— Private Toyogasaki Academy
After class, a group of students heading to the first-floor vending machines for drinks were stunned by what they saw.
Sawamura, who usually walked so gracefully that she resembled a princess straight out of a movie, had turned into a whirlwind.
Before anyone could even greet her, all they caught was the blur of her golden twin-tails slicing through the air as she dashed upstairs.
"Where's Sawamura going in such a hurry? She didn't even notice us... She seed kind of upset, didn't she?" one girl asked her friend as she stepped aside to let Eriri pass.
"Hmm... I bet she's going to find Kasumigaoka-senpai," her friend, Kato gumi, replied casually.
"Eh? Kasumigaoka-senpai? Why do you think that, gumi?" Oohashi Rinko asked in surprise.
"Well... because in this entire school, I think Kasumigaoka-senpai is the only one who can make Eriri that mad," gumi said, glancing toward the stairwell, her dark eyes reflecting a faint glimr of thought.
"Ehh? Eriri? Since when did you get so close to Sawamura-san that you're calling her by her first na?" Rinko gasped in shock.
"Since yesterday," gumi answered truthfully.
Until yesterday, even though she'd t Eriri thanks to Sakura and Houjou's introductions, they'd only been on surna terms.
But after spending ti together yesterday, their relationship had sohow skipped a few stages, to the point where calling each other by na felt natural.
And that wasn't all—her relationship with Houjou had also shifted.
She'd worried that suddenly calling him by his first na might catch the attention of soone like Kasumigaoka-senpai, the sharp Yukinoshita-san, or even Sakura, who acted like an airhead but was surprisingly perceptive.
But to her surprise, only Sakura had given a knowing smile when she first heard it.
Everyone else had accepted the change without much reaction.
...Sotis, having such low presence was pretty convenient.
Answering Rinko's questions as they walked, the two girls reached the second floor again.
"Still, I can't believe you actually know people like that, gumi! Is your life finally going to start getting exciting?" Rinko teased with exaggerated delight.
"Exciting, huh..."
gumi's black eyes wandered upward to the right, then lazily to the left before she murmured softly:
"Well... I guess it has gotten more interesting. I never imagined Eriri would be so adorable in private... and also—"
"Hmm? gumi!"
A girl who had already dashed halfway up another stairwell suddenly ran back down, calling out to her.
"Oh, Naoka. You done buying drinks already?"
gumi's pale face lit up with a smile.
She was honestly happy—soone at school actually noticed her in the hallway!
She felt a little pathetic thinking that way, but it was true: her presence was usually so thin that even teachers had to call for her in the classroom; no one ever noticed her in passing.
"Drinks?"
Naoka's eager expression froze for a mont.
She scanned gumi up and down with a strange look and said, "Wow, gumi, you're starting to act like Sakura now—can't watch drama unfold without snacks and a drink in hand, huh?"
"Drama?" Rinko finally found her chance to butt in.
"No, no, I was just going to get drinks with a friend after class. Nothing to do with drama or anything like that," gumi hurriedly explained.
Honestly... that did sound like sothing she'd do, but getting dragged into trouble right now would definitely be bad.
"Uh-huh. Well, I gotta run. Sakura asked to give her a live update on what happens. Seriously, that girl—what does she think this is, so TV station job after graduation? Bossing around like this…"
Naoka grumbled as she dashed off, ignoring Rinko's puzzled expression.
This was a secret matter from the dorm, after all.
"See you after school, gumi!"
"Yeah. Bye-bye, Naoka."
gumi gave a small wave and once again lifted her face, watching Naoka run off as if the scene was replaying itself.
She got the feeling Naoka wasn't the least bit bothered—in fact, she seed thrilled by the whole thing.
"Her hair and eyes are really pretty too, huh? Totally not losing out to Sawamura-san," Rinko said, copying gumi by gazing up at Naoka's flowing black hair.
"Yeah. Like grapes... looks delicious," gumi nodded, rembering Houjou's odd comnt.
"So what's this drama, anyway?" Rinko asked again.
She felt like her best friend was suddenly hiding secrets—growing distant, turning into soone unfamiliar.
Was this the end of their friendship…?
"It's Eriri, of course. Naoka's going to watch Eriri," gumi said brightly—but her steps didn't continue down the stairs.
Her eyes secretly drifted upward.
"Ohh, that? Then let's go watch too!"
"Eh?" gumi let out a small sound, her expression a little troubled.
"Isn't that kind of... not a good idea?"
"Co on, co on! Even Naoka's going!" Rinko tugged on gumi's arm with both hands, swaying like a child begging for candy.
"Ugh... I have a bad feeling about this…"
"If we don't hurry, the next class will start!"
"...You're impossible."
With a light shake of her bobbed hair, gumi turned and quietly followed Rinko upstairs, her face showing a faint excitent that no one could easily notice.
Well—no one except Houjou Kyousuke.
He'd probably see right through her in an instant.
————————————————————————
'SLAM!'
The back door of Class 3-C suddenly burst open with a thunderous bang, making a group of boys in the back who were playing a silly ga nearly jump out of their skins.
Everyone else snapped their eyes toward the noise—except for the black-haired girl sitting calmly at her desk, engrossed in her novel.
Eriri stood in the doorway, legs apart, one hand braced dramatically on the fra like a movie heroine.
She expected to et Kasumigaoka Utaha's shocked, fearful gaze.
But to her disbelief... the woman didn't even glance her way. She acted like Eriri didn't exist—as if she were nothing but air.
'That woman!'
She was already guilty of spreading false rumors about her and Kyousuke—envy, greed, lust... and now this?
Utaha dared to ignore her presence? Pride. Another sin.
One more to her list of unforgivable cris!
Glancing at the classmates staring at her, Eriri smirked politely—just like a Hollywood star on the red carpet—before stomping toward the only person who hadn't turned to look.
Sensing the sudden shift in light from the left—as if soone were holding up a mirror to catch the sun—Utaha's slender brows twitched with irritation.
She turned, clearly annoyed.
Oh.
Not a mirror. Just Eriri's dazzling blonde twin-tails, gleaming like crystal. Perfectly styled, perfectly golden—the very definition of "what blonde hair should be."
The thought popped into Utaha's head, making her chuckle despite herself. Ridiculous.
Her expression shifted in an instant—from annoyance, to surprise, then to soft amusent filling her wine-red eyes.
Eriri noticed the whole change. She realized Utaha hadn't ignored her on purpose—she'd simply been lost in her own little world again.
...And strangely, knowing that made Eriri's anger fade—just a little.
'How nice... I wish I could be like that too.'
As an artist, there was nothing Eriri hated more than being interrupted while she was in the zone, focused on her drawing.
Even though she had her own private studio, the mont soone ca to ask for advice, she would imdiately put down her pen—tears streaming in her heart—only to kindly give them guidance.
That's why she couldn't help but admire Kasumigaoka Utaha's complete disregard for the outside world.
That kind of focus... was sothing Eriri dread of but could never achieve herself.
'Wait... why the hell am I admiring this woman's focus right now?! Geez!'
Eriri's clever little brain did a sudden 180.
She bent down, bringing her line of sight level with Utaha's, and leaned her face in close, wearing a fierce scowl.
This was a technique she often used when drawing doujinshi or manga to convey a sense of overwhelming pressure.
Usually, whenever a protagonist made this kind of move—boy or girl, didn't matter—the other party would imdiately panic, lean away, or scramble to dodge the invisible blast of anger-fueled breath and the intense glare full of fury.
With that thought in mind, the blonde princess slowly leaned in… closer... closer...
'Damn it! We're practically about to kiss! Why the hell isn't this woman flinching?!'
'And why are you pushing your chest forward?! Your ridiculously huge boobs are about to smash into !'
Eriri scread in her mind. If this were any other situation, she would've blushed, stumbled back, and shouted sothing like, "Ka-Ka-Kasumigaoka!"
But not this ti.
This woman had the audacity to spread rumors that she and Kyousuke already had two kids together.
Unforgivable! Not even in her wildest, most embarrassing doujinshi fantasies had she ever dared imagine such a thing!
'Crap… I can feel her breath. So warm... Is she getting embarrassed?'
'Fufufu... just as I thought! She may not be leaning back, but inside, she must be panicking like crazy!'
Eriri stared hard into those wine-red eyes, searching desperately for a flicker of hesitation.
Click—no, scratch that—no shutter sound ca.
Ueno Naoka had quietly slipped into the classroom, cara already rolling on video mode, her lens focused squarely on Eriri.
"Wow... what a perfect shot!"
She zood in, closer, focusing tightly on both faces.
Two beautiful faces, so pure and flawless.
Eriri's delicate features were small and adorable, like a finely crafted ornant.
Her golden hair and clear blue eyes effortlessly evoked the image of a brilliant sumr sky and blazing sun.
Utaha's features, in contrast, were elegant and stunning, her whole face oozing allure.
Her silky black hair and crimson eyes made one think of the mysterious river Sanzu and its hellish ferryman.
The white headband on her head looked like a seal that, if broken, would unleash a darkness capable of swallowing the sky.
"Sawamura-san... did you forget to wear your contacts today?"
Utaha's soft, tempting lips parted as she gently spoke, her warm breath brushing Eriri's cheek and sending her into a brief panic, making her jerk backward in shock.
"W-What are you talking about?! Of course I'm wearing them!"
But when she registered what the woman had just said, the blonde ojou-sama's fury doubled.
I'm glaring at you out of sheer anger here! And you think I forgot my contacts?!
What, are you saying people with bad eyesight always look this grumpy and dumb?!
And besides—I'm not like you!
You, who can't even comb your hair properly in the morning and have to act all cutesy, begging Kyousuke to help like so helpless idiot!
Thinking of that only made Eriri even angrier.
Because of this woman, she had to get up early just to beat Hojou to combing Utaha's hair herself.
W-What an unbearable humiliation!
"Maybe your prescription changed. You should get new lenses soon. It's not good for your eyes," Utaha said casually, turning her body and crossing her long, shapely legs encased in black stockings.
She folded her arms under her chest and frowned slightly with a tone of mock concern.
When it ca to provoking Eriri, she was practically a master.
There was a joke among their friends that Hojou was the only person who could "translate Eriri" properly—but in truth, Utaha knew Eriri just as well.
Maybe even better.
After all, out of everyone, Utaha talked to Eriri the most... though most of it was fighting.
'I'm angry, you idiot! This has nothing to do with blurry vision!'
'I do eye exercises with Kyousuke every day—my eyesight hasn't gotten worse! And it's not like I have to look at you all day, you annoying woman!'
Ugh, my head hurts!
In Eriri's mind, a giant dictionary labeled "Swear Words Collection" cracked open.
Her cute little mouth parted slightly, about to let so colorful language spill out...
"Eriri! Cool down! Stay cool!!"
A strange voice interrupted from the side.
Eriri snapped her head around, while Utaha let out a sharp sigh and smacked her own forehead.
On Naoka's phone screen, held out in front of her, was a massive close-up of Yamauchi Sakura's grinning face.
Eriri tilted her head in confusion, her brilliant blue eyes filled with so many question marks they could have crushed her under their weight.
"You..."
Even though her real feelings weren't exposed, her trembling lips couldn't form the words.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Sure, this girl always loved to stir up trouble, but this... this was a whole new level of shalessness.
And Naoka—why were you helping her so happily?!
On the screen, Sakura tilted her head playfully, tapping her little fist against her temple and sticking out her tongue with a cute "Ehehe~" sound.
You... you're just as bad as Kasumigaoka Utaha!! Why are you acting cute when I'm interrogating you?!
The Swear Dictionary in Eriri's mind trembled with excitent.
Unlike Eriri, Utaha leaned back in her chair with her hand pressed to her forehead, sighing.
She had built up quite the immunity to this kind of nonsense.
She clearly rembered the ti during Hojou's first autograph session when, during the Q&A portion, the not even present Yamauchi Sakura had stolen attention via this very sa thod.
Eriri, the idiot, had her whole focus locked on Utaha and the other two girls, completely missing it.
Sakura always had this weird talent for standing out at the most unexpected monts... the total opposite of that Kato gumi girl.
Wait...
Suddenly, as if sothing clicked, Utaha turned toward the classroom door.
Sure enough—a familiar but unexpected bob cut appeared there.
Being caught by Utaha's wine-red gaze, Oohashi Rinko flinched hard, feeling like so terrifying creature had locked onto her.
Trembling, she reached to tug on her friend's sleeve, needing to make sure she wasn't imagining things.
"M-gumi... I think Kasumigaoka-senpai is... looking at ..."
Two seconds passed with no reply.
Rinko glanced sideways—only to see Kato gumi gently smiling and waving at the fearso upperclassman.
Even more shocking—Utaha actually nodded politely in return.
No way... gumi is friends with Kasumigaoka-senpai too?!
Rinko pulled on gumi's sleeve and whispered urgently.
I can't believe Kato ca too...
Utaha silently pondered this unexpected developnt.
Just like she thought before—when soone complains that much about Kyousuke, it only ans they care.
Like Yukinoshita.
And Kato gumi? Even seeing all the girls buzzing around Hojou, she always kept that peaceful, detached smile—like soone who had no intention of joining the battlefield.
But now... here she was, standing at the doorway.
She didn't think much of it.
Personally, she didn't mind being watched, but that didn't an she enjoyed letting Yamauchi Sakura have her fun at her expense.
Turning her head slightly, she said flatly:
"See you tonight, Sakura."
Yamauchi Sakura, who was still ssing around with Eriri on the screen, instantly picked up the voice from the other side.
She raised her right hand toward Eriri, motioning "Move aside, move aside," then gave a playful salute.
"Yes, Madam!"
Watching this, Eriri felt another sharp pang in her head.
Just as Naoka, who'd been holding the phone like a stand, was about to finally put the device away, Sakura's voice ca through once more:
"Make sure you all get along now~"
That final, teasing remark snapped Eriri back to her senses.
She glanced around the classroom—at the curious crowd of classmates and the hallway stuffed with onlookers. Her expression stiffened.
But her sharp mind quickly reclaid the high ground.
"You—co out with for a mont!"
Eriri whispered to Kasumigaoka, not even waiting for a reply before she turned to face the classroom crowd.
A warm, polite smile blood on her face as she addressed everyone.
"Sorry for causing such a disturbance. I was just so excited to see Kasumigaoka-senpai that I couldn't help myself."
She clasped her hands together and gave a perfect, apologetic bow, then delicately brushed her golden hair aside with her fingertips, her face full of bashful charm.
Her gentle voice made everyone in Class 3-C want to shout, "This is your classroom now—stay forever!"
No one felt that stronger than the trio of the Kasumigaoka Utaha Fan Club, led by Shirai Satomi—the designated spokesperson whenever trouble arose.
Although Satomi was usually the scapegoat, even she couldn't deny the charm of Sawamura Spencer Eriri, one of Toyogasaki's two most beautiful girls.
Apart from being a ghost mber of the Drama Club, they were also "phantom mbers" of the Art Club, never missing a mont of beauty.
Satomi stepped forward, playing along perfectly.
"Eriri-chan, is there sothing urgent you needed?"
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of the blonde princess's lips—subtle, but sharp-eyed Kasumigaoka caught it imdiately.
Utaha was no fan of Sakura's antics, but watching Eriri perform like this? That, she thoroughly enjoyed.
"Well, actually…"
Eriri gave a shy, almost coy smile—a stark contrast to her usual self—leaving Ueno Naoka utterly dumbstruck at the transformation.
"Ahh… As expected, Eriri-chan's smile really is like the sumr sun… dazzling!"
At the door, Oohashi Noriko gushed like an obsessed fangirl to her friend Katou gumi.
Not just her—everyone watching was totally swept away by Eriri's perfect act.
This was the result of years of honing her "performance" skills.
Eriri might act like a clumsy fool most of the ti, but if she ever decided to beco a voice actress, she'd probably outshine even Shouko.
Hearing her friend's comnt, Katou glanced from Eriri to Kasumigaoka, letting out a tiny, nearly inaudible click of her tongue.
If you wanted a truly radiant smile like the sun… Hojou or Sakura fit that bill a lot better, she thought to herself.
Eriri's performance continued as she twirled slightly to make her golden twin tails sway gracefully, drawing every eye in the room to her.
Even Kasumigaoka Utaha was quietly impressed.
This sloppy, lazy girl transford into soone cunning and polished whenever it ca to maintaining her image… she truly was a master at this.
"Actually, yesterday after school… I happened to see Kasumigaoka-senpai's little dog. It was so adorable."
Eriri paused, as if rembering its fluffy cuteness, before softly adding:
"It was all white and fluffy… just ridiculously cute. I was a little scared to pet it then, but I couldn't stop thinking about it all through class..."
"Wait a minute, Sawamura-san. Are you sure you're talking about a dog?"
Kasumigaoka interrupted flatly.
The sa thought flashed through the minds of Ueno Naoka and Katou gumi.
After all, they knew full well that Eriri's relationship with Kasumigaoka's dog, Momotarou, was… special.
She usually called him "stupid dog" or "dumb mutt." It was clearly a term of endearnt, but no way had she spent the whole class daydreaming about him.
Hojou Kyousuke? Maybe. But Momotarou? Definitely not.
"Hehe~"
Eriri flashed her signature fake smile—the kind where her mouth smiled but her eyes absolutely did not.
"Of course I ant the dog. I'm not like so people who arrogantly see no difference between dogs, humans, and air."
And with that, she pulled off another perfect, sugar-coated smile.
"That's why... as soon as class ended, I just couldn't wait to ask if I could visit and see that cute little dog again after school today."
"No."
The cold, clear rejection ca without a mont's hesitation.
A vein popped on Eriri's forehead.
"Although… it seems what I say doesn't really matter anyway. So if you want to co, Sawamura-san, feel free."
Kasumigaoka sat back like a queen in the VIP section, legs elegantly crossed, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Aww, thank you so much, Kasumigaoka-senpai~ How generous of you."
"Why is it that you keep thanking … but never once call 'Utaha-senpai' properly?"
As expected of the sharp-tongued girl Yukinoshita Yukino once described as 'nasty for fun'—she wasn't going to let this prey escape so easily.
"Hehe… well then, if you'll excuse ."
Pretending not to hear, Eriri turned and gracefully nodded at everyone nearby before heading for the back door of the classroom.
The gathered onlookers parted on instinct, like Moses parting the sea.
Watching that golden figure disappear toward the staircase, Oohashi Noriko couldn't help but softly clap.
"Amazing… truly the perfect ojou-sama, Sawamura-san."
"Yeah, she really is sothing," Katou gumi agreed softly.
This Eriri was nothing like the one she'd seen yesterday. It was as if she'd been possessed by so alien lifeform.
"See you later, gumi."
Naoka waved her phone as she exited, and gumi caught a glimpse of what looked like a blurred face still onscreen.
…Wait. Sakura? Don't tell that call's been going this whole ti?
gumi blinked, dumbfounded. She'd always known Sakura loved to cause trouble and stir things up, but this… this was on another level. Did she really believe life's true aning was just to have fun?
Still, if Sakura had been on a video call the whole ti… then Hojou and Shouko from her class probably saw everything that just happened too.
As that thought crossed her mind, gumi Kato couldn't help but look forward to after school.
Technically, today's eting at the Ruyi Dorm was supposed to focus on ways to help her stand out more… but now it seed that plan might just change~
"Hey gumi, let's head to my place after school!" Oohashi Rinko called out cheerfully.
"I even saved that show you asked to record—I haven't watched it yet either! Been waiting for you so we can see it together!"
"Ah… sorry, Rinko." gumi turned her head stiffly, an awkward smile creeping across her face. "I've got sothing else to do after school today."
"Eh?! Again?!" Rinko's eyes widened in disbelief.
"gumi! This is the fourth ti! It's not even been two weeks since school started and you've already ditched four tis! You've changed! You weren't like this before! Co clean! What are you up to?!"
Tilting her head thoughtfully, gumi replied with her usual disarming calmness:
"Actually... I'm going with Eriri to visit Kasumigaoka-senpai's house. She has this cute puppy... if you want to co along too, I could ask Senpai if it's okay."
It was a perfectly honest answer—true, but hiding the real reason.
"Uhh…"
The thought of being under Kasumigaoka-senpai's silent, cold stare sent a shiver down Rinko's spine.
She quickly shook her head.
"On second thought... maybe next ti."
As the other students in the classroom glanced toward the literary beauty sitting calmly in the corner—as if none of this had anything to do with her—their gazes lingered a mont longer before drifting away.
Kasumigaoka Utaha remained poised, unbothered as always.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed gently from inside her bag.
Unlike most students, Utaha didn't bother to set her phone to silent.
After all, she didn't have all those pointless apps cluttering her notifications.
The only ssages she got were important—family, her editor Machida-san at the publishing house... people who mattered.
Well... that was true until recently.
Now, there were more.
ssages from the Ruyi Dorm group chat.
From Shouko.
From Naoka.
From Naoto—err, Mitsuha.
And of course... the most frequent of all: that hopeless idiot, Yamauchi Sakura.
Seriously, where did that girl find the ti to send so many ssages every day?
Utaha opened her phone screen.
————————————————————————
"Rooftop!" —Eriri.
————————————————————————
A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
Despite constantly teasing Eriri with nicknas like "Kawamura," "Swamp Girl," or "Bog Princess," in her contacts, she had kindly saved her as just "Eriri."
She glanced at the ti displayed at the top of the screen. Two minutes left before class started.
Without replying, Utaha slipped the phone back into her bag.
For a mont, she did consider letting that fool Eriri stand up there and get blown around for an entire period.
But in the end, for the sake of that exquisite golden hair—so carefully maintained and too valuable to risk becoming dry and frizzy—she abandoned the idea.
That was the only reason, of course. It definitely wasn't because she was worried about Eriri coming back after class, teary-eyed and sniffling, looking all pitiful.
Nope.
Definitely not that.
Utaha stood, casually smoothing out her skirt. She didn't even bother pushing her chair back under the desk as she strolled leisurely toward the door.
"Uh... Kasumigaoka-san? Where are you going? Class is about to start..."
Shirai Satomi—the ever-watchful fan—called out nervously.
Normally she'd never dare to speak up like this, but today she couldn't help but hope for so kind of response.
And she got one.
Kasumigaoka turned her head slightly, giving a smile strikingly similar to the one Eriri had just shown monts before.
"I'm off to see what kind of cute reaction that golden puppy will have."
With that mysterious line left behind, Kasumigaoka Utaha walked gracefully out of the classroom.
"Golden... puppy?"
Shirai Satomi blinked in confusion as her two friends—fellow gossip-loving groundhogs—huddled closer.
"She ant the dog she keeps at ho, right?"
"No way... Didn't Eriri say it was so fluffy little white dog?"
"You probably misheard!"
"Still... who would've thought the cool, aloof Kasumigaoka-san actually likes little animals? Maybe that's why she goes straight ho every day—to walk her dog?"
"Could be... Otherwise, how else would Eriri have run into her with a dog?"
The whispering in the classroom began to bubble with fresh curiosity once again.
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