A flicker of astonishment crossed Su Tang's eyes.
He looked at Reze, whose gaze was regaining its light, and couldn't help asking, "Was that… you just now?"
Reze nodded to him, arms folded. "Interrupting my conversation with Teacher—unforgivable. A pity that thing was only an illusionary avatar. At most the real body will be weak for a while."
Blinking at her confirmation, Su Tang looked at the girl before him and marveled—you really can't judge by appearances.
That one "BOOM," simple as it was, felt like it could one-shot two or three Leg Devils.
And…
After they'd discussed the country and city mice, he clearly felt the girl relax—as if a stone had been lifted from her heart, her manner easy and unburdened.
"Denko isn't awake yet. Should we wake her?" Reze looked at the blonde sprawled on the desk snoring and couldn't help but grin. "Did she fall asleep inside the Teacher Devil's illusion?"
"Probably. Let her nap a bit," Su Tang nodded and walked to the window. "She works hard on patrol in the day—she's probably tired. A short rest and she'll come out."
He'd measured the Teacher Devil's strength with the cyan dragon claw just now—it wasn't enough to trap Denko in chainsaw form.
Tonight's devil truly had rotten luck—three "students" in a row who cleared by brute force.
Reze joined him by the window.
She pressed her lower body to the wall, leaned out, and closed her eyes to savor the breeze.
It lifted the violet fringe on her brow and stirred her long lashes.
"Reze," Su Tang said suddenly.
"Teacher?"
She turned. Her green eyes were limpid, like autumn water.
"You're not a Tokyo native, are you?"
"Eh?" Reze blinked. "Teacher can tell even that? I did spend my childhood in Kyoto—"
"No, I mean—you lived in Rus… mm, in the Soviet Union, didn't you?"
Her breathing quickened slightly.
"Your accent. It's very much like Tokyo's, but I can still hear a hint of Soviet in it," Su Tang smiled. "Maybe because I spent a year as an exchange student at Moscow State University—the more I heard you, the more familiar it sounded."
He looked at the moonlight, reminiscing.
A moment.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
When Reze hadn't answered for a while, he turned—and saw her state was off.
Lashes trembling, breath quick.
"T—Teacher, I didn't mean to hide it from you… I… I'm sorry…"
Her nervous gaze wandered, not daring to meet his.
Ah.
Just for that?
Su Tang almost laughed. He quickly said softly, "There's nothing to apologize for. I was just thinking—of course only a Slavic girl would have… mm… no, that's the wrong track."
He nearly blurted "such a generous bust," but braked just in time, saving face in front of his student.
Seeing him awkwardly forcing himself to stay proper, Reze burst into a giggle, and the tension in her heart melted.
She looked down—her feet were out of sight.
A smile rose to her face; she stretched lazily, showing off her curves to the fullest.
One had to admit—Slavic girls.
Su Tang sighed inwardly and was about to speak when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Someone calling at this hour?
He glanced at the time and answered.
"Not disturbing you, am I, Su Tang-kun?"
A signature voice.
He smiled. "Miss Makima—calling this late—do you have good news for me?"
"Mm. Your bonus has been set at one million yen. I wonder if you—"
"Mm!"
"Is something wrong over there, Su Tang-kun?"
"No, no—please go on, Miss Makima." He switched the phone to the other hand and looked helplessly at the smirking Reze.
He'd been slow to react; she'd poked him in the soft flesh at his waist, and he couldn't help yelping.
"Save it till I'm off the phone," he hushed Reze, and heard Makima continue, "If you've no objections, it should be in your account tomorrow."
"No objec—mm!"
"Are you sure nothing's wrong? What are you… doing?"
"Oh, oh. Nothing—I'm teaching. My student's a bit naughty… ah!"
"Mm… lessons this late? By the way, wasn't Su Tang-kun a doctor?"
"Ah-ha—part-time, part-time." Hand over the mic, he eyed Reze's fidgeting hand warily.
Under his steady gaze, she crisply raised both hands.
"…Very well. Also, the time for the welcome party is set—tomorrow at 8 p.m., at a restaurant on the street beside Public Safety HQ."
"Got it—I'll be there on time."
"…"
I'm sorry, Teacher.
Watching him on the phone, a trace of guilt flashed in Reze's eyes.
I haven't decided yet. Once I do, I'll tell you everything I've kept from you.
She believed that day wouldn't be far.
Also…
How should she warn Teacher to stay away from that dangerous woman, Makima?
The next evening arrived.
Maybe because it was Friday, the streets were jammed with people, lively as could be.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! That damn Su Tang let the Vegetable Devil torture me—tonight this great me is going to feast!"
Power strutted behind Su Tang, hands on her hips, chewing theatrically as if meat were already in her mouth.
He shot her a glance.
Last night when he and Denko got home, sure enough something had happened—Power had been bathing in the washing machine, using his clothes as a towel!
No help for it—he'd summoned the Vegetable Devil—today's breakfast and lunch contained no meat at all, only green dishes.
"Heh-heh, you got what you deserved, lousy woman. Thanks to you I got dragged into an extra booklet of mental arithmetic!" Denko glared at Power, then smugly added, "But now I can do addition and subtraction within ten in under ten seconds!"
"What monumental progress, you little idiot!"
"You're just jealous, lousy woman!"
As expected, their bickering started up again.
Su Tang smiled and looked up.
"All right—we're here."
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