"That's ridiculous!"
Ayaka's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp and indignant, drawing all attention to her. She stalked back towards the group, her face a mask of annoyance.
"Kagurazaka-san, you're spouting nonsense. Saionji-kun might be... unconventional in his focus, but he's not some sort of... bizarre data collector. He's always been driven by logic and efficiency, not... not strange 'observations' like that. You're just trying to provoke him with baseless accusations!" Her defense, while clearly reluctant and laced with her usual disdain for him, was surprisingly fervent.
Kyouya watched, utterly silent, a flicker of something akin to calculated interest behind his sunglasses. Seira had tested the waters, and found them surprisingly resistant. And Ayaka, his self-proclaimed adversary, had unexpectedly become his unwitting shield. A new variable, indeed. Her concern for reputation was a vulnerability, but also a tool.
A very useful tool.
"That's ridiculous!" Ayaka's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp and indignant, drawing all attention to her. She stalked back towards the group, her face a mask of annoyance. "Kagurazaka-san, you're spouting nonsense. Saionji-kun might be... unconventional in his focus, but he's not some sort of... bizarre data collector. He's always been driven by logic and efficiency, not... not strange 'observations' like that. You're just trying to provoke him with baseless accusations!" Her defense, while clearly reluctant and laced with her usual disdain for him, was surprisingly fervent.
Kyouya watched, utterly silent, a flicker of something akin to calculated interest behind his sunglasses. Seira had tested the waters, and found them surprisingly resistant. And Ayaka, his self-proclaimed adversary, had unexpectedly become his unwitting shield. A new variable, indeed. Her concern for reputation was a vulnerability, but also a tool. A very useful tool.
Seira's smug smile only widened, her single blue eye glinting with triumphant malice as Ayaka's defense faltered. "Baseless accusations, you say, Kurose-san?" she purred, her voice dripping with an almost syrupy sweetness that belied its sharp edge. "Interesting, coming from someone who also attended the same... unique institution as Saionji-kun and I."
Her gaze, now, was firmly fixed on Ayaka, then it swept over the confused faces of the other candidates. "Surely," Seira continued, her tone gaining a knowing, almost conspiratorial quality, "you'd be intimately familiar with Saionji-kun's... methods, given your shared academic history. One might even say you're quite qualified to vouch for his unconventional approach to data collection." She punctuated her statement with a delicate tap of her cane against the poolside tiling.
Ayaka's face paled, not from fear, but from a sudden, stark realization that she'd walked directly into a trap. Her jaw clenched, her eyes darting between Seira's triumphant smirk and Kyouya's unreadable expression. She had inadvertently validated Seira's claim by trying to deny it, confirming their shared past.
A wave of fresh murmurs, far more serious than before, erupted from the other women. This wasn't about a pervert anymore; it was about secrets.
"Same school?" a girl with long, dark hair whispered, her eyes widening. "So they all know each other?"
"What kind of school were they from, then?" another wondered aloud, a note of suspicion entering her voice.
"He just vanished for three months, didn't he?" a third girl chimed in, connecting Ayaka's earlier outburst with Seira's current revelation. "And now two people from his past show up, talking about 'unique methods' and a 'unique institution'?"
The focus had shifted from Kyouya's potential perversion to the very foundation of his identity and background. They were beginning to question the narrative, the very carefully constructed facade of Kyouya Saionji. This was a direct assault, not on his current behavior, but on his legitimacy. Kyouya registered the change in the atmosphere. Seira, he acknowledged internally, was truly formidable. She hadn't just exposed a habit; she had ignited a firestorm of suspicion about who he truly was, and from where he had come. And Ayaka, in her attempt to protect a reputation, had inadvertently poured fuel on the flames. This game, he concluded, had just become significantly more intricate.
Just as the murmurs threatened to swell into an outright interrogation, a soft, pleasant chime echoed from the poolside entrance. A maid, impeccably uniformed, wheeled in a polished cart laden with crystal glasses and an assortment of chilled beverages: sparkling water with citrus, vibrant fruit juices, and iced herbal teas. Her smile was practiced, her movements efficient. She was the picture of seamless, unobtrusive service, perfectly ruining the escalating drama.
Refreshments, young masters and ladies," she announced softly, her voice breaking the tension with its polite neutrality.
Kyouya's expression remained unchanged, but a minute flicker in his eyes betrayed a satisfaction no one else could discern. He had anticipated this precise moment, the inevitable logistical pause in any such grand affair. It was merely another variable accounted for in his calculations.
He let the maid serve a few of the nearest girls, allowing the scent of fresh fruit and cooling liquid to further dissipate the lingering hostilities. Then, with a voice that was calm yet utterly commanding, he addressed the entire group.
"That's ridiculous!" Ayaka's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp and indignant, drawing all attention to her. She stalked back towards the group, her face a mask of annoyance. "Kagurazaka-san, you're spouting nonsense. Saionji-kun might be... unconventional in his focus, but he's not some sort of... bizarre data collector. He's always been driven by logic and efficiency, not... not strange 'observations' like that. You're just trying to provoke him with baseless accusations!" Her defense, while clearly reluctant and laced with her usual disdain for him, was surprisingly fervent.
Kyouya watched, utterly silent, a flicker of something akin to calculated interest behind his sunglasses. Seira had tested the waters, and found them surprisingly resistant. And Ayaka, his self-proclaimed adversary, had unexpectedly become his unwitting shield. A new variable, indeed. Her concern for reputation was a vulnerability, but also a tool. A very useful tool.
Seira's smug smile only widened, her single blue eye glinting with triumphant malice as Ayaka's defense faltered. "Baseless accusations, you say, Kurose-san?" she purred, her voice dripping with an almost syrupy sweetness that belied its sharp edge. "Interesting, coming from someone who also attended the same... unique institution as Saionji-kun and I."
Her gaze, now, was firmly fixed on Ayaka, then it swept over the confused faces of the other candidates.
"Surely," Seira continued, her tone gaining a knowing, almost conspiratorial quality, "you'd be intimately familiar with Saionji-kun's... methods, given your shared academic history. One might even say you're quite qualified to vouch for his unconventional approach to data collection." She punctuated her statement with a delicate tap of her cane against the poolside tiling.
Ayaka's face paled, not from fear, but from a sudden, stark realization that she'd walked directly into a trap. Her jaw clenched, her eyes darting between Seira's triumphant smirk and Kyouya's unreadable expression. She had inadvertently validated Seira's claim by trying to deny it, confirming their shared past.
A wave of fresh murmurs, far more serious than before, erupted from the other women. This wasn't about a pervert anymore; it was about secrets.
"Same school?" a girl with long, dark hair whispered, her eyes widening. "So they all know each other?"
"What kind of school were they from, then?" another wondered aloud, a note of suspicion entering her voice.
"He just vanished for three months, didn't he?" a third girl chimed in, connecting Ayaka's earlier outburst with Seira's current revelation. "And now two people from his past show up, talking about 'unique methods' and a 'unique institution'?"
The focus had shifted from Kyouya's potential perversion to the very foundation of his identity and background. They were beginning to question the narrative, the very carefully constructed facade of Kyouya Saionji.
This was a direct assault, not on his current behavior, but on his legitimacy. Kyouya registered the change in the atmosphere. Seira, he acknowledged internally, was truly formidable. She hadn't just exposed a habit; she had ignited a firestorm of suspicion about who he truly was, and from where he had come. And Ayaka, in her attempt to protect a reputation, had inadvertently poured fuel on the flames.
This game, he concluded, had just become significantly more intricate.