(...I really don't want to go in there...)
A short while after failing to recruit Ryuga and Marcos, Mad received word that the girls surrounding Yugo had gathered in one of the school’s conference rooms. He headed there immediately.
However, after catching a glimpse of the scene inside, he already felt like turning back.
A whiteboard at the front of the room bore a message in bold, aggressive lettering: "Meeting to Counter (Kill) the Pests Targeting Yugo and Fee." It was immediately apparent that their discussion was of a dangerously violent nature.
Mad, who considered himself a keen observer of human nature, couldn't help but think that women—especially young ones—truly did reveal a feral side the moment they thought no men were watching.
At the same time, a cold shiver ran down his spine. If he was included among those "pests" they were planning to "counter," his future looked remarkably grim.
Nevertheless, he was a man vying for the seat of the next Head of the House of Clay. He couldn't let his burning ambition be extinguished by a little intimidation.
Besides, he reasoned that their current lack of restraint might actually make it easier to draw out their raw, honest reactions. Steeling his resolve, Mad swung the door open and addressed the group.
"Excuse me, do you have a moment?"
At the sound of a man’s voice, the girls spun around as one, their collective gaze pinning Mad to the spot.
He felt a wave of relief when he realized that while their stares were hostile, they didn't quite carry the weight of immediate killing intent. Anhel was the first to speak.
"Oh, so you're the recruiting noble Marcos was talking about. I figured you'd try your luck with us eventually."
"Look, I'm sorry... actually, I'm not sorry at all, but we’re in the middle of a very important talk. If you’ve got some weird pitch, come back another time."
"Finding a solution to this agenda is a matter of extreme urgency. We have no time to entertain you, so please, see yourself out."
Mad was hit with a rapid-fire triple combo from Anhel, Melt, and Yui, all essentially telling him to get lost.
Feeling a slight chill at the sight of the young Yui participating so enthusiastically in such a bloodthirsty meeting, he managed to pull himself together and spoke up again.
"I apologize for the interruption, but I am a fairly busy man myself. I’m not sure when I’ll have another opening, so it would be a great help if you could hear me out for just a minute."
"It is as I thought, then," Sakura interjected. "May I take it that your refusal to heed our warning is an expression of your willingness to accept whatever comes next? Shall I dispose of him? Perhaps I should just take his head right here?"
"Stop it, Sakura," Setsuna said, restraining her. "I understand your feelings, but it'll be a hassle to clean up, and we'll only end up causing trouble for Yugo. Just endure it for now."
Sakura had drawn her naginata in an instant, speaking of lethal violence with terrifying calm.
Mad had heard that the women of Yamato were paragons of elegance and grace, but Sakura’s reaction was that of a total barbarian. Even more unsettling was Setsuna’s reason for stopping her; it wasn't a moral objection to murder, but simply because it would be a "hassle." He found himself wondering if these girls were truly from the prestigious noble houses of Yamato.
Their basic thought processes were nothing short of homicidal. Trembling at their ferocity, Mad realized that Ryuga and Marcos—with whom he’d at least managed a civil conversation for a time—were far safer to deal with than these girls. Just as he was looking for anyone reasonable to talk to, Raiha spoke up.
"Um... I really think you should leave while you can. Besides, if you're here to give us the same pitch you gave Ryuga-san and the others, you're just wasting your breath..."
Relieved to finally find someone who seemed sane, Mad noticed a slight sense of dissonance in how composed Raiha was compared to the others.
However, deciding it was more important to move the negotiations forward, he cleared his throat and addressed the group.
"Actually, I'm aware of that. I didn't come here to give you the same talk I gave them."
"......"
The girls narrowed their eyes at his claim. Sensing that he finally had their attention, Mad continued.
"You are the dedicated women who stayed by Yugo’s side even when he was a 'Have-not' immediately following his disinheritance. Some of you even hail from Yamato houses with power that rivals the House of Clay itself. I understand perfectly well that there’s no point in a stranger like me asking you to abandon Yugo for my sake, let alone asking you to become my concubines."
"Oh, it's good that you understand," Sakura noted. "Because if you had uttered such nonsense, your head would have been flying by now. Literally."
It's a very good thing I didn't say anything reckless, Mad thought, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow.
"Then what exactly did you come here to discuss with us?" Melt asked.
Mad cleared his throat with an air of self-importance. He looked at each of the girls in turn before finally giving his answer.
"It’s quite simple, really. I’ve come... to support your pursuit of love."