"Good afternoon, White River‑sensei."
Rai Hikaru approached the golden‑haired beauty's desk and greeted her politely.
"Relax, no need to be so formal. Sit."
Her voice was soft, pleasant—its warmth a striking contrast to the sharp tone of the dark‑haired woman beside her, who was still loudly scolding another student.
Rai took his seat across from the blonde teacher.
Perhaps out of habit or her own playful personality, White River Miha shifted her chair closer, bridging the space between them. A faint scent drifted across the gap—rich and mature, something between musk and white orchid.
From this distance, when she leaned forward ever so slightly, Rai caught a view that demonstrated why his classmates half‑joked she could suffocate a man with kindness alone. The movement made her curves sway in a rhythm both dangerous and mesmerizing.
Out of respect—or at least self‑control—Rai averted his gaze, clearing his throat. "So, White River‑sensei, what did you need to see me about?"
Her smile stayed playful. "Before that, Rai‑kun, do you have anything you want to confess to your teacher? Maybe something against school rules?"
He blinked innocently. "Rules? Me? Sensei, you've called me one of your best‑behaved students before, remember?"
White River chuckled, and the sound made her chest tremble like a small earthquake. "Oh, you're hopeless. Trying to trick me again? Why'd you skip my first period this morning?"
Rai feigned confusion. "Skip class? Didn't you have homeroom during first period? I'm fairly sure you aren't my teacher for that slot, Sensei."
"Oh?" Her eyes narrowed accusingly. She puffed her cheeks out—a surprisingly cute gesture for such a grown woman—and jabbed a finger toward him. "Don't play dumb! I'm the assistant homeroom teacher, remember? I checked the room. Your seat was empty! You think you can lie to me?"
Her posture changed as she crossed her arms, irritation flickering in her eyes—and that, in turn, created a very noticeable secondary effect across her chest.
"Easy, easy."
Rai dodged as her slender hand reached to tug his ear, then stepped lightly behind her chair, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "At least let me explain, Sensei."
The moment his fingers began to work in practiced, soothing circles, her posture softened instantly. "...Fine," she said, trying to sound stern but melting under the touch. "Let's hear it."
Truthfully, Miha's impression of Rai had always been good. He was disciplined, polite, even helpful—and ever since that one time he'd relieved her stiff shoulders during grading, she'd been quietly addicted to his massage technique.
They had developed an odd dynamic: teacher and student, but friendly enough to bend small rules. She tolerated little favors; he kept her secret stress relief method discreet.
As Rai kneaded gently, his eyes traced, entirely by accident (or so he told himself), the deep, shadowed valley below her blouse. His tone stayed casual. "It really wasn't ditching class, Sensei. On my way here this morning, I ran into a few delinquents harassing one of our classmates. I helped her get out of trouble. That's why I was late."
"What?!"
Instantly, Miha turned around, forgetting all about the massage. She seized his hand in worry, scanning him up and down. "You fought delinquents? Rai‑kun, are you hurt anywhere? Did they injure you?"
He paused thoughtfully. "Well… there was one minor thing." He opened his mouth, pointing to the tip of his tongue. "Got nicked right here. Otherwise, I'm fine."
She leaned closer, frowning with concern. The tongue indeed had a faint mark, a tiny wound no bigger than a pinprick.
"Oh my goodness… I can't exactly put a bandage on that," she muttered. "Just avoid hot drinks and spicy food for a few days. Rest well, alright?"
Rai smiled. "Yes, Sensei. Thank you for caring. Then you won't punish me for being late?"
Miha lightly slapped his chest—a gesture more fond than scolding. "Of course not. You defended a classmate and even got hurt doing it! How could I possibly blame you?"
Her warmth made Rai grin inwardly. She really was kind—beautiful, elegant, soft‑spoken, and wrapped in the gentle appeal unique to women who knew how to charm simply by existing.
Of course, if she found out that the "injury on his tongue" had actually come from Shizunomiya Natsuka's nervous bite during their kiss earlier that morning... she'd probably stop being quite so kind.
"That said," she continued, regaining her composure, "I still expect you to catch up. Chizuru‑chan told me you didn't turn in your homework today. I'll let it slide once—but bring it tomorrow, understood?"
Then her lips curved into a teacherly smile. "Also, you're coming to my house this weekend. I'll tutor you personally. We can't have heroic deeds ruining your academic pace, can we?"
Rai nodded. "Sure."
That was when the other teacher—Yuezaki Kyoko—finished disciplining her own student.
The boy stumbled out red‑faced, mumbling apologies. Kyoko's posture remained rigid; her voluptuous chest rose and fell sharply with restrained fury.
"Rai‑kun," she said suddenly, catching his name from their conversation, "be a good example. Don't turn into someone like Morishita over there—dead weight to our class."
At her sharp tone, the boy named Morishita tripped, panicking, and quickened his steps out the door.
Rai chuckled. "I'll try."
Kyoko's expression softened. "Good. In that case… you're free this Sunday, right? You can come to my house too. I'll give you some private tutoring myself."
The words carried more edge than her tone. Her eyes weren't looking at his face—they were fixed on his hands, the same hands still resting lightly on Miha's shoulders.
Ah, Rai thought, noticing the wedding band glittering faintly on her finger. So the married one's tempted too.
He smiled politely. "If I have time, Kyoko‑sensei, I'll take you up on that."
In truth, Rai knew that despite her fearsome personality, Yuezaki Kyoko genuinely cared for her students. She was strict, but not cold.
A few more minutes of shoulder work for Miha later, Rai discreetly activated Pure Love Sight, curious about both teachers.
White light radiated from them… but faint streaks of red ran through it.
He angled his gaze slightly toward the doorway, where the recently scolded student, Morishita, had just left.
I see…
With the way those two teachers looked—faces like models, figures straight out of fantasy—of course danger would eventually find them. In this cursed world, beauty often drew monsters.
If memory serves... one of the upcoming events involves hypnosis. Which means Morishita's infected.
Rai's expression hardened.
Without hesitation, he spent 20 Pure Love Points, summoning two of his reliable Qingming Protective Talismans.
"Sensei," he said, handing one over to Miha, "I got this charm from a shrine a while back. It's supposed to calm the spirit and ward off illness. I'd like you to have one."
"Oh? It's gorgeous!" she gasped, holding up the clear, milky‑white gem between her fingers. "Is this real jade? It looks expensive!"
"No idea about the material," Rai said, smiling faintly, "but it only works if you wear it at all times."
"Well then, of course I will. It's a gift from you, after all~," Miha said warmly—and before he could react, she leaned forward and pressed her soft lips against his cheek in a quick, bubbly teacher's "reward."
"Kyoko‑sensei," Rai added, handing the second charm toward the desk beside them, "this one's for you."
The dark‑haired woman barely glanced up. "Just leave it there."
Whether out of pride or to keep a professional front, she remained composed—but her eyes flickered; she wasn't as unmoved as she pretended.
Rai nodded, unbothered. After exchanging a few more words with Miha, he excused himself and stepped back into the hall.
The office door clicked shut behind him.
He sighed quietly, ready to return upstairs—but halfway up the next flight, something caught his eye.
A girl stood near the corridor window.
Short, dark‑crimson hair brushed gently around her shoulders. Her face was delicate, breathtakingly well‑shaped. The uniform clung to a slender waist and generous hips, her chest rivaling even Shizunomiya Natsuka's.
Even among a sea of youthful faces, she drew the eye instantly—vivid, magnetic.
But Rai wasn't staring for that reason.
Because his Pure Love Sight was still active.
And above the girl's head glowed a deep, pulsing crimson—the unmistakable color of danger.
That aura… the mark of a bullhead's corruption.
Rai's expression sharpened instantly.
So it's her…
He narrowed his gaze.
Class 2‑B… Nanatsu Akeno, wasn't it?