Chapter 216: Ayane focuses on her work, and that is worrying.

The next morning, Ayane Kagetsu arrived at her unit’s meeting place exactly ten minutes before the agreed time, as always.

She sat down in front of a table, carefully arranged several documents, and set her phone aside.

Then she waited with her calm expression, too calm.

’The bride positions are already taken.’

Ayane closed her eyes.

’No.’

She took a deep breath.

’I’m not going to think about that.’

She opened her eyes and picked up one of the documents, which was a report on the available resources for the upcoming operations.

She began to read, but the memory returned at once.

’The bride positions are already taken.’

"..."

She lowered the document.

’Why do I keep remembering it?’

She tried to concentrate again, so she read the first three lines, but she understood none of them, so she started over and that did not work either.

Finally, she set the report on the table and brought a hand to her forehead.

’This is ridiculous.’

She had faced magical girls, taken part in dangerous operations, and received orders directly from the Great Mother herself.

She had even had to endure for months the constant arguments between Reina and Misaki.

Yet now she was unable to concentrate because of a conversation that had not even finished.

’I could not even confess to him.’

She remembered how Luna had suddenly appeared beside Noah, the kiss, Noah’s expression, and those words.

’The bride positions are already taken.’

Ayane pressed her lips together slightly.

’Who decided that?’

Then she realized what she had just thought.

’No! That is not the problem!’

She straightened up at once.

She was Ayane Kagetsu, the leader of her unit, an exemplary student and a responsible woman, so she could not allow a simple sentimental problem to affect her performance.

"Good morning."

Ayane looked up and Misaki had just entered.

"Good morning, Misaki."

The sniper observed the perfectly organized documents on the table and then looked at Ayane.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

"You sure?"

"Of course."

Misaki narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I see."

She took a seat across from her and for a few seconds they remained in silence, so then Misaki spoke again.

"Did you check the report I sent you last night?"

"I did."

"And?"

"It’s fine."

Misaki blinked.

"..."

Ayane continued looking at the documents and Misaki observed her again.

"You don’t have any corrections?"

"No."

"Not even about the expenses?"

"No."

Misaki fell silent because that was strange, very strange, since normally Ayane reviewed every document with exaggerated attention.

If a signature was missing, she pointed it out, just as if there was an incorrect amount she demanded it be corrected, and if Reina had spent unit money on something unnecessary...

Well, that always ended in an argument, but now Ayane had simply accepted the report.

’What’s wrong with her?’

Before she could ask, the door opened.

"Good morning, my dear teammates!"

Reina entered with a paper bag in one hand and a drink in the other, at which Misaki looked at her.

"You’re late."

"Only five minutes."

"Eleven."

"What an exaggeration."

Reina approached the table, set down the bag, and then looked at Ayane.

"Good morning, boss."

"Good morning, Reina."

"..."

Reina waited, but Ayane continued reviewing her papers.

"Nothing else?"

Ayane raised her gaze.

"Do you need something?"

Reina blinked.

"You’re not going to scold me?"

"Why?"

"Because I arrived late."

"Make sure it doesn’t happen again."

Reina opened her mouth slightly, then looked at Misaki, who looked back at her, so both fell silent and finally Reina approached her teammate.

"Who is that woman?"

Misaki sighed.

"Don’t start."

"I’m serious!"

Reina pointed discreetly at Ayane.

"The real Ayane would already have started explaining to me the importance of punctuality!"

"She’s listening to you."

"That’s even worse!"

Ayane raised her gaze.

"Is something the matter?"

Reina straightened up at once.

"No, nothing."

"Good."

Ayane returned to her documents and Reina remained motionless.

’This is worrying.’

Then she smiled.

’But it’s also an opportunity.’

She took the bag she had left on the table.

"By the way, I bought breakfast."

Misaki looked at her.

"You already had breakfast."

"That was before."

"Before what?"

"Before getting hungry again."

Reina opened the bag, took out several pastries, and then placed one in front of Ayane.

"Want one?"

"No, thank you."

"They’re delicious."

"I’m glad."

Reina looked at Misaki again and her teammate slowly shook her head, but Reina was not finished yet.

"Ah, almost forgot."

She pulled a small receipt from her pocket.

"I bought them with the unit’s money."

Misaki immediately raised her head.

"What!?"

Ayane observed the receipt and then nodded.

"I see."

Reina waited for three seconds.

"..."

"That’s all?"

Ayane frowned slightly.

"What else do you want me to say?"

Reina began to feel uncomfortable.

"That I can’t spend the unit’s money on food."

"Make sure you don’t do it again."

"..."

Misaki leaned forward.

"Ayane."

"Yes?"

"Reina used organization funds to buy pastries."

"I heard."

"Without authorization."

"I understand."

"And she’s already exceeded the amount she had assigned for personal expenses."

"I’ll speak with her later."

Reina slowly set her pastry down on the table.

"Misaki."

"What?"

"I think our leader is sick."

Misaki did not answer because she was beginning to think exactly the same thing and, for the next twenty minutes, Reina tried to provoke Ayane in every way possible.

First she put her feet up on a chair, but Ayane did not react.

Then she began eating directly over the documents and Ayane simply moved them aside to keep them from getting dirty.

After that Reina announced that she had forgotten to prepare her report.

"You can turn it in tomorrow."

Ayane replied, at which Reina almost dropped her drink from the surprise of that unexpected answer.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"No punishment?"

"Make sure you don’t fall behind."

Reina looked at Misaki with genuine concern.

"This isn’t fun anymore."

"Then stop doing it."

"But I need to know what happened!"

Misaki crossed her arms.

"You could just ask her directly."

Reina fell silent in thought and then smiled.

"Good idea, Misaki."

Reina was not going to give up so easily in the face of that adverse situation.