Chapter 61 Views of the Portal_1

Words : 1295 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Views of the Portal_1The sun shone on the grass outside the building. The corridor was deserted, and no other students could be seen. Aozawa paused, turned his head, and his gaze fell on the tanned palm holding the thermos. Her hand was a bit small, making the pink thermos look particularly bulky. "My big sister was idling at home when she suddenly decided she wanted to eat healthily. So, she made vegetable juice for me and even made an extra bottle. She told me to bring it to school for a friend to drink. I saw you were sweating profusely and figured you could use some vegetable juice to quench your thirst. Don’t worry, I haven’t drunk from this thermos, so you don’t need to mind." Ayatsuki Ayaka tried her best to control her tone, determined not to let her cheeks blush. Her large eyes stared at Aozawa. Saeko had said that eyes are the windows to the soul. If someone’s eyes dart around, it lets others know they’re lying. So, when she lied, she had to look the other person directly in the eyes, without flinching. Aozawa took the thermos, smiling. "What a pity. I thought I could have an indirect kiss with Iroha." THUMP! Ayatsuki Ayaka’s heart pounded. With her left hand, out of Aozawa’s sight, she pinched her thigh hard, trying to suppress the embarrassed blush threatening to appear. If you want to pursue a boy, you mustn’t first show your desire to chase him. You have to lower his guard, step by step, let him relax, become attracted to you, and then deliberately create opportunities for him to confess his feelings first. This was the wisdom Ayatsuki Ayaka had gleaned from Tama Chan. "That’s a shame. Sorry to disappoint you." Ayatsuki Ayaka continued pinching her thigh, her expression unchanging as she lied. Given her sister’s personality, how could she possibly have made an extra bottle? She always used that thermos herself. However, she had washed it carefully before filling it with vegetable juice, so it probably didn’t count as an indirect kiss. Ayatsuki Ayaka pinched harder, forcing herself to stop overthinking and stay calm. Aozawa twisted open the thermos. Inside was green vegetable juice, though he couldn’t tell what vegetables it was made from. At any rate, it wasn’t lethal. He took a large gulp. "How is it?" "It’s actually pretty good." Aozawa spoke his honest opinion, then smiled and asked, "Want a sip?" "I’m not drinking vegetable juice you’ve already drunk from. I have my own." A look of disdain crossed Ayatsuki Ayaka’s face, but inwardly she was wincing. My thigh will definitely be bruised when I lift my skirt later. 「」 Inside classroom 2C, the blonde girl sat in the second-to-last row by the window. Checking the time, she closed the textbook she was reviewing. He should be coming through the back door any moment now. Phoenix Academy Maggie turned her head, counting down in her mind: Three, two, one... When Aozawa appeared at the door, a smile touched her delicate, porcelain-doll-like face. Perfect timing, she thought, pleased with her accurate prediction. However, the smile froze on her face a second later. Ayatsuki Ayaka was trailing behind Aozawa. Since when did their relationship get so good? Phoenix Academy Maggie wondered. Aozawa and Ayatsuki Ayaka had different seats in the classroom, so they quickly separated after entering through the back door. He walked to his seat, pulled out the chair, and casually shoved his bag into the desk compartment. Phoenix Academy Maggie rested her cheek on her right hand, her long golden hair spilling onto the desk. "Your relationship with the Hot Girl seems to be progressing quite smoothly," she said. Aozawa sat down and glanced at her sideways. "Are you jealous?" "You wish." "Really? I was hoping to see the class’s most beautiful transfer student and the trendiest Hot Girl fighting over me, staging a dramatic Battlefield." "To be frank, that kind of fantasy makes me uncomfortable." "Haha, just kidding. I just bumped into Iroha at the club building." Aozawa explained why they had come to the classroom together. Phoenix Academy Maggie’s eyes narrowed slightly. Iroha, huh... Well, as long as they aren’t an official couple, our friendship won’t be affected, she thought, letting out a silent sigh of relief. That’s what she told herself, but an inexplicable anxiety churned within her, which she forcefully suppressed. Phoenix Academy Maggie hated this kind of friendship, one that felt beyond her control. Yet, to stabilize it, they would need a relationship that transcended mere friendship. However, it was impossible for them to have feelings for each other that went beyond friendship. Being well-matched in social status wasn’t just an empty phrase. Angering her mother would lead to consequences no mere high school student could bear. Phoenix Academy Maggie didn’t want her selfishness to ruin Aozawa’s life. Being friends is the best option. She exhaled deeply, her breath brushing against Aozawa’s right arm. She quickly changed the subject. "Yesterday morning, some people from the Shinjuku Ishida Special Case Group wanted to talk to me about the details of the Misawa group kidnapping." Aozawa’s thoughts shifted from Her breath is warm to the topic at hand. "A special case group is usually assigned to only one case. Why would they want to talk to you about something that’s already been settled?" "Exactly. I was afraid it might lead to trouble, so I refused to meet them." Phoenix Academy Maggie deliberately lowered her voice. "Let me tell you a secret, just between us. The CIA is investigating the Okubo situation. They say they want to find out who’s developing secret weapons. But everyone knows it’s really the U.S. Army stationed at Yokosuka Port conducting secret experiments. This investigation is probably just a way to extort some money." "Is that so," Aozawa murmured. Aozawa wasn’t too concerned about the CIA investigation. To those people, Time Suspension is like a deus ex machina. The combination of x-ray vision and telekinesis is enough to baffle them. The more highly trained and experienced the agents, the less likely they are to find any clues. Because the investigative rules and logical deductions they’re familiar with become useless when faced with superpowers. More than the CIA’s actions, he was curious why the Shinjuku Ishida Special Case Group wanted to ask Phoenix Academy Maggie about the details of the Misawa group kidnapping. But Phoenix Academy Maggie’s refusal to meet them implied the group didn’t wield significant power. If they truly had authority, they wouldn’t have been turned away by Phoenix Academy. Still, he was a bit worried for Phoenix Academy Maggie. "Will the CIA question anyone from Phoenix Academy?" "Hard to say. They might question me, or they might not. Because Phoenix Academy is not one of the Right-wing Financial Groups; we’re a financial conglomerate that rose after the war." "How did it rise after the war?" "Um... it just sort of... rose." Phoenix Academy Maggie was reluctant to discuss her family’s rise to power. From a business perspective, the Phoenix Academy Family Head at the time certainly had a keen eye for investment. But in her heart, those methods felt dishonorable, and she was ashamed to speak of them. Aozawa wasn’t the type to pry when someone was clearly reluctant to talk. Since she was being vague, he naturally didn’t press further. "The CIA won’t use truth serum on you, will they?" "Of course not. At most, they’ll just extort some money." Aozawa breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak. DING! The class bell suddenly rang, interrupting him. "Let’s talk after class." Phoenix Academy Maggie said this, then turned and sat properly. Aozawa took out his textbook, ready for class.

Chapter 61 Views of the Portal_1

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