The all-powerful middle schooler

"What's wrong."

Hanase Izumi glanced sideways.

Perhaps because of his guilty conscience, the pure blue gaze made the girl feel inexplicably profound at that moment.

"Actually, I invited the sage here today not for investigation, I just... just wanted to invite the sage out for a walk."

She mustered her courage and did not avoid eye contact.

"is it?"

His expression remained calm.

"So it's not bad to get out and relax once in a while."

At that moment, Rikka Takanashi suddenly understood.

A romantic contract cannot be successfully concluded at this time.

After all, she knew far less about the Sage than Chika did.

But this date wasn't a complete waste of time; at least she finally figured out some things.

"Recently, the power of darkness has grown too rapidly, causing my mind to become overburdened, almost leading to an imbalance and a huge crisis... However, today, after my mind was relaxed, it has grown significantly, and my mind and body have once again matched this power. I feel the opportunity for a breakthrough!"

She hummed in agreement, clenched her fist, and then looked up and said.

The confession didn't continue; it ended halfway through.

"That's it?"

Kaguya Shinomiya, who had been secretly watching, felt her heart sink, and muttered something under her breath.

"Kaguya, you must be dying of anxiety!"

Beside her, Fujiwara Chika remained silent, thinking to herself.

'But is Rikka really satisfied with this?'

Well, as long as Rikka thinks it's okay, then it's fine.

'We really can't be too hasty, or we'll be defeated.'

She gazed at the girl's retreating figure in the distance, and ultimately gave up the idea of ​​taking out her phone to ask further questions.

……

Enjoying the tranquility of the moment, Rikka Takanashi felt relaxed when suddenly she heard another sentence.

"Speaking of which, Rikka, what do you think is going on with those two?"

Her body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

So it was exposed after all!

“They’ve been following us all day.”

"Maybe it was a chance encounter. They saw me with the sage and were curious about what we were doing..."

"That's certainly possible, since surveillance wouldn't be so blatant."

"Ah... Hahahahaha."

21

Chapter 21 Goodbye, Mom, I'm setting sail tonight.

Izumi Hasegawa and Rikka Takanashi suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Hehehe...we've been found out."

Fujiwara Chika chuckled and scratched her long, smooth, cherry blossom-colored hair.

"Sorry, Izumi-chan, Rikka, I didn't mean to peep. I was just curious about what you were doing~"

Born into a political family, how could he not know how to lie?

The prettier a girl is, the more likely she is to lie.

This is the ultimate truth of humankind.

"I came with Fujiwara because she wanted to visit the aquarium."

Kaguya Shinomiya described the incident simply without batting an eye.

"So, what about you two? A man and a woman, are you on a date?"

Her eyes were sharp, piercing as she stared at him.

Rikka Takanashi seemed a little guilty, while giving Chika a meaningful look, as if asking—

Where did this guy come from?

Fujiwara Chika pouted, too embarrassed to answer.

"Like you, Rikka wanted to clear her head, so I came out with her."

Instead of using the reason that Rikka had fabricated, Hasegawa Izumi spoke directly.

Kaguya Shinomiya frowned slightly.

She still managed to glean something from his words.

At least in this man's eyes, this chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) girl also carries considerable weight.

However, the opponent retreated today, so they are probably similar to Sawamura and not worth fearing!

Kaguya Shinomiya then put on a smile and said, "It's getting late. Since we've run into each other, why don't you take our car and we'll take you home?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Shinomiya, but we still have things to do."

Hanase Chuanquan denied.

"Really? Then I'll be going now."

Kaguya Shinomiya was proud and wouldn't pester him. After understanding the implied meaning, she turned and left.

"Well then, Rikka, Izumi-chan, see you Monday~!"

Fujiwara Chika followed in her footsteps, then waved goodbye to the two of them.

"Goodbye."

Rikka Takanashi waved enthusiastically this time as well.

Time passed quickly, and darkness gradually fell.

Inside the aquarium, staff are conducting daily training and rewarding for the dolphins.

One of the staff members is staring at the dolphin that shone brightly today, and neither of them is moving.

"Xiao Liang, what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to communicate with dolphins on a spiritual level! If that little girl can do it, there's no reason why I, who spend every day with Xiao Lan, can't do it too!"

"Haha... Good luck then!"

However, no matter how hard the staff member named Xiao Liang tried, she was unable to do it.

What she lacked wasn't the dolphins' affection for her, but a spark of inspiration.

"Well, that's all for today, Xiao Lan. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

As it was time to leave work, she sighed and left the enclosure.

In the pool, Little Blue watched its other kind swimming happily, motionless, its intelligent eyes seemingly lost in thought, unseen by anyone.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

Just when Xiao Lan thought the day would end like any other, someone suddenly appeared silently inside the already closed aquarium.

He was ignored by the animals as he passed by, and even the surveillance cameras could not capture his image.

"Do you want to leave here? I can help you."

Suddenly a voice rang in her mind, leaving Xiao Lan very confused and bewildered.

"I'm here."

This time, the sound came from reality.

It turned its head and found a human standing on the shore, and it vaguely remembered him.

"I am here to bring you freedom at Rikka's request."

The voice echoed in its mind again, and the girl's image appeared at the same time, making it realize that Rikka was the human who could understand its thoughts.

"I want... the ocean to help me?"

"can."

Although dolphins possess intelligence, they have not yet experienced true growth, so their inner voice is somewhat immature, like that of a young child.

"And...friends."

"Yes, but I don't recommend it. It would be better for you to go out alone. It might not be a good thing for your friends."

It didn't understand that while it yearned for freedom and wanted to see the magnificence of the sea, many other animals also wanted to come in, longing for a peaceful and stable life.

With its intelligence, it can easily survive in the ocean, but for its friends, it may face a cruel elimination.

"Please... I'm counting on you."

Little Blue thought about it a lot, chose to trust the human's judgment, and turned to say goodbye to its kind.

"Don't resist, I'll take you away now."

While transmitting her voice, Izumi Hasegawa raised her right hand and, under the control of her spiritual power, separated the seawater surrounding Xiaolan, along with Xiaolan herself, from the pool, forming a blue water sphere.

Little Blue was shocked; she never imagined that humans possessed such terrifying power.

No wonder I was confident enough to take it away from here.

A few minutes later, Izumi Hasegawa brought the water sphere to the nearby beach.

"Sage!"

There, Rikka the Birds of the Takanashi tribe was already waiting.

Hasegawa Izumi casually tossed the water balloon into the sea.

Entering a world many times wider from the originally narrow pool, Little Blue was extremely excited and swam happily, leaving a long white line on the surface of the sea.

Such a scene would make someone who didn't know better think that a shark had arrived.

"Chirp..."

After the initial excitement, Xiao Lan approached the shore again, poked its head out, and made dolphin calls.

This is a heartfelt expression of gratitude to them.

"Alright, alright, it was nothing, just a small favor. Meeting the Sage is your good fortune, little dolphin, don't worry about it... However, if you're going to hold a grudge against the Sage, then next..."

Rikka, a little bird, walked towards the sea, entered the water but did not sink. She squatted on the surface of the sea, stroked her smooth head, and slowly told her story. Suddenly, she remembered some stories told by the sage, and a pleasant smile appeared on her lips.

"Little dolphin, go out to sea! Conquer this ocean! Live as you please! Be freer than anyone else!"

"Become the freest being on this vast ocean! Become the Dolphin Queen!"

"When that time comes, you will be able to repay us."

The voice was passionate and stirring, which made Xiao Lan's emotions rise as well.

It memorized these words, emitted a high-pitched dolphin sound, thanked the two people, and then sailed away.

"Woo~"

On the moonlit sea, dolphins dive into the ocean, then ride the currents and rise up, letting out excited cries.

From this day forward, may fish leap freely in the vast sea, birds soar freely in the boundless sky, and frost-covered skies be filled with boundless freedom!

Watching its departing figure, Rikka Takanashi felt a pang of sadness in her eyes.

Although they had only known each other for less than a day, this encounter gave her many insights.