As usual, when night fell, Inaba Tsukiyo summoned Tachibana Koneko.
When Tachibana Koneko appeared with a cold expression, she immediately noticed something unusual.
Normally, she was summoned in the living room, but this time was a little different. When she appeared, besides Inaba Tsukiyo, there was also a table with steaming dishes.
Not only the dishes, but even Inaba Tsukiyo's situation was strange.
It was true that she had been sulking with Inaba Tsukiyo recently, but Inaba Tsukiyo hadn't shown any dissatisfaction. Each time, she would find ways to appease her.
In truth, she wasn't angry anymore. The reason she was defeated was partly because she underestimated Inaba Tsukiyo and partly because her skills weren't refined enough. She shouldn't have blamed Inaba Tsukiyo.
However, she just didn't want to forgive Inaba Tsukiyo so easily, so during this time, she deliberately maintained a cold demeanor when meeting Inaba Tsukiyo.
"You're here, Koneko? This commission is very simple: just have dinner with me."
Inaba Tsukiyo smiled, extending her hand to invite Tachibana Koneko to sit on the other side of the table, where a bowl and chopsticks were already set, awaiting Tachibana Koneko's arrival.
Although Tachibana Koneko didn't understand what Inaba Tsukiyo was trying to do, she hadn't had dinner yet, and the delicious dishes in front of her made her mouth water.
As for whether she worried about the food being drugged? She truly didn't worry about that; she trusted Inaba Tsukiyo.
Moreover, if anything bad happened to her, the people at Kuoh Academy would know and rush over as quickly as possible.
Tachibana Koneko took a bite of the food, and the delicious taste made her eyes light up as she quickly devoured the dishes on the table.
Inaba Tsukiyo didn't touch her chopsticks. She cupped her cheeks with both hands, smiling as she watched Tachibana Koneko.
Although her eyes weren't open, Tachibana Koneko felt truly watched by Inaba Tsukiyo, and this feeling made Tachibana Koneko's pretty face blush.
But she didn't stop eating. She grabbed a large chicken leg with one hand, eating the dishes in front of her with somewhat exaggerated movements.
When Tachibana Koneko had eaten almost half of the food, Inaba Tsukiyo felt it was time and spoke.
"Hey, Koneko. These dishes, I made them. Thank you for eating with me; I'm very happy."
"..."
Tachibana Koneko raised an eyebrow, suppressing the urge to complain internally, chewing her food, and looked at Inaba Tsukiyo with a bewildered expression, waiting for her to continue.
"The payment for accompanying me to dinner this time is the Star Ring Vortex. You no longer need to serve me for that gauntlet. Because... this is the last time I will summon you."
"!!!!"
Her eyes wide, Tachibana Koneko stopped her movements, looking at Inaba Tsukiyo with disbelief.
What did she just hear? This was Inaba Tsukiyo's last time summoning her? What exactly happened? Why did things turn out this way?
"Why? Am I not satisfying you, Tsukuyo?"
Tachibana Koneko asked anxiously. It wasn't that she didn't want to lose Inaba Tsukiyo as an easy-going client, but simply that she didn't want to lose Inaba Tsukiyo as a friend.
"No... I'm very happy. Koneko, you were the first friend I made when I came to Kuoh Town. I've truly enjoyed our time together."
"Then why?"
"Because... because Koneko, you don't like being with me, do you? Ever since our last sparring match, Koneko has started to distance herself from me."
Inaba Tsukiyo said with some sadness, her mood even becoming a little downcast.
"Originally, Koneko, you would always stay with me for a while before leaving, even if it was just playing games or eating snacks I bought. Koneko would always stay for some time, but recently, Koneko, you always leave after finishing your tasks."
"So... Koneko, you must not want to be with me."
Tachibana Koneko thought Inaba Tsukiyo was dissatisfied because she had been distant recently and was about to explain, but Inaba Tsukiyo spoke again.
"I know. I'm just an ordinary human, even if I have combat abilities, I'm still just a human. Koneko, you're a devil, of course you wouldn't think highly of me, an ordinary human. I... am just Koneko's client, aren't I?"
At this, Inaba Tsukiyo opened her eyes, and crystal tears flowed from her wine-red pupils.
Although she was crying, she still maintained a smile on her face. This scene of both smiling and crying didn't seem comical; instead, it made people feel sorry for Inaba Tsukiyo.
"So... this dinner is our farewell dinner. After eating, Koneko, you can go. I... will also destroy the flyer that can summon you. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about Koneko. I also won't tell anyone about devils. I... will leave this town. I won't meet Koneko again."
Saying this, Inaba Tsukiyo took out a train ticket from her person. It was a ticket to another city, showing Inaba Tsukiyo's determination in this way.
Seeing this train ticket, Tachibana Koneko finally realized that Inaba Tsukiyo wasn't joking; she was truly going to leave this town, truly leave here.
How could this be? Tachibana Koneko would never let such a thing happen.
After such a long and difficult time, she finally managed to make friends other than her club president and the others. She absolutely wouldn't let this friend leave because of her own little tantrum.
Ignoring the grease on her hands, Tachibana Koneko ran out and hugged Inaba Tsukiyo, even tightly clamping her legs around Inaba Tsukiyo's body.
"Koneko?"
"No, I won't let you go. Tsukiyo-chan. You can't leave, I don't want you to leave."
"But... Koneko, you dislike me."
"No, I don't dislike you at all. It's just... it's just... it's just..."
She couldn't possibly tell Inaba Tsukiyo here that she had been ignoring her all this time because she was throwing a tantrum.
That would be so embarrassing for her, wouldn't it? But she also couldn't let Inaba Tsukiyo misunderstand, so for a moment, she didn't know what to do.
"Anyway, I don't dislike Tsukuyo. It's just... something happened recently. Yes, that's it. Something came up on my end, and my tasks have been too busy. That's why I haven't been able to stay with Tsukuyo like before."
"Is... is that so? Was it all just my misunderstanding?"
Inaba Tsukiyo tilted her head, seemingly wondering if she had overthought things earlier.
Tachibana Koneko nodded, indicating that Inaba Tsukiyo had indeed overthought everything and that she had no intention of disliking Inaba Tsukiyo.
After this small interlude, the originally heavy atmosphere lightened, and Inaba Tsukiyo finally picked up her chopsticks to enjoy the meal with Koneko.
During this time, Tachibana Koneko asked if tonight's dinner was really made by Inaba Tsukiyo, and Inaba Tsukiyo nodded, admitting it.
Then Tachibana Koneko complained about how Inaba Tsukiyo, who couldn't see, could cook, saying it wasn't scientific at all.
In response to this question, Inaba Tsukiyo explained using her senses of touch and smell.
Touch was for judging the information of the ingredients, and smell was for judging the seasonings and the state of the dish, which was why she could make such delicious food.
Tachibana Koneko didn't know much about this kind of thing, so she just nodded, assuming things were as Inaba Tsukiyo said.
Just as Tachibana Koneko was about to leave, Inaba Tsukiyo held her back.
"Koneko... Actually, after our last spar, there's something I've been wanting to ask you. But you haven't stayed recently, so I haven't brought it up."
Facing Tachibana Koneko's gaze, Inaba Tsukiyo paused for a moment, then continued.
"Are you... interested in learning human techniques from me? Like the martial arts and movement abilities I've mastered?"
"Techniques? Martial arts? Is that why Tsukuyo could move so quickly during our spar?"
Recalling Inaba Tsukiyo's fast movement ability from before, Tachibana Koneko asked.
"Yes, I know some devils can fly and can easily jump over a hundred meters high, but you can absorb the essence that humans have created over thousands of years."
Inaba Tsukiyo pointed at Tachibana Koneko's fist, remembering her monstrous strength, and said seriously.
"Koneko, you have great strength. But your fighting style is too monotonous. Pure strength is fine for those with weaker physiques, but the prerequisite is that you can hit them. However, if you encounter an enemy like me, who can move quickly and dodge every one of your punches, you will become very passive. This is also your weakness, and what you need to do is improve this point."
"How about it? Koneko, are you interested in learning these techniques from me? Of course, it's not free. You'll need to help me, and then I'll train you. What do you say?"
"Don't look at me like this, I'm a very good master, you know. If your previous attacks were just simple cannonballs, then I will make you a sharp armor-piercing shell. I'll make every one of your punches cause immense damage."
At this point, Inaba Tsukiyo's aura became sharp, just like the aura she displayed during their last spar.
"...Tsukuyo, was your purpose in sparring with me last time to find out my fighting flaws and help me find a suitable training method?"
"Yes. After all, Koneko, you are a devil. Even if you don't have much combat now, the future is uncertain. As a friend, I want to help you improve your combat power."
Tachibana Koneko hesitated for a moment, recalling the situation of their last spar and her own shortcomings, then nodded.
"Contract established."
After Tachibana Koneko left, Inaba Tsukiyo sat alone on the sofa.
The outcome this time was very clear; just as she had planned, Tachibana Koneko finally forgave her, ending their previous cold war.
"You really... don't even blush when you lie."
"That's all because you taught me. I just followed the instructions you gave me, so it's not my fault."
Pushing all the blame onto Herrscher Tsukiyo, Inaba Tsukiyo suddenly noticed something, opened her Imaginary Space, and looked at an item inside.
"Are you finally waking up? Honestly, you've made me wait for so long, you really are a naughty child."
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