kaguya."
A persona built for control.
In this state, Shinomiya Kaguya operated on pure cold logic, devoid of warmth or emotion.
Her thoughts followed the strict teachings of the Shinomiya family—where every action was calculated, every word measured, and every decision based purely on strategic gain.
A girl raised in an iron cage of power and expectation.
And yet…
Ryuu knew better.
---
Kaguya felt it immediately—his gaze.
That sharp, assessing look—as if he were examining her, peeling back the layers of her carefully cultivated façade.
A flicker of discomfort stirred in her chest.
Why is he looking at me like that?
She had been through countless social interactions—endured the scrutiny of high-ranking officials, corporate giants, and political figures.
And yet, under Ryuu's gaze, she felt… unsettled.
Unlike the others, he wasn't treating her with deference.
He wasn't trying to flatter her.
He was just looking—calmly, curiously, like he was trying to figure her out.
And she hated it.
But at the same time…
She couldn't ignore it.
"...Shall I guide you through the banquet, Ryuu-kun?"
Her tone was perfectly composed—cool, measured, befitting the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family.
Ryuu smirked slightly.
"Then let's talk while we walk, Kaguya-sama."
She paused.
There it was—that honorific.
A reminder of her status, separating them like an invisible wall.
"You are my father's distinguished guest," Kaguya replied quickly. "I wouldn't dare let you call me 'sama.'"
Exactly the response he wanted.
Ryuu nodded, as if reluctantly conceding, then said casually—
"In that case… I'll just call you Kaguya."
Kaguya blinked.
Wait.
She had expected him to switch to something more formal, perhaps "Shinomiya-san" or even just "Miss Kaguya."
But instead—
He had dropped all formalities and jumped straight to her first name.
Without hesitation.
Her heart skipped.
She opened her mouth to object, but before she could—
"Is that alright? Kaguya~"
His low, teasing tone sent a strange jolt through her chest.
For a brief moment, her carefully constructed mask nearly cracked.
But she quickly recovered, forcing herself to remain composed.
"...Of course," she answered smoothly.
But internally—
Of course it's not okay!
Even as they walked side by side, Kaguya's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.
She had been surrounded by formality her entire life.
People always addressed her with utmost politeness and caution, as if she were some fragile glass sculpture.
But this guy?
Not only was he completely unfazed by her status—
He was familiar.
Too familiar.
And for some reason, that reminded her of someone.
---
While Kaguya dutifully introduced various aspects of the banquet, Ryuu's lack of interest became obvious.
He wasn't here to admire the estate.
So, with a smirk, he casually changed the subject.
"I heard from your father that you're interested in a sorcerer, Kaguya."
Kaguya stiffened slightly.
"...Interested?"
She was about to casually agree, but—
She hesitated.
The truth was… she wasn't.
Not really.
She knew about sorcerers, of course. She understood their importance and their role in society.
But for her, it was just another profession—one that existed but didn't personally affect her.
She had never encountered the supernatural firsthand, nor had she ever felt the need to.
But she couldn't just admit that outright.
So she crafted her response carefully.
"I suppose I do have some interest in a sorcerer with unique talents," she said smoothly.
Ryuu laughed quietly.
Then—without hesitation—he said:
"Alright. Let's end this conversation, then."
Kaguya's entire world froze.
"Eh?!"
She turned to face him, eyes wide in confusion, shock, and the faintest trace of betrayal.
What was that supposed to mean?!
Why bring up a topic just to end it himself?!
Ryuu met her gaze, his expression amused.
"Because I can tell," he said lightly.
"You're not actually interested in sorcerers."
Kaguya felt a rare moment of panic.
Did he see through me?!
"...Is that some kind of sorcerer ability?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Ryuu shook his head.
"Not really," he replied.
"It's just that I'm special."
He twirled the wine glass in his hand, his voice carrying a lazy confidence.
"I can see through people pretty easily."
Then, he glanced at her—directly, piercingly.
"Just like how I can tell that, despite your cold exterior, you're actually a very kind person, Kaguya."
Kaguya felt her chest tighten.
A strange, foreign warmth spread through her.
His words had punched straight through her defenses—hitting a part of her that she had long buried.
"Kind…?"
She had heard many things about herself.
Brilliant. Calculating. Unyielding.
But never…
Kind.
It was such a simple word, and yet—
It felt completely foreign to her.
Her first instinct was to reject it outright.
To laugh it off or correct him.
But for some reason…
She couldn't.
All she could do was answer, as calmly as she could—
"Thank you for the compliment, Ryuu-kun."
But deep inside, Shinomiya Kaguya was completely shaken.
————————————————————————————
↪ T/N: Throw in your stones :)