If you want to read advance chapters and unpublished fanfics you can check out my patreon or just take a visit.
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….
Nagisa blinked, her wide eyes sparkling with innocent confusion, completely unaware of the chaos she'd just set loose. "Oh? Does Claire-sama not mind being called that? Should I try something else instead?"
Claire's face softened in an instant, a warm smile breaking through her earlier flicker of annoyance. "No, no, I love it—really, I do." Her voice lifted with genuine delight, like a switch had flipped inside her. "You know, I've always dreamed of having a little sister. You've got a knack for this, Nagisa. Sharp instincts."
"Really?!" Nagisa clapped her hands together, practically bouncing with joy. "I'm so happy to hear that, Claire-sama!"
Cid, meanwhile, slumped slightly in his seat, a silent curse echoing in his mind. Great. I've lost the reins again. He could feel the situation slipping through his fingers like sand.
Claire's gaze sharpened, zeroing in on Nagisa with a curious glint. "By the way… what exactly has Cid been saying about me?"
Nagisa's face lit up as she rummaged through her memory, her enthusiasm spilling over. "Oh, let's see! He said you're stunningly beautiful, crazy talented, and so strong it's almost unfair."
Claire let out a bright laugh, her pride swelling as she tossed her hair back. "Ha! He's laying it on thick, but… well, I can't say he's wrong. I do have my charms. What else did he say?"
Nagisa tilted her head, tapping her chin as if digging for more gold. "Hmm… he's always raving about you—how you're such a dependable sister, always looking out for him, keeping him safe."
"Oh! Really?" Claire's eyes sparkled, her voice rising with excitement. "Go on, tell me more! What else?"
"Well…" Nagisa trailed off, caught up in the flow of her own storytelling.
Cid watched the scene unfold, his stomach sinking. The two of them were clicking like old friends, their chatter weaving a bond he hadn't seen coming. His brilliant plan—pitting Claire and Nagisa against each other to spark a clash he could sneak away from—had backfired spectacularly. Instead of chaos, they'd found harmony, leaving him sidelined, a ghost in his own scheme. Claire, what happened to that fiery glare you had five minutes ago? Weren't you ready to make Nagisa your sworn rival? And now you're best buddies? He shook his head, baffled. You've always hated warming up to strangers this fast. And Nagisa—when did I ever spill details about my sister to you? Where's all this coming from? Did I black out and miss a whole conversation?
The two women carried on, their voices a lively hum, not even sparing him a glance. Cid sighed and turned his attention to his plate, shoveling food into his mouth as if it could drown his frustration. Then he froze—his fork scraped an empty dish. Perfect. Just perfect.
"Hey, Nagisa," he cut in, desperate to shift the tide. "Where's Kojou? Why isn't he here?"
Nagisa barely flicked her eyes his way, too wrapped up in Claire's glow. "Kojou? Oh, he's still crashed out. Sometimes I swear he's half-vampire with how long he sleeps."
Claire tilted her head, curious. "Why? Do you need him for something, Cid?"
"Yeah," he said, grasping at the chance to redirect. "You forgot already? Yesterday you helped me plan that water park trip with him."
"Oh!" Nagisa's face lit up with sudden recognition. "Right, the water park!"
Then, just as quickly, her expression blanked out, her lips stalling mid-smile. The energy in the room stuttered to a halt.
Cid didn't wait for her to recover. He was already up, striding toward Kojou's room. By the time he reached the door, Nagisa's voice piped up behind him, sharp with confusion. "Wait—Cid-senpai! When did I say Kojou invited you?!"
"Didn't he tell you?" Cid tossed back casually, his hand on the knob. "We locked it in last week—Sunday's the day."
Nagisa's protests faded into a mumble as he pushed the door open. Ninety percent of what she says is pure fluff anyway, he thought. No use untangling it.
Inside, Kojou sat propped up in bed, rubbing his temples like he'd just woken from a nightmare. Cid smirked. Nice try, buddy. With all that racket in the living room, no way you slept through it.
"Yo, Kojou. Awake at last? Here, get dressed—I'm heading out soon." Cid turned toward the wardrobe, reaching for some clothes, but stopped dead in his tracks.
There it was—that prickling, electric chill crawling up his spine. A predator's stare boring into the back of his neck. Not this again. It was the same gut-twisting pressure that always hit him around Kojou, like some feral instinct was sizing him up, ready to pounce. His body screamed to react, to defend, but he clamped it down hard.
Seriously, Kojou? Cid thought, gritting his teeth. Your shadow-class aura's leaking everywhere, and you don't even notice. Lucky for you, I've been through Claire's brutal training. I can keep my reflexes in check—otherwise, you'd be toast by now, and I'd be calling it an 'accident.'
Kojou's breathing hitched, growing rougher, his eyes narrowing into something wild and unreadable. "Cid… ha… huff… What are you doing in my room?"
Cid let out a long, quiet sigh. Here we go again.
As Cid flung a pile of clothes toward Kojou, his sharp eyes caught the twin streaks of blood leaking from Kojou's nose. It wasn't hard to guess why—Kojou was fighting tooth and nail to keep his predatory instincts locked down, that raw, savage urge to tear something apart bubbling just beneath the surface. Going berserk on Itogami Island wasn't an option; it'd be like waving a neon sign over his head screaming, "Hey, look at me!" Unlike Cid, who could slip into the shadows, swipe from the wealthy, play the hero, and stroll home without a soul noticing, Kojou didn't have that kind of finesse. One slip, and he'd be exposed.
"What else could it be?" Cid said, his tone flat. "Didn't you invite me to the water park this Sunday?"
Kojou blinked, his words catching in his throat. "When did I—" He stopped, his face twitching as if a foggy memory snapped into place. "Oh. Right, yeah. Water park. Sunday. I'm on it—give me a sec to get ready."
….
If you want to read advance chapters and unpublished fanfics you can check out my patreon or just take a visit.
[P].[A].[T].[R].[E].[O].[N]
http://patreon.com/Kazuma_trash