Leaving the curry shop, it was still early.

Nomura True Wave stuffed the voucher for a year of free meals into his pocket and chuckled, "It's getting late; I have something to do. Goodbye."

"I just remembered I have homework," Yoshikawa Sayuri added.

"And baseball club practice is waiting for me," Furusawa Kyoichiro chimed in.

They tactfully found excuses to leave.

Only Phoenix Academy Maggie and Aozawa remained in front of the curry shop.

"Since we're here, shall we browse the mall?" Phoenix Academy Maggie asked.

"Hmm."

Upon receiving Aozawa's response, Phoenix Academy Maggie let out a sigh of relief. What comes next is the main event!

Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes darted around, trying to start a conversation but not knowing what to say.

Strange. I've been alone with Aozawa at school before. We were able to chat so naturally then, but now, I just can't.

The moment she realized this was a date, Phoenix Academy Maggie felt an inexplicable tension. Her heart began to pound furiously. Not knowing what to talk about, she just aimlessly walked through the mall, side by side with Aozawa.

Am I being dumb? Hurry up and say something! But what should I say? Compliment Aozawa's clothes? But he's just wearing his school uniform. Thank him for accompanying me to the competition? I'd already thanked him for that.

Phoenix Academy Maggie's gaze swept past the nearby shops, recalling the conversation between Nomura True Wave and Yoshikawa Sayuri.

"Aozawa, let's go check out that store."

Aozawa turned his head to look. It was a 100 Yen shop, meaning all the items inside were priced at 100 Yen—it was inexpensive, and the stuff wasn't bad either.

"I didn't expect the young lady to know about 100 Yen shops."

"Haha, Little Sayuri told me that a 100 Yen shop is like a secret treasure trove where you can find anything."

Phoenix Academy Maggie's face lit up with a smile. As if she couldn't wait, she immediately took Aozawa's hand and headed inside.

The thumping of her heart proved that the hand-holding wasn't accidental. Everything was pre-planned. However, she needed to pretend it was unintentional to achieve her goal. If she was too direct, Phoenix Academy Maggie felt a bit shy. She couldn't manage it. Her current boldness in holding Aozawa's hand was partly because she was leading the way.

Aozawa was surprised. Maggie seemed overly excited—was it because it was her first time visiting a 100 Yen shop? Yet her hand was so soft and fair-skinned. It felt similar to Iroha's touch but stirred a slightly different emotion within him. Iroha's hand, Chitose's hand, Maggie's hand...holding each one gave him a distinctly different feeling.

With these thoughts spinning in his head, he followed Phoenix Academy Maggie through the threshold of the 100 Yen shop. The dazzling array of products inside was overwhelming: cute erasers, simple sealing devices, lunch mats printed with Doraemon, lemon sprayers, and more.

"Aozawa, you know so much," Phoenix Academy Maggie said, her expression one of amazement. She thought she was well-informed, but she didn't recognize many of the items in the 100 Yen shop. Yet, Aozawa could name the things she didn't know. She couldn't help feeling impressed by his broad knowledge.

"Unlike you, young lady, I am a commoner, so naturally I know what's inside a 100 Yen shop."

"It feels like you're insinuating that I don't understand anything," Phoenix Academy Maggie said, giving him a sidelong glance and feigning anger.

Aozawa chuckled. "Not at all. When it comes to luxury goods and clothes, my knowledge is far inferior to yours. Everyone's social circles are different. There's no need for comparison."

"I don't know those luxury goods and clothes either." Phoenix Academy Maggie belonged to a sphere where brand names were no longer a topic of conversation. Her clothes were custom-made, and her circle rarely talked about perfumes or fashion brands. They discussed financial news or the latest gossip within certain conglomerates more often. The details of fashion were for the Butler to handle; she just needed to wear something comfortable.

"Alright, I've underestimated the young lady. Do you want to buy this Goldfish Wallet? It looks pretty cute." Aozawa picked up two Goldfish Wallets hanging there, one pale pink and one bright red. "Which do you like?"

"I'll take the pale pink Goldfish Wallet."

"Then I'll take the bright red one."

"Let's also buy this cat eraser."

Suddenly, Phoenix Academy Maggie realized that if they bought two identical Goldfish Wallets and the same eraser, other students might for a moment think they were using a couple's eraser if they saw them. This thought made Phoenix Academy Maggie feel a bit shy but also somewhat excited. It didn't matter what others thought. Except for Ayatsuki Iroha. She had to make that girl understand. Her eraser was the same as Aozawa's, and so was the wallet.

"This pencil is also really cute; let's buy two of them."

After browsing around, Phoenix Academy Maggie decided to buy the pencils, erasers, and Goldfish Wallets. The other stuff wouldn't show off well in front of others. Besides, buying too much might lead Aozawa to think about settling the bill. Phoenix Academy Maggie remembered Makoto's advice: don't give overly expensive gifts the first time to avoid adding psychological burden to the other person.

"That will be six hundred Yen."

The store manager, a young woman, stood at the counter. Watching Phoenix Academy Maggie take out her money, she smiled at Aozawa beside her and said, "You've really found a thrifty girlfriend."

Phoenix Academy Maggie's hand, in the process of taking out her money, paused. Her heart raced. Do Aozawa and I look that much like a couple when walking together? A trace of joy sprouted in her heart. She wanted to smile but forced herself to keep it down, to stay calm and composed.

The air fell into a brief silence. Aozawa worried that after they left, she might ask why he didn't deny it, perhaps questioning if he had feelings for her. After some thought, he decided it was simplest to deny it.

"You've misunderstood," he said promptly. "We're not in that kind of relationship; we're just normal friends."

The store manager looked surprised. "Oh? Is that so?"

Phoenix Academy Maggie's mind cleared of all other thoughts. With a blank expression, she stated, "Yes, our relationship is nothing more than that of people who sit in front of and behind each other at school."

"Eh, haha, sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought as much; you two don't really seem like a couple."

The store manager attempted to explain, but as soon as she finished speaking, she sensed the temperature in the air drop slightly again. Strange, the air conditioning is set to twenty-one degrees. Her gaze shifted from the air conditioner to the girl in front of her.

Phoenix Academy Maggie, with a full-faced smile, handed over the banknote, saying, "Here you go."

"Sorry, do you have anything smaller?" The store manager looked at the ten thousand Yen banknote with an awkward expression. This is a 100 Yen shop. Who uses a ten thousand Yen banknote at a 100 Yen shop?

"Even though it's in a mall, you can't even make change for a ten thousand Yen banknote?" Phoenix Academy Maggie continued to smile.

This made the store manager feel an inexplicable chill. She didn't understand why she should be afraid of an underage girl. It could only be her overwhelming dedication to service, her belief that the customer is always right. Even if that customer was an underage 'god,' she still needed to serve them well. The store manager found a reason within herself and nodded. "I'll get your change right away."

Aozawa spoke up, "I have change, let me pay."

"No need. Don't underestimate the store manager. If she can't even make change for ten thousand Yen, what's the point of her running a store?" Phoenix Academy Maggie forcefully interrupted. She was deliberately giving the store manager a hard time. How dare that woman say she and Aozawa didn't look like a couple? If she's blind, she shouldn't run a store! she internally roared.

Aozawa thought about it, decided she had a point, and didn't intervene.

Leaving the 100 Yen shop, Phoenix Academy Maggie lost the desire to continue shopping.

The phrase "we're just normal friends" echoed in her mind. Aozawa had been so blunt. Even she hadn't denied it; he had denied it first. Does this mean Aozawa actually has no such feelings for me?

Phoenix Academy Maggie harbored this doubt as she glanced at him again. He was busy putting pencils and erasers into his Goldfish Wallet. By the look on his face, he was completely unbothered by what he had just said. Only she was foolishly pondering over it.

Why am I even thinking about these things? Phoenix Academy Maggie wanted to knock on her own head, and on Aozawa's blockhead too, to see if it was actually filled with wood.

"That's enough shopping for today."

"Eh, are you going home now?"

"Yeah." Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't want to shop any longer. If she had to hear "we're just normal friends" one more time, her good mood for the day would be completely ruined. Hearing it twice in one day would be an unimaginable blow; it was best to stop while she was ahead.

Aozawa smiled. "Then, I'll walk you to the station."

"No need, I'm not an elementary school student." Phoenix Academy Maggie smiled and headed for the mall's main door.

Outside, the sunshine was bright. She waved. "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Aozawa waved back.

「Setagaya District, Phoenix Academy residence.」

Phoenix Academy Maggie's chaotic thoughts quieted the moment she arrived home. She placed the Goldfish Wallet and the pencils inside her schoolbag. Her expression was serene, careful not to let anyone detect the turbulence inside her.

As she reached the living room, Phoenix Academy Maggie noticed an unfamiliar foreign man sitting on the couch. He had shoulder-length blonde hair, wore a tank top and long pants, and his exposed muscular arms were thicker than her thighs.

Phoenix Academy Maggie was taken aback. "Who is he?"

Miwa Kazuki replied, "Miss, this is Mike Johnson. From now on, he will be your personal bodyguard."

"Don't I already have bodyguards at school?" Phoenix Academy Maggie was surprised. She remembered that after the Misawa group incident, the security guards at school had been replaced by bodyguards hired by the Phoenix Academy family, and the staff in the small shops outside were also their people.

"Tokyo has become particularly dangerous lately," Miwa Kazuki explained patiently. "The madam believes it's essential to increase security, which is why we hired this underground bare-knuckle fighting champion from the United States as your bodyguard." The previous security guards were good enough to handle ordinary threats, but with Tokyo becoming a gathering place for dangerous individuals, it was necessary for the Phoenix Academy's security to move up a notch—using a monster to deal with monsters.

"Hello." Mike stood up and greeted her. His Japanese was poor, with a distinct accent as he said, "Miss, I'll be at your service."

Miwa Kazuki said, "To ensure your safety, we'll arrange for him to be an English teacher."

Phoenix Academy Maggie looked at Mike's muscular build and was speechless. This guy seems more suited to be a PE teacher. She held back her comment and headed toward the dining room.