Editing Kikou Shoujo wa Kizutsukanai:Volume 8 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 2===

That night, Komurasaki jumped lightly over the Academy's outer wall and sneaked into the school grounds.

Then jumping from branch to branch, she looked this way and that to check out her surroundings.

She soon discovered Raishin. He had apparently just finished his bath and was meditating with a cool expression on his face.

This was a type of training involving breathing techniques and focusing the mind. Raishin was evidently trying to improve his foundation of magic energy.

In order not to disturb Raishin, Komurasaki concealed her presence--

"What's up, Komurasaki?"

However, Raishin discovered her from the start and directed a question to her behind him without looking back.

Consequently, Komurasaki had no choice but to give up hiding, jumping down from the tree. Upon seeing Komurasaki, Raishin could not suppress a worried look:

"You've been looking quite down lately. Did something happen with Loki in the underground cavern last time?"

What sharp instincts. Despite feeling hesitant, Komurasaki also felt an impulse to come clean, so she spoke up:

"Listen to me, Raishin...... Never mind, nothing nothing!"

"From what I heard, that guy Loki defeated the doll known as the Phoenix, right?"

Raishin hitting the heart of the matter without warning caused Komurasaki to jump totally.

"I did hear that it's a legendary monster, an automaton that can't be dealt with using flames. Since Loki managed to defeat that kind of monster using Cherubim, he must have used a really amazing move, right?"

Indeed, this was what Komurasaki wanted to talk about. But...

"Since you're having trouble bringing it up, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it."

"...But if I tell you, Raishin, you could very well end up beating him effortlessly, right?"

"I want a fair fight against that guy. A duel with even odds between us, then I will defeat him."

Raishin's eyes looked as though he could read another person's mind while he spoke in a gentle tone of voice:

"That's what's been worrying you, right?"

Should she tell Raishin? Was it the proper thing to do? If Loki really were the "enemy", Komurasaki would not have felt so troubled. Nevertheless, Loki and Raishin had the kind of relationship where they could entrust their lives to each other. In the earlier battle, Komurasaki had also fought vigorously alongside Loki. Was favoring Raishin okay? This was the dilemma that Komurasaki was facing.

Chuckling once, Komurasaki said:

"Raishin, you've become so kind and sensitive~ Or perhaps, it's because you've fallen in love with me, Raishin?"

"Haha, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"...Jeez~ Act a little shocked, okay, that's no fun at all! Oh dear, but this can't be helped! After all, there are so many cute girls around you, Raishin~~"

"W-What nonsense are you talking about!?"

"Aha! Now there you go, that's shock!"

Komurasaki smiled mischievously and glanced at Raishin:

"If you go around skirt chasing, you could end up with nothing, you know?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Or perhaps, Raishin, you'll claim everyone as yours?"

"Stop joking around! I'm surrounded by dangerous beasts here!"

Raishin hastily covered Komurasaki's mouth and glanced all around him in trepidation.

Just at this instant, a gust of strong and chilling wind blew.

"Raishin... May I ask why are you assaulting Komurasaki?"

"Indeed! Hugging such a young girl... You pervert!"

Just as predicted perhaps, Yaya and Charl happened to come running over.

Komurasaki smiled naively towards Charl and said in a innocent voice:

"I'm not young, you know? I'm actually older than you, miss."

"W-Where are you looking at!?"

"P-Please don't admit defeat, Miss Charlotte! That was merely a jab from Komurasaki!"

Merely a jab? No, it was essentially a violent body blow. Charl almost fainted on the spot.

The mood of reprimanding Raishin was over. Hence, Raishin released his nervousness and asked the two girls:

"By the way, why did you two come?"

"Ah... Miss Charlotte said that she had something to discuss with you, Raishin."

Raishin seemed to realize instantly what it was and averted his gaze in embarrassment, muttering softly:

"Hinowa... How is she?"

Charl made an even more pained look than from suffering Komurasaki's "jab":

"I don't know. Those two 'bodyguard' boys seemd to have said something to her... But no matter how much I knock, there's no response... It must be my fault, right? It's all because I brought her to see you..."

"Charl, you're worrying too much."

Sigmund comforted Charl, unable to suppress himself any longer.

"Even if you ended up hurting her due to your excessive enthusiasm, once she knows that you are ostracized in the Academy and desperately desires friendship, surely she'll show pity and forgive you."

"Thank you... But your consoling words are simply adding insult to injury!"

Charl was so depressed that she bent over and spoke in a feeble voice:

"It's not easy for me to have made friends with her... If she hates me, what should I do...?"

"Don't worry. Just as you can see, Hinowa is a girl who's inexperienced in worldly ways and frequently fails to read the surrounding situation. But she's definitely not one to respond to kindness with malice. I think she's probably calming down and starting to feel bad about wasting your kind intentions. So, you should return to the dorm..."

Raishin tried to make a gentle smile towards Charl but his face instantly went stiff.

This was because Charl's eyes were free of tears already, instead replaced by an icy cold gaze.

"...Why do you understand her so well?"

"Eh? Uh, that's, because..."

"You mentioned at the training field earlier that she's just a 'fiancee in name, decided by the elders on their own', isn't that right? But why do you understand so much about her?"

"...Sorry, I was speaking out of my ass just now, just guessing randomly."
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"Liar."

Yaya interrupted, her eyes completely plunged into darkness as well.

"Just now, Raishin's eyes were very gentle."

"Try me with your detailed explanation, okay?"

"Isn't it faster to simply ask Raishin's body?"

"Stop it! What are you two colluding for!? Komurasaki, hurry and save me!"

"Ahaha! See you later, Raishin!"

Komurasaki jumped lightly, flying to a branch, then giggling, she gave Raishin a meaningful glance that said:

"See~? If you go around skirt chasing, you'll end up in this kind of predicament!"