[First Person POV Tsubaki Shinra]
I had been following Nishihara since early that morning. However, when Nishihara and the girl he was with stopped in front of an ice cream vendor, even though everything seemed normal, the girl started to cross the street quickly.
The girl suddenly darted across the street.
'No, you idiot!' I thought.
The girl, who looked like a high school student, hadn't noticed the truck speeding toward her from the left.
My heart sank as I heard the shrill horn. I was going to intervene — it didn't matter that the procedures Sona taught me forbade it. But before I could act, Nishihara moved.
He was like a blur, almost impossible to track with my eyes. In a split second, he was there, holding the girl as they both rolled onto the sidewalk.
It was an impossible move for an ordinary human. Even from where I stood, I could feel the force he used to cushion the fall.
I felt the same sensation I had when I saw his first serve in that volleyball game. There was no longer any doubt: Nishihara was no ordinary human. But who — or what — was he?
I remained hidden as the crowd gathered around them, applauding his heroic actions.
When the couple finally pulled away from the crowd, I began following him again. Now that I knew Nishihara was a supernatural creature, I was even more cautious.
Eventually, they stopped near a fountain in a small park. The girl said goodbye, and Nishihara watched her leave. Once he was alone, his posture relaxed slightly. That was my cue.
"You really are impressive, Nishihara-san."
My words caught him off guard. He turned to me, blinking a few times, his face a mask of confusion.
"Shinra-san, right? What are you doing here?" he asked.
I smiled slightly, tilting my head. "Ah, Nishihara-san, there's no need to act like you don't know. I saw what you did with that girl. If it weren't for you, she would have been hit by a car. That was a very noble thing to do."
"I just did what anyone would do. Wait, you were there? That... does that mean you've been following me since it happened?"
He was trying to divert the conversation.
"I-it doesn't matter. What you did isn't something anyone could do. The way you did it — the speed, the reflexes, the strength in your legs—it's far from normal."
He frowned, finally looking me in the eye. "Ha! You're not giving me much credit, Shinra-san. I'm just good at sports, that's all. That's why I was able to save my friend Yuuma in time."
I took a deep breath. "All right, then I'll be blunt."
I stepped closer. "I know you're not an ordinary human because... neither am I."
His eyes widened, and I smiled inwardly, recalling one of Sona's lessons.
Revealing a part of yourself can be crucial to gaining someone's trust and persuading them to share their secrets. An exchange like this often leaves the other person more vulnerable.
Nishihara tried to hide it, but I saw the impact of my words as the look of innocent confusion vanished from his face.
"Haha... You have an incredible imagination, Shinra-san. The supernatural world? Do you really believe in that?"
I sighed. He was stubborn, but I wasn't about to back down.
"Why don't you stop pretending, Nishihara-san?"
His eyes narrowed, and his relaxed smile faded.
"Hm... And what do you think I am, Shinra-san?"
"That's still unclear to me. But I can assure you, I'm not here to cause you trouble. On the contrary. As someone who is also part of the supernatural world, I thought it would be best for us to be honest with each other."
"I know you're not in Kuoh by choice. Your parents' death is real—it was the catalyst for your move to a new city and country. That means you're almost certainly not aligned with one of the Three Great Factions. So, here's the million-dollar question... what race are you?"
In this vast and mysterious world, supernatural creatures extended far beyond the Three Factions. Nishihara might be something entirely new to me.
"I'm not your enemy, Nishihara-san."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're persistent, Shinra-san."
"It's my duty to be, Nishihara-san."
"Perhaps you're right..." he muttered.
Finally, a breakthrough.
"I'm not really a devil, nor a Fallen Angel, nor an Angel. I am a Youkai," he said, catching me by surprise.
Given his life in America, I assumed his supernatural lineage had Western roots. But if he was a Youkai, it likely came from his Japanese mother. That was plausible.
Adjusting my glasses, I maintained a composed expression.
Although dealing with Youkai was new to me, I couldn't let it show if I wanted Nishihara's trust.
"I'm glad you trusted me with such a secret. Fortunately, you're in a place that can accept you for who you are — and help you manage your abilities. Now, would you like to speak with Sona Sitri in person? She's the President of the Student Council, and I think you should."
Nishihara shrugged as if it didn't matter. That annoyed me. A formal invitation to meet the Sitri Clan's heiress was a rare honor.
And his indulgence made me wonder if the President's decision to try to recruit him to the Student Council was really a good idea.
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