Upon hearing Kashi's words, Hiratsuka Shizuka burst out laughing.
"Haha, of course, if I take you out to eat, it'll definitely be my treat. Don't be shy then."
"Oh, I won't be shy."
Lunch break wasn't very long to begin with, and after they finished eating, it was almost time for class.
Tanaka Masao tidied up a bit and said to Kashi.
"Alright, I need to go to class. You should head home quickly too; don't just wander around outside."
"Go back? I don't want to."
Kashi refused, "I'm a bit bored by myself."
"Then what do you plan to do?"
"I want to go to class with you."
"No."
Tanaka Masao flatly refused.
"If you come with me, you'll definitely disturb the others."
"Huh? How would I disturb anyone?"
Seeing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly smoothed things over.
"Alright, alright, since Kashi wants to stay at school, then let's do this.
I don't have classes this afternoon, so I'll take her to tour the campus. Is that okay?"
"Won't that be too much trouble for Teacher Hiratsuka?"
"It's fine, it's fine. Just consider it a way to pass the time when I'm bored."
Seeing this, Tanaka Masao no longer insisted on Kashi returning home and asked.
"What do you think?"
"Going with Shizuka, I have no objections."
Thinking of how Hiratsuka Shizuka had just saved her from the clutches of evil, Kashi thought having a bodyguard nearby wasn't bad either.
"Then you absolutely must not cause any trouble for Teacher Hiratsuka."
Saying this, Tanaka Masao leaned close to Kashi's ear, lowered his voice, and spoke in a tone only she could hear.
"Hey, you need to be careful. Absolutely do not let Teacher Hiratsuka or anyone else touch the magic stone on your neck. If anyone gets into an accident, I won't forgive you."
Tanaka Masao wanted Kashi to go home not because he disliked her.
But because of the magic stone she wore around her neck.
This thing could bring a curse to humans; if he hadn't been protected by the Mark Armor, he might have been in the hospital by now.
One reason he had been paying so much attention to Yukinoshita Yukino's interaction with Kashi earlier was because of this.
"I know without you reminding me, and for something so important, how could I let anyone else easily touch it?"
Hearing Kashi's reply, Tanaka Masao finally felt somewhat relieved.
Looking at the two whispering, Hiratsuka Shizuka asked curiously.
"What are you two mumbling about?"
"Nothing, just telling her to be good."
Tanaka Masao straightened up and said to Hiratsuka Shizuka with a smile.
"Well, Teacher Hiratsuka, it's getting late. I'm going back to class. Kashi is entrusted to your care."
"Go on, go on. Just leave her to me."
Tanaka Masao and the other returned to the classroom, and Hiratsuka Shizuka also left with Kashi.
When they parted, Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Kashi with great reluctance.
[I still haven't touched her ears…]
…
On the way back to the classroom, looking at the silent, somewhat distracted Yukinoshita Yukino, Tanaka Masao asked.
"What's wrong, are you thinking about Kashi?"
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Tanaka Masao, said nothing, but just nodded gently.
Seeing this, Tanaka Masao sighed helplessly.
"Don't be fooled by Kashi's appearance. Her personality isn't as cute as she looks."
Yukinoshita Yukino tilted her head slightly, a little confused.
"I always feel like you're a bit cold towards little Kashi."
"No."
Tanaka Masao shook his head.
"I just understand her true nature. I can't be too lenient with her, otherwise it's easy for her to take an inch and demand a mile.
Moreover, her psychological resilience is quite strong, so treating her this way won't make her back down."
"You really understand her well; you have a very good relationship."
Yukinoshita Yukino also realized that Tanaka Masao and Kashi verbally disliked each other, but both valued the other quite a lot.
She was a bit lost in thought, muttering softly.
"I wonder how Kashi's head-thing feels compared to cat ears."
Although her voice was very low, Tanaka Masao still heard it and subconsciously replied.
"Oh, you mean that? It feels quite nice,"
His casual words instantly made the surrounding air grow cold.
"You touched it?"
Tanaka Masao was a little confused but still nodded.
"I touched it once, but she doesn't like people touching it. I was chased away after just one touch."
"I see."
Yukinoshita Yukino pinched her chin, as if contemplating some century-old problem.
"Is she the type that's quite shy? Oh, no, she should be described as the proud type.
To deal with this type of cat, you need…"
Watching Yukinoshita Yukino, who was engrossed in her own world and deep in thought, Tanaka Masao couldn't help but exclaim.
Anything remotely related to cats held a fatal allure for Yukinoshita Yukino.
Suddenly, a bold idea popped into his head.
[If I were to cosplay as a cat, would I be able to win Yukinoshita Yukino's heart?
A Garfield cat would be a good choice.]
[Petting cats, sniffing cats, hehehe…]
…
Regardless of the perverted thoughts that popped into Tanaka Masao's mind.
Yukinoshita Yukino, uncharacteristically, didn't pay close attention in class that afternoon.
However, for her, whether she listened in class or not made little difference.
Because she had already self-studied all the knowledge she needed to learn at this stage.
She was currently thinking about how to win over Kashi.
If possible, Yukinoshita Yukino even wanted to compete with Tanaka Masao for custody.
Ahem, no.
She wanted to obtain Kashi.
That still didn't sound quite right.
[Kashi seems to like eating; she's a foodie. I can approach her from this angle.
Once her affection level goes up, I can…]
…
In the afternoon.
Under Hiratsuka Shizuka's guidance, Kashi not only learned more about the school but also gained a better understanding of the human world.
For example, Kashi now fully understood what electronic products were.
Phones, computers…
A bunch of inconspicuous parts, plus a string of incomprehensible code, formed these miraculous things.
They could not only connect and chat with each other but also listen to Music and watch videos.
The school was not the bloody, violent place she had imagined.
Instead, it was a place full of youth and beauty.
The figures in Tanaka Masao's room were not sealed beautiful maidens.
They were man-made sculptures.
After understanding everything, Kashi felt a strange sense of relief.
She didn't have to worry about her safety for the time being.
It was just, why were the girls in the videos and books on Tanaka Masao's computer always in such poses?
Were they willing?
Or were they coerced into filming by Tanaka Masao?
Kashi couldn't figure it out, so she decided to ask him directly.