The School Trip bus drove along the highway, the cabin filled with the excited chatter of students. Kanjuro sat by the window; Miura Yumiko leaned against him on his left, and the quiet, gentle Ebina Hina was on his right. Yui Yuigahama sat in the row ahead of them, occasionally turning back to look, her eyes filled with satisfaction, but also a subtle, almost imperceptible jealousy toward Yumiko and Ebina for monopolizing Kanjuro's attention.
Amidst this seemingly harmonious atmosphere, Kanjuro keenly sensed a gaze filled with obvious hostility and malice, like thorns pricking his back. Without changing his expression, he glanced up, and through the reflection of the window and the gaps in the crowd, he saw Hube Sho, sitting in the back of the bus, secretly glaring over. That look was a mix of jealousy, rage, and helpless frustration.
Kanjuro's lips curved into an almost imperceptible arc. He turned his head and quietly asked Yumiko beside him, his voice low, but loud enough for the surrounding people to hear: "Yumiko, does that Hube Sho... like you?"
Yumiko curled her lip in disgust upon hearing this, tightening her grip on Kanjuro's arm. "How could that be? Hubby Kanjuro, I've barely said a few words to him; we're not close at all." She thought for a moment and added, "But I remember... that guy Hube seemed to have a secret crush on Ebina."
Ebina Hina pushed up her glasses, her face expressionless as she confirmed in a flat tone, "Yes. He sent me a love letter before, but I didn't respond." To her, having become Kanjuro's "property" and completely surrendered in body and soul, Hube Sho's secret crush was as insignificant as dust.
Kanjuro showed a look of sudden realization, yet his eyes held a playful glint that saw through everything. He looked tenderly at Ebina and asked considerately, "Do you need me to help you reject him once and for all? So he won't bother you again."
Ebina didn't hesitate for a second, responding submissively, "I will follow all of Lord Kanjuro's arrangements."
However, Kanjuro shook his head. He reached out, gently stroking Yumiko's hair, and cast a reassuring glance at Ebina. Finally, his gaze lingered for a moment on Yui Yuigahama, who was listening intently in the front row.
"No, don't be in such a hurry to reject him." His voice lowered, carrying a seductive magnetism that led one toward corruption, a wicked yet charming smile playing on his lips. "Tonight... I'll take you all to see a good show."
His words were like a demon's whisper, filled with an ominous foreboding and a certain twisted expectation. Although Yumiko and Ebina didn't quite understand, they both nodded obediently out of unconditional trust and obedience to Kanjuro. Their eyes even showed a hint of excitement because of Kanjuro's "Special arrangements" (special arrangement).
In the front row, Yui Yuigahama's heart skipped a beat for some reason when she heard the words "good show." She felt a faint sense of unease, but looking at Kanjuro's gentle profile, she suppressed it. (Dad must have his reasons for doing this...)
Not far away, Yukinoshita Yukino, who appeared to be reading with her head down, heard their conversation clearly, as it wasn't exactly quiet. Hearing Kanjuro's words, which were clearly full of calculation, her fingers tightened on the pages of her book, and her brow furrowed deeper.
(Toying with people's hearts again...)
She sneered inwardly, feeling an increasing disgust for Kanjuro's behavior of treating others' emotions as playthings. At the same time, she felt an ominous premonition about what was to happen. She made up her mind to stay far away from Kanjuro and his "good show" tonight, no matter what.
Kanjuro took in everyone's reactions, especially Yukinoshita Yukino's restrained disgust and Yui Yuigahama's subtle unease, both of which gave him a sense of pleasure from having everything under control. Hube Sho's secret crush? It was merely a seasoning for his boring journey. He was curious to see what kind of interesting expressions these onlookers would make when that pure teenage sentiment was crushed by his own hands and twisted into a public humiliation.
The night seemed to grow deeper and more dangerous because of Kanjuro's words. The night of the school trip was ignited by a grand bonfire party. The massive flames crackled, their leaping light reflecting on young, excited faces. The air was thick with the scent of burning wood and the restless hormones of youth.
At the center of the venue, Kanjuro was undoubtedly the most dazzling presence. He first danced a light step with Yui Yuigahama. Yui's face beamed with the pure happiness of a daughter being pampered by her father. She carefully held Kanjuro's hand, her steps a bit clumsy but full of joy, her eyes filled with complete trust and satisfaction.
Next, Kanjuro danced with Miura Yumiko and Ebina Hina respectively. While dancing with Yumiko, she was practically pressed against him, her eyes hazy and her movements intimate and bold, unreservedly declaring her sovereignty and obsession with Kanjuro. When he danced with Ebina, though she was slightly more reserved, her blushing face as she pushed up her glasses and her submissive, focused gaze that never left him also spoke of her surrender and attachment.
Three beauties surrounding him, each with a different posture, yet all their hearts were tied to one person. This scene, set against the backdrop of the leaping bonfire, was as beautiful as a painting, yet it was also incredibly eyesore to certain onlookers.
"It's... disgusting!" Hube Sho hid in the shadows of the crowd, his fists clenched tight, his nails nearly digging into his palms. He stared fixedly at Ebina Hina, who was smiling as she looked into Kanjuro's eyes, feeling as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. "Why... why can someone do whatever they want just because they're handsome! Ebina is so cute, so special... why would she fall for a guy like Kanjuro!"
A hand pressed gently onto his shoulder. Hayama Hayato had arrived by his side at some point, his face wearing its usual gentleness, but his eyes were filled with a rare gravity and warning.
"Hube, take my advice," Hayama Hayato's voice was very low, carrying an unquestionable seriousness, "don't provoke Kanjuro. Stay away from him, and... stay away from Ebina. This isn't a game you can participate in."
He knew better than anyone the terrifying nature hidden beneath Kanjuro's gentle surface, as well as the potentially complex and deep-rooted power behind him that surpassed common understanding. That was definitely not an existence an ordinary high school student could contend with.
Hube Sho violently shook off Hayama Hayato's hand, his chest heaving. He gritted his teeth and didn't argue, but his bloodshot eyes still stubbornly and painfully followed Ebina's figure. Seeing Ebina reveal a shy and joyful smile just because of a look from Kanjuro, he felt his world collapsing.
Not far away, Yukinoshita Yukino leaned alone against a large tree. Her cool gaze seemed to be admiring the dancing crowd, but her focus always lingered, however faintly, on Kanjuro. Seeing the seemingly "deep father-daughter bond" interaction between Kanjuro and Yui Yuigahama, she curled her lip, showing clear disdain.
(Such hypocritical warmth.)
She commented coldly in her heart. However, when her gaze inadvertently caught Kanjuro's handsome, almost demonic profile under the leaping firelight, and saw his graceful yet powerful figure as he danced composedly, her heart uncontrollably skipped a beat.
A surge of irritation rose in her heart.
(Uncle Kanjuro...)
(Why... why do you have to be so much older than me?)
(If you were really just an ordinary high school student... with your looks, your temperament... maybe, upon meeting you, I would be like those foolish girls, irretrievably attracted to you, and even...)
As soon as this thought arose, she forcibly cut it off, and a sense of self-loathing followed.
(Yukinoshita Yukino, what kind of nonsense are you thinking!)
She pinched her palm hard, trying to use the pain to clear her head.
(Even if he were young, so what? A man who treats feelings so casually, who maneuvers among so many women, and even... even involves his own daughter in such a messy way, is simply the epitome of a scumbag! How could I... how could I possibly have any feelings for such a person beyond disgust!)
Reason was in a fierce struggle with a mysterious, instinctive attraction. She forced herself to look away and watch the leaping flames, but Kanjuro's figure and that annoying smile were like brands burned into her mind, impossible to erase.
The bonfire continued to burn, and laughter filled the surroundings, but at the boundary between light and shadow, jealousy, warnings, struggle, and calculation were silently fermenting. Meanwhile, Kanjuro, at the eye of the storm, seemed completely unaware of these undercurrents, still wearing that all-controlling, gentle yet profound smile, enjoying the night surrounded by beautiful girls and the prelude to the "good show" about to be staged. The corner of his eye swept over the despondent Hube Sho and the complex expression of Yukinoshita Yukino, and the pleasure in his heart burned brighter, just like the bonfire before him.
Leaving the noisy bonfire venue, the four of them walked along the forest path toward the lodging area. Yui Yuigahama was still immersed in joy, holding Kanjuro's arm and speaking in a light voice: "Dancing with Dad Kanjuro today was so much fun! It felt like a dream!"
Miura Yumiko listened from the side, her lips twitching, but in the end, she swallowed the word "Dad" that had risen to her lips. She remembered Kanjuro's warning—she must never let Yuigahama know about the deeper relationship between them. This frustration of only being able to watch and not being able to speak out caused a hint of indescribable irritation to mix into her gaze toward Yuigahama.
Ebina Hina, as quiet as ever, pushed up her glasses, but her gaze keenly flicked toward the shadows of the forest behind them. There, a clumsy figure was using the trees as cover, following them step by step. She knew who it was and what was about to happen, but her heart remained unperturbed, even carrying a trace of curiosity about Kanjuro's next arrangement.
Kanjuro felt that gaze from behind, which felt almost substantial, and the curve of his lips deepened. He deliberately slowed his pace, as if admiring the moonlight in the forest, but in reality, he was creating an opportunity for the tracker.
Sure enough, in a relatively open clearing in the forest, the tracking figure could no longer hold back and suddenly rushed out from behind a tree, spreading his arms and blocking the four of them!
"W-Wait a minute!" Hube Sho was out of breath, his face flushed red from tension and excitement. His gaze was locked onto Ebina Hina, and summoning the greatest courage of his life, he shouted loudly: "Ebina! I... I have something I want to say to you alone!"
Ebina Hina stopped in her tracks and calmly pushed up her glasses. She didn't look at Hube Sho, but instead turned an inquiring gaze toward Kanjuro, as if waiting for her master's command.
Kanjuro smiled playfully and stood there at his leisure, assuming the posture of one watching a good show.
Looking at Hube Sho's nervous and pitiful appearance, Yui Yuigahama's maternal instinct flared up, and a look of sympathy appeared on her face.
Miura Yumiko, on the other hand, let out an unreserved sneer. Crossing her arms, she spoke in her characteristic, condescending tone: "Honestly... how can you not understand that if someone doesn't like you, they just don't like you? Why insist on making a fool of yourself?"
"W-What?" Hube Sho was stunned, the color instantly draining from his face as Yumiko's words hit him like a bucket of cold water. He looked around—Yuigahama's sympathy, Yumiko's mockery, Kanjuro's playfulness, and even Ebina's overly calm eyes... it was as if everyone had already seen through his heart, and he was the only one left like a fool, strenuously performing an ugly drama of unrequited love on stage.
This feeling of being completely seen through, like a clown, made him feel incredibly embarrassed.
However, the arrow was on the string and had to be fired. He took a deep breath, ignored the others, and looked at Ebina again, his voice trembling with a desperate resolve: "Ebina! I... I like you! I've liked you for a long time! Please... please go out with me!"
Ebina Hina finally turned her gaze toward him properly. Her eyes were calm and waveless, as if looking at an insignificant stranger. Without the slightest hesitation, under Hube Sho's expectant and desperate gaze, she took a step forward, reached out both hands, and tightly hugged the arm of Kanjuro beside her, leaning her body intimately against him.
Then, she raised her head and spoke clearly, calmly, and even with a hint of declaration to the dumbfounded Hube Sho:
"I'm sorry, Hube-kun."
"The person I like is Kanjuro."
"Always has been."
These words were like a final judgment, completely shattering all of Hube Sho's hopes. He stood there blankly, watching Ebina nestle close to Kanjuro, watching the smile on Kanjuro's face that seemed both pitying and mocking, and seeing the various gazes of the people around him... the world seemed to spin and collapse before his eyes.
He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. Only a massive, suffocating pain and shame remained, completely overwhelming him. Under the moonlight, his figure appeared exceptionally small and desolate.
Kanjuro admired Hube Sho's despondent appearance, as if watching a brilliant play come to an end. He gently patted the back of Ebina's hand in approval, then said softly to Yuigahama and Yumiko, "Let's go."
Hube Sho's face was contorted with rage, looking as if he might explode at any moment. Kanjuro's eyes locked onto Hube Sho, and as the Eye of Truth activated, Hube Sho's eyes turned a blood-red.
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