'Could soone like that really exist?'
Kasumigaoka Utaha had always believed that her natural talent allowed her to effortlessly rank first in academics without studying.
But Kyousuke managed to maintain near-perfect grades while also achieving extraordinary feats in another domain.
Unbelievable. Incomprehensible.
"Do you have a photo of him?"
For the first ti, Utaha's usually cool voice held a trace of urgency.
"A photo?"
Eikichi imdiately tensed. Boss had strictly forbidden them from taking secret photos.
Was this so kind of trap? No way—he couldn't admit to having any!
"Yes, a picture of Kyousuke. Show ."
"I don't have one! Boss never takes photos!"
Huh?
Utaha narrowed her eyes at his overly defensive reaction.
"Give it to ."
Her voice remained calm, devoid of any emotion.
And precisely because of that, Eikichi Onizuka beca even more convinced—this woman had to be boss's future wife.
After all, when boss was angry, his voice carried the sa icy chill, like a freezing wind sweeping across a barren tundra.
"Here you go."
Eikichiimdiately caved, unlocking his phone and pulling up a hidden album.
Utaha stared in shock at the thousands of photos and videos stored inside.
'What the hell?'
'Are these guys insane? Why does he have this many pictures of another man on his phone?!'
Eikichi had no idea what she was thinking.
If he did, he would've protested. He wasn't a pervert! It was just that the fans willing to pay for these photos were too generous. How could he refuse easy money?
She tapped on the most recent photo.
Under a blue canopy, a man lay on a lounge chair, his face obscured. Beside him was a book. The title wasn't visible, but the familiar color pattern on the cover made Utaha recognize it instantly—it was her book.
"Why didn't you take a closer shot?" she asked.
He was reading my book before taking a nap? A surge of pride filled the young author's heart, so unexpected and overwhelming that even she was surprised by her own emotions.
Since when did she beco so easy to please?
But the photo was too blurry. She couldn't see his face. Annoyed, Utaha shook her leg impatiently.
"I couldn't," Eikichi Onizuka replied. "If I got any closer, the boss would've noticed."
"But he was already asleep, wasn't he?"
"The boss is really sharp. Even when he's asleep, the sound of a cara clicking would wake him up."
Tch. Useless.
For a brief mont, over ten different ideas popped into Utaha's mind—ways to take a clear picture, including simply recording a video while walking past him.
But she quickly dismissed them. Saying them out loud wouldn't suit her image.
She clicked on a video. It was footage from a kendo practice session.
This was one of the few occasions when Onizuka and the others could openly record their leader—after all, watching the footage to improve their own skills couldn't be forbidden, right?
On the screen, Kyousuke was clad in a kendo uniform.
The simple, solid-colored outfit accentuated his naturally striking features, making him look almost otherworldly.
Normally, kendo attire had a way of making people look shorter, but in his case, the wide hakama only emphasized the length of his legs.
There was no sound.
Utaha assud the video had been recorded on mute, so she turned up the volu to the maximum. Only then did she realize—the scene had simply been too quiet.
Everyone in the video was watching Kyousuke intently, holding their breath. No one had dared to make a sound.
"HAAH!"
A sharp cry accompanied a simple downward strike.
Yet even through the screen, Utaha could feel the sheer intensity of it. She had no doubt—if she had been standing in front of that bamboo sword, she would've t her maker in an instant.
"So strong..."
The words slipped from her lips like a whisper, followed closely by another thought in her heart.
And so handso.
"Right? The boss is like a monster when it cos to strength!" Onizuka declared excitedly.
Only soone like Kyousuke could command such respect from his subordinates and strike fear into the hearts of rival groups.
Suddenly, a notification popped up.
———————————————————————
"Saw the boss in the north district today! (Image) (Image)"
———————————————————————
Utaha was about to open the next video when the ssage caught her eye.
"I can look at this too, right?" she asked, but before waiting for an answer, she tapped the ssage.
The group chat's na was clear as day—"Boss Kyousuke's Fan Club."
So, even among his subordinates, Kyousuke was deeply admired.
Utaha found this amusing. Just monts ago, she had been repulsed by the idea of fans creating a personal website for her.
Yet, now, she thought differently about Kyousuke's devoted following.
She opened the images.
They showed a figure wearing a sleek black helt, a white T-shirt, and black casual pants, riding a black motorcycle.
Due to the high-speed motion, the pictures were slightly blurred.
Yet, the contrast between the black-and-white color sche and the dynamic movent gave him an effortlessly cool aura.
"...I want to join this chat group."
Without hesitation, Utaha pulled out her own phone and started navigating the settings.
For the next while, she continued asking Onizuka about Kyousuke.
However, she completely ignored the questions her editor, Machida Sonoko, had wanted her to ask—such as Kyousuke's thoughts on Love trono and why he recomnded it.
"I don't believe Onizuka-san here is capable of truly understanding Kyousuke's thoughts. Rather than listening to a distorted secondhand opinion, I'd rather ask him myself."
Though her words could have been taken as dismissive, Onizuka didn't seem offended at all.
"You're right! I can't even grasp one percent of what the boss is trying to teach !"
After all... if he could, wouldn't he already have a girlfriend by now?
Thinking back to the café incident—where Kyousuke had single-handedly bewitched two gorgeous office ladies with nothing but a smile—Onizuka couldn't help but exclaim,
"The boss is the absolute strongest when it cos to romance!"
So it's true. Kyousuke isn't just so clueless reader who gets swept up in the emotions I craft in my stories.
As Onizuka excitedly recounted how Kyousuke's re presence could make won blush, a rare, breathtaking smile graced Utaha's lips.
"Onizuka-san, I'd like to speak with Kyousuke directly. Whether online or in person, I don't mind. Could you arrange that for ?"
At the end of their conversation, Utaha sat with her hands neatly placed on the table.
Her voice, as always, was cool and composed.
"...Huh?"
Onizuka's head shot up, his expression filled with confusion.
Sothing felt off.
Why would the boss's woman need his help to contact him? If she wanted to talk to Kyousuke, wouldn't she just reach out to him herself?
A sense of unease crept into Onizuka's mind. Had he said sothing wrong? Did he just land the boss in trouble?
He replayed their conversation in his head, over and over, but all he rembered was praising Kyousuke endlessly.
Phew. Safe.
"Uh... what do you want to talk to the boss about? I can pass on the ssage."
Onizuka still wasn't sure if he had ssed up, so he tread carefully.
"Hm?" Utaha raised her gaze, her wine-colored eyes narrowing slightly.
Why was this man suddenly resisting? He had been so cooperative just monts ago.
"With all due respect, Onizuka-san, the conversation I wish to have with Kyousuke is likely beyond your comprehension."
"Even if you were to relay my words, I doubt you could do so accurately. So let's not waste ti creating unnecessary misunderstandings."
Her slender fingers tapped lightly against the table. Since Onizuka was Kyousuke's subordinate, she restrained her irritation and softened her words.
"...Understood! I'll report this to the boss!"
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anwhile, after securing his 'intelligence fee' and 'transportation expenses' from the publisher, Onizuka left.
Back in the eting room, Utaha sat in her chair, staring at her phone screen.
Displayed on it was Kyousuke's personal profile—found through Onizuka's phone.
All it would take was a single tap.
She hesitated. Her finger hovered above the screen but never made contact.
Wouldn't this be too forward?
Would he look down on her?
She was the one who had received his help. Shouldn't she just quietly stay on the sidelines, feeling grateful?
Would he find her botherso?
...
A strange thought crossed her mind.
Her wine-red eyes shimred slightly, her long, slender legs shifting as she crossed them again.
A faint blush dusted her cheeks.
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