“Wha—? M-me?”
Hugo blurted out, caught completely off guard by the unexpected turn of events.
Behind him, Fee and Yui looked on in shock. Nearby, Ryuga and the others wore similar expressions, as did Cyan and Egos—who had just been so elegantly brushed aside. Ignoring the crowd, Setsuna continued.
“You have an interesting reaction. Most people would be thrilled.”
“N-no, it's just... why me? Honestly, I didn't see this coming at all.”
“Heh... what a strange thing to say. Surely you realized there was every possibility of this happening?”
Setsuna’s smile widened as she leaned in close. She was undeniably beautiful, and Hugo felt himself flushing as she invaded his personal space. In a voice meant only for him, she whispered:
“You and Ryuga Renjou took down that Gigantes together. It’s only natural that people would be interested in your strength, don’t you think?”
Having briefly stated her reason, Setsuna slowly pulled back.
Hugo remembered Uno saying the Gigantes rampage was a secret restricted to those on the scene. He finally understood why she’d leaned in so close and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Before he could respond, a startled Cyan and his group cut in.
“W-wait, Setsuna-san! That guy is Hugo Clay—the Academy’s number one piece of trash! A guest from Yamato shouldn't be associating with someone like him!”
“Exactly! Take our word for it, you really ought to stay away from him!”
Considering Hugo’s reputation before his memory loss, their warning was perfectly reasonable. However, knowing their true nature, Hugo felt a surge of annoyance. Look who's talking, he thought.
Deciding that speaking up would only complicate things, he kept his mouth shut. Setsuna, once again ignoring Cyan and Egos completely, turned back to Hugo.
“The gnats are certainly noisy today. Perhaps it's because we're so close to the insect museum. It's hard to have a proper conversation with all this buzzing. If you don't mind, I'd like to speak with you privately... What do you say?”
“G-gnats?!”
Not just ignored but treated like literal pests, Cyan and Egos froze in visible shock.
Faced with a response that went beyond cold and bordered on cruel, Hugo asked with a hint of nervousness.
“Kogarashi-san? I hate to admit it, but those two aren't exactly lying. My reputation... well, it's pretty terrible.”
“I'm aware. I did my research. It's true that most students despise you as a scoundrel. However, it's also a fact that you've recently resolved several incidents involving Magic Armor Beasts and earned the trust of both faculty and peers. More importantly, Ryuga Renjou—who has only known you for a short while—has already accepted you as his partner in battle. I find it hard to believe such a man could be mere scum.”
Interest and curiosity—those were the emotions swirling in Setsuna’s eyes.
With Hugo, the subject of her fascination, reflected in her gaze, she spoke with a testing smile.
“I don't care much for formalities, so you can drop the honorifics. I'm using your first name, so you should do the same with mine. So, what do you say? Will you accept my invitation for a date? I'd like to talk more during the break, if you're willing.”
Closing the distance with startling intensity, Setsuna went so far as to use the word "date" to invite him.
Yet, her bold approach actually had the opposite effect, causing Hugo to regain his composure. He carefully chose his words as he voiced his refusal.
“I’m honored that you’re interested in me, really. But I'm sorry, I can't today. I need to introduce my partner, Ryuga, to my friends, and I already promised to spend my break with my brother and the others. I'm sorry, but we'll have to talk some other time.”
“Hehe... I see. If you already have plans, then it can’t be helped. I’ll withdraw gracefully for now. Let's make sure to have a long talk next time, Hugo.”
Setsuna didn't seem bothered by the rejection; in fact, she looked almost pleased as she walked away with a lingering smile.
Cyan and Egos quickly scurried after her, still desperate for her attention.
Left standing there with an unreadable expression, Hugo was quickly surrounded by his companions, all of them speaking up at once.