The Other Ayanokoji

Chapter 81

Flashback

Hana leaned in close, her voice barely a whisper as she revealed the person she wanted to protect from my plan.

"It's Ichika," she had confessed, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "She's been through so much already, Ryo. She doesn't deserve to be caught up in whatever you're planning."

Flashback ends

I found myself standing in the courtyard, the gentle breeze ruffling my hair. In a moment of rare distraction, I had begun to spin, my movements growing faster and more chaotic.

Ichika. The name echoed in my mind as I considered Hana's plea.

How could I keep Ichika out of my plans? .Ichika was innocent in all of this, and I had no desire to involve her in the turmoil that was brewing.

As I spun faster, my mind raced with strategies and possibilities. But my thoughts were abruptly interrupted when a voice echoed through the courtyard, a voice laced with mockery.

"Look at this, everyone! It seems like Ayanokoji is having a little... moment."

I came to an abrupt stop, my spinning body settling into a statuesque stance.

All around me, I realized that a group of first and third year students had gathered, (again) their phones raised, recording my whirlwind display.

My expression shifted from distraction to something more serious, some might say scary. My gaze swept over the crowd, and a silent tension filled the air.

The voice that had initiated the mockery continued, "What's the matter, Ayanokoji? Feeling a bit dizzy? Or perhaps you're trying to create a diversion?"

I couldn't allow this to continue.

In an instant, I accessed the memories of every person present, pulling the threads of their recollection. They would remember nothing of this event, nothing of my spinning, nothing of my distraction.

With a final, cold look at the crowd, I ended the broadcast and wiped the memories clean. The students blinked in confusion, as if waking from a brief daydream. They dispersed, conversations flowing seamlessly as if nothing had happened.

Kage ripples from my shadow and appears on my hand as a shape of a raven.

"Lady Ryo, I have finished the list for finalizations." I nodded. "We have one more thing to do before we start anything."

Kage perks up. "The promise you made to the girl?" I sigh, confirming Kage's guess. I scroll through my contacts to find the number.

~Time skip~

I sat alone in a quiet corner of a café, my eyes fixed on the entrance as I waited for her.

And then, just as I expected, the café door swung open with a cheerful jingle, and in walked Ichika.

Her bright, mischievous eyes scanned the room until they landed on me, and she practically bounced over.

"Ryo! Long time no see!" she exclaimed, pulling out a chair and plopping down beside me.

"Indeed, Ichika. It's been a while."

She leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what's this all about? You sounded so mysterious on the phone. Are we getting into some kind of trouble?"

"Well, trouble has a way of finding me, but that's not why I called you here today."

Her excitement was palpable, and she leaned in even closer, practically vibrating with anticipation. "Okay, spill it! What's the big secret?"