Although both sides were quite curious about their friends' situations, neither of them would choose to act like a third wheel and disturb the other at a time like this.
Just as Raize and Shirogane were about to come up with an excuse to leave, three girls with different styles and builds walked over.
One was a black-haired, red-eyed girl with the air of a refined young lady. Beside her was an orange-haired girl dressed in a butler's outfit, cross-dressing as a man.
The black-haired, red-eyed girl was also holding the hand of a petite girl with snow-white hair and crimson eyes.
"Yo, Sayuki—so it really is you. It's been a long time."
"… Subaru? And Kanade too?"
Hearing her name called by a familiar female voice other than her boyfriend's, Kuroyukihime turned in surprise toward Suzutsuki Kanade and Konoe Subaru, who were approaching with smiles, as well as the petite girl Shiro whom Kanade was holding by the hand.
This reclusive genius girl, who had once gone through hardship together with the Suzutsuki family's young lady, had afterward been personally taken in by Kanade. Under the Suzutsuki family name, Shiro had been adopted and treated as Kanade's beloved little sister.
"It's been a while, Sayuki."
On Konoe's usually serious face, a long-unseen smile appeared when she saw Kuroyukihime.
It was clear that this master-and-servant pair was very familiar with, and close to, Kuroyukihime.
This was because Kuroyukihime—who had once been a young lady herself—had formed a fairly deep bond with the Suzutsuki family's young lady during childhood. Their relationship lay somewhere above ordinary friends but below best friends.
Upon seeing her friend, Kanade also showed a sincere smile she hadn't worn in a long time. However, when she noticed her friend holding hands with a man, the girl raised an eyebrow slightly and cast an amused look at the rather sharp-eyed blond man beside Kuroyukihime.
"Sayuki, is this your boyfriend?"
Hearing this, Kuroyukihime's face instantly flushed red, unable to hold it back anymore. Being seen like this by her friends made her very shy.
"I'm Sayuki's boyfriend. My name is Shirogane Miyuki. May I ask who you are?"
Shirogane showed no trace of stage fright. Facing his girlfriend's friends, he admitted it openly and politely.
"Suzutsuki Kanade. This is my butler, Konoe Subaru, and this is my adorable little sister, Shiro."
With an amused smile, Kanade looked at the unflustered Shirogane, nodded slightly in her heart, and replied with a smile:
"Please take care of us, Shirogane-kun~"
It was impossible for her not to be interested in the man who had won over her friend. Seeing that Shirogane carried himself well, her evaluation of him rose a notch.
"Then I'll go take a look around elsewhere. See you later, Miyuki—enjoy your date."
Seeing acquaintances meeting acquaintances and realizing there was nothing for him to do here, Raize seized the chance to greet them briefly before pulling Eu along and leaving.
Before leaving, Raize subtly cast a glance—cold, indifferent, and faintly curious—from the corner of his eye toward two directions within the exhibition hall, hidden from Eu's line of sight.
Only then did Kanade and the others notice Raize and Eu. However, the two had already merged into the crowd and vanished from sight.
From beginning to end, the one who had been closely observing Raize was Shiro, the girl Kanade was holding by the hand. A calculating gleam flickered in her eyes as she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward him.
Her genius mind accelerated, rapidly cross-referencing memories with Raize's appearance and voice.
Before being adopted by Kanade, Shiro hadn't seen many people. Yet now, seeing Raize, she felt an unexplainable sense of familiarity. For a genius girl like her, this was somewhat intriguing.
Watching Raize's departing back, Shirogane scratched the back of his head. Kanade then withdrew her gaze and looked toward Kuroyukihime.
"That wild-looking gentleman just now—do you know him?"
Judging by how they were talking earlier, he seemed to be an acquaintance or friend. And he was holding hands with a silver-haired girl so striking that even Kanade herself couldn't help but look twice—it was hard not to notice them.
"He's a classmate… and also Miyuki's good friend."
Still a little reserved in front of her friends, Kuroyukihime felt shy even calling Shirogane by name affectionately. Pretending to be calm, she explained:
"We just happened to run into them and chatted for a bit."
"Is that so? Shirogane-kun, your friend is quite extraordinary."
Konoe frowned slightly as she gazed in the direction where Raize had already disappeared. When she had approached earlier, she couldn't help but take a few extra looks at that man.
The powerful body she had trained to protect her mistress, along with her keen combat instincts, told her one thing: that man was extremely dangerous.
Just by looking at his strong, forceful physique, it was obvious. Other girls might blush at the sight, but Konos felt no such embarrassment.
Instead, her guard rose instinctively, and her body tensed.
"Raize, huh… he really is pretty extraordinary."
Thinking Kanade was referring to Raize's appearance, Shirogane recalled his friend's earlier outfit and nodded in agreement.
Aside from personality issues, his friend truly had nothing lacking. "Extraordinary" fit him well.
---
"Mmgh!"
At a makeshift booth inside the CM exhibition hall, a female vampire ninja with an excited yet ferocious look in her eyes was being covered at the mouth by Seraphim, who was biting her lip as she restrained the impulsive kouhai tightly from behind.
Nearby, an acquaintance—Sarasvati—stood stiffly with a pale expression. Watching Raize leave with that lady, she was directly noticed by Raize's sharp, icy gaze, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.
Behind her were several other female vampire ninjas, their faces filled with hatred and fear. They too had noticed Raize's gaze upon them.
These few remaining vampire ninjas had lost their logistical support. Though they still possessed some industries in the human world to sustain their activities, they needed funds to survive.
Just moments ago, seeing "that lady" had made them extremely excited. But the instant they saw Raize beside Eu, all that excitement died out.
The vampire ninja village had been annihilated by Raize. They were the last survivors.
There was no longer any distinction between reformists or conservatives. They had nothing left to do—and likewise, no remaining purpose for survival.
Vampire ninjas valued clan rules deeply. Now that the entire village had been wiped out by Raize, no one remained to command them.
Like wandering ghosts, they were utterly lost about the future.
Though hatred remained, seeking revenge against Raize was impossible—they couldn't beat him. They had clearly recognized the gap between themselves and him.
Even the elders stronger than them were all dead. If they went after him, it would only be suicide.
Seraphim watched Eu disappear from sight, her eyes complex and desolate. In her mind lingered Raize's cold, murderous expression—and Eu's hand, gently held in his.
Freed from Seraphim's restraint, the younger vampire ninja in front of her looked agitated and slightly twisted as she spoke to Seraphim behind her:
"Senpai, that was Lady Hellscythe! The creator of our clan! Why didn't we go acknowledge Lady Hellscythe!?"
Having lost her support and village, and now seeing the legendary Eu, this youngest vampire ninja desperately wanted to rely on her.
If they could borrow that lady's power, the vampire ninjas might still have hope of revival. Then her parents could…
Smack!