However, just as Kurosawa Ren was about to log off, a familiar ID suddenly added him as a friend.
[The Strongest Genius Elementary School Student in History]:"Hello. I found an S-level cursed spirit in the western part of the city. Want to team up to take it down? I don't need the reward."
An S-level cursed spirit...?
Ren's interest was instantly piqued.
Not just because of the spirit, but also because of the ID itself—[The Strongest Genius Elementary School Student in History]—which sounded oddly familiar.
[Saber]:"Sure. But are you really okay with skipping the reward? According to the bounty list, taking down that spirit comes with a 90 million yen payout plus a rare exorcist weapon. You sure you don't want any of that?"
[The Strongest Genius Elementary School Student in History]:"I'm not short on money."
[Saber]:"When and where do we meet?"
[The Strongest Genius Elementary School Student in History]:"The sooner the better. Western Old Town, tomorrow night at 7 sharp. Don't be late."
[Saber]:"No problem."
It seemed the other party wasn't one for small talk. Direct and decisive.
Kurosawa Ren needed to keep growing stronger—and an S-level cursed spirit could provide him with a hefty number of Saint Crystals.
Chapter 21: The Temptation of the Saint Crystals
The morning flew by in a blur.
When lunchtime arrived, Ren headed up to the school rooftop with a backpack stuffed with bento boxes.
ε=(′ο｀) Alas... Kasumigaoka Utaha isn't here today.*
He sighed inwardly.
The peaceful joy he'd once found on the rooftop just didn't hit the same without her.
He opened the door, stepping into the same place where he and Makoto had once fought.
Sure enough, a familiar figure was already standing there.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Good afternoon," he greeted.
"…"
Yukino, already mid-bite with a rice ball in hand, glanced over at him.
It seemed Miss Yukino wasn't nearly as ravenous today as she had been last time.
Though she clearly had no intention of initiating conversation, the manners instilled in her since childhood still held strong.
With a faint nod, she acknowledged his presence.
Kitagawa Umi, the girl who normally brought sunshine to every lunch hour, wasn't here either.
As a fashion model, she'd been busy with work lately—even her lunch breaks were hijacked by agency schedules.
"Click, click…"
Footsteps echoed at the door.
Both Ren and Yukino looked up at once—Kato Megumi had arrived.
"Good afternoon, both of you."
Short, bob-cut hair, fair skin, a gentle, serene face framed by her pure high school uniform—Megumi looked effortlessly graceful.
Her slender figure, long legs wrapped in black knee-high socks, and brown calfskin shoes gave her a fresh, youthful energy.
"Good afternoon, Megumi," Ren smiled and slid over, offering the seat next to him.
He really liked how attentive and quiet she always was. It was calming.
"Ren-kun, I made lunch today. Want to eat together?"
"Absolutely. I brought mine too—let's share."
"Every time I see him, he's surrounded by beautiful girls…"
Yukino glanced sideways, her expression unreadable.
Being naturally solitary, she had no interest in joining the lively group.
Instead, she quietly remained seated at an abandoned desk off to the side, nibbling at her rice balls.
She'd come late today and missed out on the pork cutlet bento she wanted.
Fortunately, the lunch lady had set aside some plum rice balls, saving her from going hungry.
Wano-style plum rice balls—just a single pickled plum in the center, no side dishes.
Still, Yukino wasn't a picky eater. She simply shrugged and resumed eating.
But then…
A delicious aroma drifted her way.
What… is that smell?
Why did it smell so good…?
The savory aroma of Chinese-style home cooking filled the rooftop, stirred by a gentle afternoon breeze, teasing her senses and stirring her appetite.
Ren had brought a full spread of Chinese dishes today.
Stir-fried pork, tomato and egg, eggplant with meat sauce, braised pork belly, garlic vermicelli noodles…
Over ten different bento boxes, all filled with rich, flavorful homemade food. He'd cooked everything the night before and reheated it now using "magic release."
"Oh wow, Ren-kun, did you make all of this yourself? Your cooking is amazing!"
Megumi's eyes sparkled as she dug in with delight.
She couldn't stop eating. Each bite was more delicious than the last.
She'd never tasted food like this—authentic Chinese home cooking at its best.
"Your eel rice is great too, Megumi."
Ren nodded approvingly as he tasted the perfectly cooked, peppery eel.
Her culinary skills had definitely exceeded his expectations.
"Tch... what are those two doing? Flaunting their relationship or something?"
Holding her plum rice ball, Yukino suddenly found it tasted like cardboard. Her appetite vanished.
Across from her, the two sat comfortably close, enjoying their lunch.
"Ren-kun, have some green tea."
Megumi smiled sweetly, pulling out a handkerchief to gently wipe the corners of his mouth before handing him a cup of green tea.
It was his favorite brand—she'd remembered.
That level of gentle, thoughtful care was hard to ignore.
Ren didn't even realize he was being pampered so naturally.
A subtle floral scent clung to her—a fragrance reminiscent of gardenias.
At some point, the two had shifted even closer together.
Megumi's long, slender legs brushed against his pants. Her skin was soft and warm, the contact so gentle that even through fabric, he could feel it.
With his height, he could also clearly see the delicate curve of her slightly open collar.
The soft pink bra pressed against her fair skin, revealing an enticing outline beneath.
"Ahem…"
Ren's face turned red. He quickly scooted away.
Damn… she really lives up to the title of "Saint Megumi." That innocent charm is dangerously effective.
"…"
But Megumi didn't react. No blush, no awkwardness.
She just calmly adjusted her posture, smiled quietly, and resumed eating.
Was that intentional… or not?
Yukino's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
She stared at the short-haired girl for a while—but Megumi showed no signs of guilt.
It was as if nothing had happened.
The atmosphere grew still.
Ren silently resumed eating, focusing on digesting the rich nutrients that were actively being absorbed by his Red Dragon Heart to nourish his growing strength.
Suddenly, a soft meowing sound broke the silence.
Everyone turned toward the edge of the rooftop.
A pale yellow kitten had appeared, trembling as it clung to the edge.
Below it—seven floors of open air.
Chapter 22: The Elegant Teacher—Madoka Kirisu
"Where did that kitten come from?!"
Yukino sprang to her feet, panic flashing across her normally calm face.
As a hardcore cat lover, there was no way she could sit idly by.
"That's way too dangerous. I'm going to save it!"
"When did that little guy even get up here?" Megumi asked, brows furrowed in concern.
The rooftop wasn't exactly a busy place—no students really came here except the few of them.
How had the kitten managed to sneak in?
"Probably drawn by the smell of food," Ren muttered thoughtfully.
With his enhanced senses, he had actually noticed the kitten sneaking in earlier. But he'd been too focused on eating to keep track of it.
Who would've thought it would crawl right to the rooftop's edge?
"I have to save that kitten!" Yukino began frantically searching for something she could use to reach it—anything that might help her pull the little guy up.
"I wouldn't recommend that," Ren warned calmly. "One wrong move and you could fall yourself."