Yukino had, after all, mingled in the delinquent world for a long time and saw through Megumi Kato's scheme at a glance.
In Yukino's view, this invitation from Megumi Kato was an open provocation against her. It was just like Zhuge Liang sending women's clothing to Sima Yi, using a goading strategy to force Sima Yi into a decisive battle in a fit of rage.
Megumi Kato believed that the previous decisive battle lacked gold content—substance—and wanted to use Kanzaki Saku as a springboard to launch another grand decisive battle against the Service Club, intending to ascend to the apex of Shuchiin in one breath.
As a commander, the most rational course of action at this moment might be to endure silently; she should magnanimously let Kanzaki Saku go to show she had no fear. Just like Sima Yi cheerfully accepting the women's clothing from Zhuge Liang.
But Yukinoshita Yukino had never been some old turtle capable of enduring humiliation. She was Yukinoshita Yukino, the apex of the Service Club, a woman who could shut most people up with her fists and aura. So, Yukino exploded directly!
"She still wants to see Saku? I haven't even settled the score with her for the kidnapping incident earlier."
"Go back and tell Kato: if she wants to see Saku, she should take the initiative to come to the Service Club herself!"
Yumiko immediately followed up in tacit understanding, forming a pincer formation with Yukino and staring coldly at Kushida. Although her heart was still pounding nervously due to the events on the rooftop just now, when facing an external enemy—especially one who might threaten Kanzaki Saku—the Service Club was still very united!
Especially since Yumiko had only just tasted a bit of sweetness; she didn't want Megumi Kato charging out halfway to intercept her prize!
"Our Sister Hui really has no ill intentions! She really just wants to talk! She said there might have been some misunderstandings yesterday and wants to clarify them with Student Kanzaki face-to-face!" Kushida was so anxious she was about to cry. She subconsciously looked toward Kanzaki Saku, her eyes filled with a plea for help.
When Kushida looked over, Kanzaki Saku shook his head with an extremely small amplitude, indicating to her that now was not the time.
Kushida caught this signal, and her heart went cold. It's over; the mission is going to fail. How will I explain this to Sister Hui when I go back?
Her master on the surface, Megumi Kato, told her to bring Kanzaki Saku over, while her master in the shadows, Kanzaki Saku, indicated he didn't want to see Megumi Kato. She felt like an unlucky child whose parents were fighting and refusing to speak, yet insisted on making her pass messages, leaving her caught in the middle in a dilemma.
As for Yukino, who was hissing at her, she was naturally the 'Hajimi'—the pet cat—raised by the father, Kanzaki Saku. Under these circumstances, no matter what, she would offend one of them, and if things went poorly, she would offend both.
"Um..." Kushida spoke with difficulty, attempting a final effort. "Sister Hui is very sincere. She said she would prepare tea and snacks to entertain Student Kanzaki politely, just to have a chat."
"No need. Saku isn't going anywhere," Yukino interrupted her directly, her tone resolute and decisive.
After speaking, she turned to look at Kanzaki Saku, her eyes carrying an inquiry: "Right, Saku?"
Kanzaki Saku met her gaze, smiled faintly, and nodded. "Mm, I'll listen to Yukino."
Kanzaki Saku himself also believed that now was not the best time to see Megumi Kato. Yukino was currently in a fit of anger; accepting the invitation at this moment would be tantamount to pouring oil on the fire.
Moreover, the scenario he envisioned for meeting Megumi Kato wouldn't be this formal. Kanzaki Saku was thinking of a chance encounter on the roadside where the wind blows Megumi Kato's hat off, and then he would invite her to be the heroine of a Galgame. Now that would be interesting.
Receiving Kanzaki Saku's affirmative answer, Yukino looked back at Kushida, her gaze becoming even colder. "I've already spoken very clearly. Why are you still sticking around here like dog shit? Why haven't you scrammed yet!"
Kushida opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but under the dual pressure of Yukino's murderous gaze and Kanzaki Saku's eyes implying a warning, she ultimately swallowed her words back.
"I understand," she said in a small voice, her tone thick with dejection. "I will convey this to Sister Hui."
Having said that, she dared not stay any longer. She bowed once more to the three of them, turned around, and ran away swiftly, as if an evil ghost were chasing her from behind.
Watching Kushida's fleeing back, Yukino let out a cold snort, and the low pressure around her body slowly dissipated. She paused, then looked at Kanzaki Saku, her eyes holding a trace of probing scrutiny. "Saku, you don't seem very worried?"
"What is there to worry about? Don't I have Yukino to protect me? Besides, Yumiko is here too." Kanzaki Saku raised his hand and naturally helped Yukino tidy the strand of hair he had just inspected earlier.
Yumiko, having been named, felt her heart skip a beat and hurriedly straightened her back. "Yes! I will protect Student Kanzaki to the death!"
She said this with full confidence; after all, just a short while ago, she had just 'protected' him in a very deep and penetrating manner.
Yukino looked at Kanzaki Saku's calm and composed smiling face, then at Yumiko's expression of 'loyalty,' and the suspicion in her heart dissipated slightly. Perhaps she was overthinking it?
Actually, combining the kidnapping incident from yesterday with the fact that Kanzaki Saku had suddenly fainted before the decisive battle, and then suddenly became extremely proactive toward her after waking up—and was also extremely skilled in that aspect... Before, she could comfort herself by thinking Saku was cold on the outside but passionate on the inside and had finally had an awakening, but the more she pondered it now, the more something felt off.
Could it be that Saku, at some time she didn't know, had already been successfully captured by that fellow Megumi Kato and become a mole planted by the Kato Legion within the Service Club? Being so active with her recently... was it all just Megumi Kato's mission?
These suspicious thoughts made her heart feel blocked, but she had no evidence. She released Saku's hand, which she had been holding tightly, and instead took his arm, carrying an undeniable sense of possessiveness.
Kanzaki Saku allowed her to hold his arm, but his mind was on other things. He recalled the previous incident in the old school building where Kushida Kikyou and Kotegawa Yui came to kidnap him, only to be 'educated' by him in return until they begged for mercy.
At the time, they said they came on Megumi Kato's orders and even claimed they wanted to help Megumi Kato 'taste the flavor.' Now, she was still relentlessly sending her subordinates to invite him as a guest. As the image of Megumi Kato became clearer after the [Reversal], it seemed she was an ultimately sexually repressed Boss Cao.
"In any case, you stay away from the people of the Kato Legion," Yukino exhorted, her hand tightening around Kanzaki Saku's arm. "Especially that Megumi Kato."
While Kanzaki Saku nodded in agreement, he suddenly realized a problem. He turned his head to look at the cold and beautiful Yukino beside him, then looked at Yumiko, who was lagging half a step behind with her gaze drifting toward him from time to time, and then thought about Kushida Kikyou who had just run away.
There was also Kita, the gloom-character who offered paid assistance; Takanashi Rikka, who wasn't a chuunibyou girl; and even Shinomiya Kaguya of the Student Council...
Unknowingly, it seemed that if Yukino just took a random walk through the school, she could encounter several girls who had engaged in 'deep communication'—or were about to engage in 'deep communication'—with him.
"Let's go," Yukino's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Back to the club to discuss the Student Council matters, and also the issue of the Kato Legion constantly targeting you."
"Okay." Kanzaki Saku nodded, allowing Yukino to hold onto him as they turned and walked toward the direction of the Service Club activity room.
____
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