kscans

Chapter 89 - Hidden Identities

'Hayate-sensei, I’ll be in your care from now on.'

'Please take care of us.'

'You got it.'

Rena watched the three of them conversing on a monitor.

"…Well, that’s a relief for now, I guess."

'We were struggling to gather bargaining chips to persuade them to attend the academy, but in the end, they were unnecessary.'

Aina replied to Rena’s murmur. Aina had hacked the surveillance cameras at the family restaurant where Hayate and his friends were, and she was monitoring the situation with Rena.

When Hayate had said he was going out to meet a friend, Rena, who didn't know much about his friendships, had become a little anxious and consulted Aina, which led to the current situation.

By the way, Hayate, having undergone ninja training, could sense if someone was watching him from a distance, but he couldn't detect surveillance through a camera.

"It would be meaningless to create Shinonome Academy if Hayate didn’t come. I was prepared to negotiate if necessary, but if Hayate wants to be with his close friends, I don’t want to stand in his way."

"Indeed. In the first place, negotiations would have been impossible with that person."

Aina had been preparing various negotiation plans to get them to enroll in Shinonome Academy, such as offering non-repayable scholarships or arranging promotions for Hayate's friends' parents.

However, when Hayate met up with his friend, Aina recognized Naoto and judged that any negotiation was impossible.

'Rena-sama, you are aware of who Konoe-sama is, are you not?'

"Yes. I’ve met him a few times with Father."

He was of the Fujiwara Hokke Main Line, and the Head of the Five Regent Houses among the court nobility. A position second only to the Emperor among his subjects.

In terms of status, he was naturally superior to the Shinonome family.

That was the Konoe family. And Naoto was its next heir.

"Does Hayate know?"

'It is information on the level of a state secret, so he is most likely unaware.'

"What about his girlfriend?"

'That young woman is Konoe-sama's bodyguard. Her data was stored in a file so heavily secured that it took even me several seconds to access. It appears she is of the same kind as Hayate-sama.'

"The same kind as Hayate… She's a ninja too."

'Yes. Just as Hayate-sama received the scroll of full mastership from the Iga Ninja Leader, Sakino Mei-sama is a top-class ninja recognized by the Koga Ninja Leader. The pretense of being in a relationship is for the purpose of guarding him at all times.'

"Hmm. She may be a bodyguard, but I think that girl really does love Naoto-san. And Naoto-san loves her too."

Hayate had become the strongest ninja through the training of the Iga Ninja Leader, Hattori Juuzo. By continuing to watch Hayate's streams with intense focus so as not to miss even the slightest change in his expression, Rena had acquired the ability to sensitively read people's emotions from their subtle gestures and expressions.

'Are you suggesting they are in a forbidden relationship, one that is not meant to be?'

"Yes. It makes me want to cheer for them."

Rena smiled as she watched the three of them.

"I want to become friends with Naoto-san and Mei-san too. I want to help them become a real couple."

'Understood. If that is your wish, Rena-sama, I will offer my full cooperation.'

"Thank you, Aina. I’m counting on you!"