Chapter 126: Obsessive Research
The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky as students filed out of Mahoutokoro's grand halls, the golden glow casting long shadows across the pristine school grounds.
The hum of idle chatter filled the air, but Ayaka barely paid attention.
She walked alongside Mio, her mind elsewhere, her thoughts drifting back to a certain someone who had all but vanished from school life.
"So," Ayaka began, glancing at Mio with casual curiosity, "how's Nero been?"
Mio let out a long, drawn-out sigh, rubbing her temples. "Like a madman," she muttered.
"For the past three weeks, he hasn't even been coming to classes.
It's either the library or locked away in his room at Uncle Zen and Mu's house.
He barely sleeps, barely talks, and when he does, it's like he's speaking in riddles."
Ayaka raised an eyebrow. "That bad, huh?"
"You have no idea," Mio said with an exasperated huff.
"The other day, I caught him muttering to himself while flipping through six books at once. He didn't even look up when I called his name."