From Hifumi, I felt the overflowing vitality of youth.
Squatting on the roadside to rest, I looked up at the girl's legs clad in black stockings, then raised my gaze to her smiling face, thinking how wonderful it was that she could be so full of energy.
Suddenly, in the classically elegant street, a flock of pigeons that had been resting on the ground took flight. White feathers drifted down slowly, adding a touch of sacredness to this friendly, pure-faced girl.
Even without wings, calling Hifumi an angel wouldn't be an exaggeration.
"Where should we go next?" Hifumi asked with a bright smile, glancing around enthusiastically. "That way? Hmm∼∼ then how about going there?"
I pondered briefly. "Are you okay with going anywhere?"
Hifumi nodded emphatically. "Yes, anywhere! As long as I can be with Sensei!"
Well… it's just past three. Should we find a place for tea first?
"Ah, speaking of which, over there was originally a famous exhibition hall, but it seems a robbery occurred recently."
She pointed to a partially ruined building in the distance and explained, "I heard that the 'Fox of Calamity' and the 'Phantom Thief of Affection' from the Seven Prisoners teamed up to steal valuable artworks, and it ended up like that…"
"I-I see…" I rubbed my nose.
This is probably the general understanding among the public in Kiwotos about the incident.
However, since I am closely connected to Wakamo and communicate with her daily, I naturally knew the truth behind it...
Wakamo had not cooperated with the 'Phantom Thief' at all. To be precise, she had been manipulated by them.
According to Wakamo, that day she was taking Saori on a mission near Trinity, but the mission itself was a trap set by the 'Phantom Thief of Affection'.
The thief provoked her with words, enraging Wakamo, then used the Fox of Calamity's incredible destructive power to draw all the exhibition's security forces, while making off with the treasures unnoticed.
In theory, Wakamo, though quick-tempered with outsiders, wouldn't normally fall for such a shallow trap.
The problem was that the 'Phantom Thief of Affection' mentioned me...
"Oh, how sad I feel. To think that after some time away, the mighty Fox of Calamity has even lost basic taste.
To fall for such a gaudy, crude-mannered, aesthetically offensive creature, truly just a female fox in heat.
To act under another's flag while indulging in your own decline… Don't you know how humiliating it is to fall for Sensei?"
Just a few words shattered Wakamo's rationality. She forgot my instructions to avoid trouble outside, launched a chase against the 'Phantom Thief of Affection', destroyed half the exhibition hall, wiped out the security forces, and escaped before the Justice Task Force could arrive.
Fortunately, according to the Justice Task Force's belated investigation, the exhibition hall's owner seemed to have dealings with black market criminals.
In a sense, Wakamo's actions were somewhat heroic.
As for why the 'Phantom Thief of Affection' deliberately provoked Wakamo, even lying about my supposed aesthetic inferiority…
I recalled the Cherry Blossom Festival three months ago, when rumors like Wakamo, betraying her employer Nyanten-maru at the last minute, sided with me, and was mistakenly thought to be the 'Phantom Thief of Affection' by a delinquent girl at Hyakkiyako.
That rumor probably eventually reached her ears.
I could understand her feelings.
After all, being rumored to be close to me, when in reality she hadn't even met me before, would certainly trigger strong jealousy.
It was clear the 'Phantom Thief of Affection' must also be a secret admirer of mine, only that love had turned into resentment, prompting this awkward attempt to get my attention.
I can only say that this is something I should expect, knowing my own extraordinary charm.
"Ah wow…" Hifumi said in awe. "To covet what belongs to everyone, and hurt so many people… it really feels terrible."
"Yeah," I nodded in agreement, feeling the same way.
At that moment, a white-haired, pink-eyed student, whose face seemed somewhat familiar, glanced toward the exhibition hall. Her cat ears twitched, she looked us over briefly, then flicked her cat tail and walked away.
"Ah! Sensei! Look over there!"
I tore my gaze away from that long, elegant tail swinging with each step and looked in the direction Hifumi was pointing.
She continued excitedly, pointing out other sights: "There! Ah, and here too!"
Though she wasn't good with words and couldn't precisely describe what she wanted to share, Hifumi's feelings reached me completely.
The girl laughed happily: "Even though it's the same streets I see every day, why do they look so different now?"
Of course, it's because she was with someone she liked.
The streets themselves hadn't changed, what changed was Hifumi's mood.
But revealing the truth would ruin the moment.
"Hmm? How long do you plan to rest here?" The blonde girl asked curiously, then bent forward, extending her hand. "Come on, let's keep walking around together!"
"Sure." Feeling my energy restored and having enjoyed the black stockings enough for now, I took her slender, warm hand, pulled myself to my feet, and continued strolling with Hifumi through the streets of Trinity, listening to her excited chatter, it was delightfully entertaining.
After wandering for a while, we arrived at a tea shop I had been looking forward to. We ordered chilled drinks to quench our thirst and rest a bit.
"Hehe, today's been so much fun!"
Hifumi said, "When you suddenly didn't show up, I was worried… but in the end, I got to spend such happy time with Sensei... it's a blessing in disguise!"
Then she realized and corrected herself: "Of course, I'm not saying it was good that you stood me up…!"
"I know," I said.
If her heart didn't even think that way, there'd be no need to emphasize it.
"Haha…" Hifumi scratched her head and tentatively asked, "Um… Sensei, next time, should we plan ahead and go somewhere farther?"
"Of course," I paused. "But where should we go?"
Hifumi thought for a moment. "To the beach… maybe?"