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Asagi Aiba lifted her head, her gaze colliding instantly with August's.

For a moment, Aiba froze. It wasn't just that August recognized her—she also knew exactly who he was.

After all, August had become somewhat of a celebrity at Saikai Academy. His titles as "Brother-in-Law Supreme" and "Natsuki's Boyfriend" were well-known, garnering attention from nearly everyone.

Although Aiba was a high school student, she had heard his name mentioned more than once.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there," August said apologetically.

"No—no problem at all!" Aiba stammered.

Her initial irritation evaporated instantly. No matter how composed a girl might seem, she was still a woman at heart. Just as men are drawn to beauty, women are often captivated by handsome men. A good-looking stranger could make anyone momentarily flustered.

But Aiba quickly regained her composure, shaking her head firmly and chastising herself for her lapse in discipline.

Unlike most people, her heart already belonged to someone. Yet, despite her feelings, she had never confessed, and the person in question remained oblivious—an obliviousness that bordered on legendary.

She had lost count of how many times she had felt disappointed. Yet even now, she continued to wait for him.

"You're Asagi Aiba, right?"

"Huh? You know me?"

"I've heard of you—the 'Empress of Electronics.'"

"What?"

Aiba's face turned a deep shade of red. The mention of her online alias by a stranger made her feel unexpectedly self-conscious. Apart from her closest childhood friend, no one else even knew about it.

"Well, as an apology, here's something for you."

With that, August produced an enormous cake box. The name of an unfamiliar patisserie was emblazoned on it.

"Black Forest – Limited Reserve Cake."

This wasn't just any Black Forest cake; it was a rare, collector's edition August had won in a recent lucky draw. Though its origins remained mysterious, its prestige was comparable to a Château Lafite in the world of wine.

"Is this… a Black Forest cake?"

As a devoted foodie from a well-off family, Aiba immediately recognized its value. She didn't dwell on how August had acquired it—after all, this was Itogami Island, a district teeming with demons, sorcerers, and magicians.

"That's right," August replied casually. "I can't recall the exact details, but consider it a token of apology."

"Oh no, I couldn't possibly accept—"

"It's nothing," August interrupted, waving off her protest. Without lingering, he turned and walked away.

Despite her unique allure as both the Empress of Electronics and the Hidden Priestess, Aiba didn't spark any deeper interest in August. Her talents didn't stand out enough to captivate him, especially when compared to people like Kanon or Natsuki Minamiya. One was a saintly maiden, and the other an adorably lawful girl, both of whom occupied August's thoughts in far more intriguing ways.

In August's personal universe, there were already countless women with attributes similar to Aiba's. As for her title of Empress of Electronics, it simply wasn't enough to pique his curiosity.

Aiba, however, couldn't help but feel unsettled as she watched him walk away without so much as a second glance.

She was considered one of the most beautiful girls at Saikai Academy. Recently, she had been paying extra attention to her appearance, confident that she could rival professional models or actresses. Yet this man had turned and left without the slightest interest.

Her pride took a hit, though the feeling quickly subsided. After all, their paths were unlikely to cross again.

Shaking her head, Aiba carried the Black Forest cake back to her classroom.

"Hmm? Asagi, what's that?"

Rin, her close friend, eyed the exquisite cake with curiosity as Aiba entered.

"It's a cake," Aiba replied. "Some odd guy gave it to me."

"Odd guy?"

"The one rumored to be Natsuki-sensei's boyfriend."

"Oh, I know who you mean! Isn't he also the middle school saint's brother? He's like the ultimate brother-in-law for so many people right now."

The two continued chatting, but the mention of "Natsuki-sensei's boyfriend" immediately caused Kojou Akatsuki, who had been slumped over his desk like a lifeless fish, to sit up abruptly.

He could never forget that terrifying man. Just standing in his presence had caused the familiar beasts within him to go berserk.

What's more, that man had effortlessly defeated the Golden Lion in a single strike—his strength was unfathomable.

"Wow, a Black Forest cake! And it looks like a premium one, Asagi," Rin said, clearly impressed.

"Yeah, it does look really good," Aiba replied with a nod.

"Do you know him?"

"No, not at all."

"Then why would he give you a cake? Don't tell me he's trying to woo you."

Rin's comment was half in jest, but to Aiba, it struck a deeper chord. She paused for a moment, stealing a glance at Kojou, who sat at the next desk. He was staring out the window, lost in thought. Her heart dimmed slightly. What am I even hoping for?

Rin noticed her reaction and sighed inwardly. Her friend's romantic journey was truly a rocky one.

Aiba had fallen for someone who was as oblivious as a plank of wood—no, worse, he was like a decaying log. Her luck couldn't have been worse.

Still, Rin began to form her own suspicions about Kojou. If he truly liked Aiba, he wouldn't have stayed silent after her teasing remark. His lack of reaction spoke volumes.

"Wow, this is so delicious! Asagi, are you sure you don't know him?"

Cutting a slice of the cake, Rin took one bite and was immediately overwhelmed with satisfaction.

Aiba felt the same. The cake was unbelievably delicious—better than any dessert she'd ever tasted.

Such a treat was certainly not easy to come by. That someone had so casually given it to her made her wonder if Rin's joking comment might actually be true. Could he have feelings for her?

Women—especially young women—tend to overthink romance. With even the slightest spark, they can craft an entire love story in their minds.

Meanwhile, August had no idea that giving Aiba the Black Forest cake had sparked such misunderstandings.

He had acquired a thousand of these cakes through a random draw. After sampling a few himself, he still had over 990 left.

Not just Black Forest cakes—his collection of food, drinks, and entertainment items from those draws had grown into a massive stockpile. He could easily open a restaurant and run it for a while.

As for why he'd given the cake to Aiba? It was purely on a whim.

August was unaware that this casual gesture would ripple into so many unintended consequences.

At that moment, August, having been kicked out of Natsuki Minamiya's place, decided to wander around. He'd been on Itogami Island for some time now but hadn't really explored it yet.

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