Ding-dong.

The pleasant sound of the after-class bell rang, bringing the third period of the morning to an end.

A sparrow flew past the window.

Ever since Hojo Shouko used the Holy Grail to wish for environmental recovery, birds seemed to have become more common on the streets of Japan.

The sky was a clear blue, with not a single cloud in sight.

Aozawa kept taking out the love letters girls had handed him from his bag.

Some of the letters had the sender's name and class written on them, along with confession lines full of girlish innocence.

There were literary ones, short and sweet ones, and ones that sounded like they were pouring their hearts out.

Some letters tried to keep a bit of mystery, only stating a place, wanting to confess their feelings to him face-to-face.

It was just that some of the rendezvous spots overlapped; it was either behind the gym, or the rooftop of the classroom building after school.

Whenever Aozawa imagined that, at the appointed time, several girls would be waiting at the locations mentioned in their letters…

They'd be wondering in their hearts why the others weren't leaving.

While also anxiously waiting for him to show up—just picturing their shy, maidenly expressions was pleasing to the eye.

But it really wasn't appropriate; it was an easy way to get someone hurt.

"You're really planning to turn them down?"

Phoenix Academy Maggie in the front seat turned around. A familiar scene replayed itself before Aozawa's eyes—the greatness wrapped inside her white school uniform swept across his desk.

The stack of love letters was squeezed aside, pushed into the corner, instantly enjoying the treatment of small fry in a wuxia drama, huddling in a corner, trembling while two big bosses of good and evil duked it out.

She propped that greatness on the desk; a flicker of doubt crossed her doll-like porcelain face as her eyes locked onto him.

Aozawa smiled and said, "Of course. I'm a faithful, one-woman kind of guy!"

Phoenix Academy Maggie looked stunned and complained, "Faithful as in 'faithfully ride multiple boats'?"

"Maggie, you should know me very well. I take great care of every boat, and I've got more than enough stamina. I'm confident I won't let any boat feel the slightest emptiness.

That's what being responsible means." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Aozawa vowed solemnly, then tore open another love letter in his hand.

He planned to reply to each girl's letter one by one, making sure they knew where he stood.

After all, there was no way he'd just fall for someone because of a love letter from a stranger.

The feelings between him and Phoenix Academy Maggie and the others had grown over time, slowly building up as they spent time together.

It wasn't like they'd approached him with that intention from the very start.

Besides, it wasn't even accurate to say these girls "liked" him. It was more like they had some girlish fantasies about heroes—they just purely liked that world-saving hero he'd once been part of.

And they wanted to become the hero's girlfriend.

You couldn't really call that shallow; it was just that girls were always full of romantic fantasies about the future.

They hoped their future partner would have some earth-shaking sort of Ability.

Reality would usually smack them hard in the face.

But that was something for after they left school; as long as they were still on campus, they naturally had to preserve that bit of childlike innocence.

You couldn't force them to understand life at an age when they were still just girls.

Besides, Aozawa didn't think that just because people grew up, their understanding and insight into life would somehow become 100% correct.

Even the sages of old wouldn't dare guarantee something like that.

"Hmph."

Phoenix Academy Maggie snorted lightly, dropped the subject, and instead said, "For all those letters that didn't sign a name but asked you to meet them, are you planning to go in person and reject them?"

"Of course not. That'd be way too cruel.

Once I finish writing my replies, I'm going to ask Iroha to help pass them on."

After Aozawa spoke, he called over to where Ayatsuki Ayaka was sitting, "Iroha, come here a sec."

"'Kay."

Ayatsuki Ayaka, upon hearing him, immediately abandoned Takahashi Saeko and the others, and sprinted over at top speed, only missing a wagging tail on her back.

If she had a dog tail, it probably would've already been whipping left and right like a deadly weapon.

Phoenix Academy Maggie pictured that scene in her head and felt not the slightest sense of dissonance.

Ayatsuki Ayaka beamed. "Aozawa, what do you need me for?"

Her big eyes flicked over to Phoenix Academy Maggie.

Usually in class, there was an unspoken rule between the two of them: avoid each other as much as possible.

Aozawa chuckled. "It's about these love letters. I want you to help deliver my replies to them later. Some of them didn't put their names, so I don't know who they are."

"No problem, leave it to me."

Ayatsuki Ayaka slapped a hand to her chest on the spot; the full curves there trembled so much it looked like they'd rip her collar wide open.

Phoenix Academy Maggie asked in mild surprise, "You know who the ones without signatures are?"

"Hehe, don't underestimate Saeko's intel network."

Ayatsuki Ayaka put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin—applause should be playing here!

Phoenix Academy Maggie was at a loss for words.

No matter how she thought about it, it should've been Takahashi Saeko's achievement, yet somehow Iroha was talking like it was her own intel network.

But then again, considering their relationship, Takahashi Saeko's intel network and hers were basically the same thing.

She fell silent.

Aozawa looked at her, full of admiration. "Impressive."

"Hehe, it's okay, I guess."

Ayatsuki Ayaka laughed, feeling her ego swell. She turned back to Phoenix Academy Maggie, her tanned cheeks deliberately composed as she said, "Maggie, since ancient times, seniority has always mattered.

I'm second, so I should have a status just below Sister Chitose."

As she went on, the powerful aura she'd worked up deflated like a punctured ball under Phoenix Academy Maggie's icy gaze, leaking away until only a faint trace remained.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Phoenix Academy Maggie asked blankly.

She was already planning to go head-to-head with Morimoto Chiyoda, and this husky thought she could waltz in and lay down rules for her?

That was turning the heavens upside down!