The Absolute Speed of a Certain Comic'

"Knock, knock... BOOM!" 

When the room was almost tidy, a slow and rhythmic knocking sounded at the door, causing both Ryoji and Touka to stop what they were doing. 

Touka had been busy making his bed and unpacking toiletries, while Ryoji merely watched her bustling around. 

When she had asked him if he preferred the upper or the lower bunk, he had chosen the lower one. Now, Touka was kneeling on the floor, bent over in front of him, arranging the bedding. Her short skirt did little to hide much of anything. 

'White, slightly oversized, firm - ideal for bearing children.' 

Ryoji praised her silently in his heart. 

Both were busy with their respective tasks. 

"Coming!" 

Hearing the knock, Touka called and went to the door to open it. 

"Kanata, why are you here?" 

Ryoji turned his head towards the visitor and saw a young woman with a touch of refined British elegance. 

She was dressed in a flowing white dress that covered her entire body, paired with white lace gloves that left no skin exposed. For some reason, even though it wasn't sunny, she was holding a parasol in one hand. A wide-brimmed hat adorned her head, shading her face beneath the parasol and the brim. 

From Ryoji's angle, he could only see her cascading golden hair, shimmering like fine gold dust, and the curve of a smooth, elegant chin. 

Her appearance exuded aristocratic grace and an aura of mystery. 

"Touka, the student council duties are about to begin. Everyone noticed that you haven't arrived yet, so they sent me to check on you." 

The girl named Kanata responded in an unhurried manner. Her gaze lifted slightly from under the parasol, revealing a pair of emerald green eyes as clear as polished jade. 

Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Ryoji, who was sitting idly on the sofa. 

"Is that your junior brother? I heard that he defeated the new director at the training grounds yesterday." 

"Yep, that's him!" Touka replied with pride written all over her face. 

"Junior Brother, this is the close friend I mentioned earlier— Kanata Totokubara. What are you still doing sitting there like that? That's so rude— stand up already!" 

"Hello." 

Ryoji promptly rose and offered a polite smile toward Kanata. 

''Totokubara?'' 

The surname struck a faint chord of familiarity. It wasn't something he remembered from the manga but rather something he had heard in passing— though he couldn't quite recall where. 

''Ikemen!'' 

Kanata found herself momentarily stunned by Ryoji's smile, her grip on the parasol tightening slightly. 

Even though it was merely a courteous smile, an attractive man could make it appear uniquely warm and amiable. Conversely, if an unattractive man offered the same smile, no matter how genuine, it would instantly be deemed suspicious. 

In human interactions, attitude wasn't the decisive factor— looks were. 

"…Good day," Kanata replied, steadying herself as she quelled the ripple in her heart. 

"Are you just moving in?" 

Her gaze shifted toward the untidy beds and asked the question calmly. 

"That's right. Junior Brother got injured yesterday, so there was a bit of a delay. Sorry about this, Kanata— could you tell everyone that I'll head over as soon as I finish helping him unpack?" 

Touka clasped her hands together apologetically, her expression tinged with embarrassment. 

"You're the Student Council President; there's no need to plead with me." 

Kanata shook her head, her golden hair swaying elegantly with the motion. 

"If you're busy, it's fine to come later. I'll make sure Renren and Taka Chan stay on task. For now, I'll take my leave." 

With that, she turned and headed toward the stairs, her movements as graceful as if she were attending a formal banquet. 

Up until yesterday, this had been her room. For nearly two years, she had been Touka's roommate. But within a single day, she had been displaced— not only that, but Touka's tone just now made it seem like Ryoji had already become the master of this room. 

Even if he was an ''ikemen'', it still made her feel somewhat irritated. 

Before leaving, Kanata glanced around the room one last time. 

''Suddenly, Totokubara Kanata's delicate brows furrowed slightly under the shade of her parasol.'' 

She glanced at Toudou Touka and then at Ryoji, who was idly sitting by. She seemed about to say something but swallowed her words at the last moment. 

'"I'm just an outsider; it's not my place to say anything."' 

With that thought, she left the seventh dormitory. 

---

Inside the dormitory, Ryoji flopped back onto the sofa, lying down out of boredom. 

"Senior Sister, do you have any water? I'm a bit thirsty." 

"Wait a moment." 

Touka walked into the kitchen, filled a glass with water, and, with a sudden surge of sparks from her slender fingers, boiled the water instantly. She placed the steaming glass on the table in front of the sofa. 

Touka's ability was ''Nature Interference'', specifically ''Lightning Manipulation''. It was immensely powerful. Combined with her exceptional swordsmanship, it allowed her to suppress any challengers and firmly hold the title of the academy's strongest. 

"Was it really necessary to boil it?" 

Ryoji stared at the scalding glass of water, his expression speechless. 

"Oops, I forgot," Touka replied, blinking innocently as a slightly embarrassed smile spread across her face. 

"Oh, right! I think there are some ice cubes in the fridge…" 

She rushed to the refrigerator, rummaged around, and plopped two ice cubes into the glass. 

Boiling water with ice cubes added— it felt a little odd. 

"Phew…" 

As the ice slowly brought the temperature down, Ryoji blew on the water a few times before finally managing to pick up the glass. 

"By the way, Senior Sister, who exactly is Totokubara Kanata?" 

Remembering the sense of familiarity about the Totokubara name, Ryoji decided to ask. 

"She's my former roommate... White bedsheets or sky-blue ones— which do you prefer?" 

Touka asked while making the bed, not even glancing back. 

"White, I guess. Wait, no, I mean, what's her background?" 

"Oh, you mean that. Kanata is the heiress of the Totokubara conglomerate." 

"???" 

Ryoji's head was instantly filled with question marks. He nearly spat out the water he had just sipped. 

"A 'super rich lady'!?" 

The ''Totokubara conglomerate'' was one of Japan's most prominent business empires, second only to the Kazamatsuri conglomerate, which led the nation's economy. The Totokubara group's industries spanned real estate, dining, healthcare, and more. Their charitable contributions had earned admiration and respect across the entire country. 

In the world of 'Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan Kanata', the Kazamatsuri conglomerate reigned supreme as Japan's largest financial power, followed closely by the Totokubara conglomerate. Both were global financial titans, controlling much of the nation's economic lifeblood. 

And Totokubara Kanata was the heiress to the Totokubara fortune— the daughter of its current head. 

"Junior Brother, you should know I grew up in an orphanage called 'Wakaba House'. That orphanage is actually one of the Totokubara group's facilities, so Kanata and I have known each other since childhood. We often played together back then, and even as we grew up, we stayed close." 

Indeed, Senior Sister Toudou Touka was also an orphan. 

However, unlike Ryoji, who was an orphan from birth, Touka had lost her parents to illness, becoming an orphan later in life. This was why she cared so much about the health and well-being of those around her, always taking it upon herself to look after others. 

So, Senior Sister and Totokubara Kanata were childhood friends. 

In that instant, Ryoji began contemplating the possibility of convincing the rich Kanata to sponsor him. 

As the saying goes: "Women might dull my blade, but a wealthy lady can give me a better sword!" 

'(End of Chapter)' 

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