Too much

"This is way too much attention, isn't it?"

Yuto rubbed his temples with headache brewing. The stares from everyone around him felt like they might set him ablaze.

"Sorry, Yuto-kun. I'll make it up to you."

Utaha Kasumigaoka stuck out her tongue playfully, though her expression radiated delight.

In the past, with her proud and reserved nature, she would never have done something as bold as linking arms with someone in public.

But ever since she and Yuto had taken that step into adulthood together, a sense of urgency had sparked in Utaha's heart.

Her boyfriend was already popular, and now he had awakened a unique, extraordinary ability.

If word got out, a swarm of admirers would undoubtedly come buzzing around, clinging to him relentlessly.

Rather than let that happen, she decided to take a firm stand, nipping those little vixens schemes in the bud.

"Yuto-kun, meet me on the balcony during lunch break. I'll make it up to you. Let's stay in touch via LINE."

Utaha flashed him a warm smile and mimed texting with her fingers before striding up the stairs, her rounded legs wrapped in black stockings moving with confidence.

.....

As soon as Yuto entered the classroom, he was met unsurprisingly with the teasing gazes of his classmates.

High school gossip sure spread like wildfire.

"Congrats, Yuto!"

"Lucky bastard!"

"Seriously, when did you snag Kasumigaoka-senpai?!"

A few familiar guys approached with grins, playfully bumping fists with him.

Yuto wasn't the aloof type, he didn't shy away from socializing and had plenty of friends at school.

'Yuto-kun, taken down by a senior from the year above, huh?'

Behind the crowd, a stylish, curvaceous girl with a model-like figure stood with a stormy expression.

Marin Kitagawa never imagined that the boy she had secretly admired for so long would be snatched up before she could make a move.

Meanwhile, Megumi Kato, seated at the back, quietly lifted her head. She glanced at the visibly shaken Marin before lowering her gaze again without a word.

Megumi Kato was a lovely girl with a gentle demeanor. Though petite, her figure was gracefully proportioned.

Her JK skirt revealed a pair of slender thighs hugged by black thigh-high stockings, emphasizing the youthful vitality of a girl her age.

By all accounts, a girl this cute shouldn't lack suitors in high school.

Yet, for some reason perhaps her naturally faint presence Megumi, at 16, hadn't joined any clubs and had few friends. In class, she was practically invisible.

'Even someone as ordinary as me can be noticed…'

Leaning against her desk, the short-haired girl furrowed her delicate brows as she watched Yuto, surrounded by the crowd.

"She got to him first, huh."

...…

"Phew… finally over."

Dropping his bag, Yuto let out a long breath, relieved to have shaken off the gossip hungry mob.

Dating a high profile beauty like Utaha meant constant exposure to everyone's scrutiny.

"Morning, Megumi," he said with a blink, greeting his deskmate.

"Morning, Yuto-kun." Megumi offered a soft smile, as if her earlier frown had never existed.

"Yuto-kun, I heard you're dating Kasumigaoka-senpai from third year?"

"Yeah, we just started going out recently."

Looking at his desk mate who seemed to have maxed out her 'presence concealment' skill, Yuto felt an odd chill for some reason.

Though Megumi rarely showed much emotion, maintaining a neutral expression most of the time, there were moments when subtle shifts flickered across her face.

Was this her so-called 'Megumi mode' kicking in?

"I see. Congratulations," she said with a polite nod, leaving it at that.

But Marin Kitagawa, who had been hovering nearby, couldn't hold back her impatience. With a quick stride of her long, fair legs, she plopped onto Yuto's desk.

"Yuto-kun, now that you're with Kasumigaoka-senpai, will you still come with me to the comic con?"

"Oh, hey, Marin."

Seeing the girl's slightly red-rimmed eyes, Yuto shook his head. "Of course I'll go. Didn't we already plan it? This weekend's con I'll cosplay as Guts, and you'll be Frieren."

"Hehe~ I was worried you'd ditch me after getting a girlfriend."

Marin broke into a bright smile, sheepishly sticking out her tongue, revealing a small piercing.

Her biggest fear had been that Yuto would cut ties with her to avoid suspicion after dating Utaha. His reassurance warmed her heart, though it also sparked a flicker of competitive spirit.

She had heard that the third year senpai had a killer figure.

'But I'm a model, how could I possibly lose to her?'

'If I had been braver, Yuto-kun wouldn't have been snatched away by that senpai…'

"Oh, and Megumi, come to the con with us! It's going to be a blast this weekend. You could cosplay too"

Marin's bubbly personality shone through.

Her emotions were an open book.

Relieved that Yuto hadn't abandoned their plans, her mood lifted, and she eagerly invited Megumi along.

"Cosplay…"

Megumi's clear eyes sparkled with curiosity.

With so few friends, Yuto and Marin were among the only people she was close to at school.

The outgoing blonde was confident and socially adept far more so than Megumi, getting along with everyone in class, guys and girls alike.

"Okay, I'll go."

Spending a weekend with Yuto-kun sounds worth it.

After a moment's thought, Megumi nodded decisively.

"Yay! The three of us together will be so much fun!"

Marin let out an excited cheer, hopping off the desk.

Unbeknownst to her, she left behind a faintly warm, peach shaped imprint on Yuto's desk from her perfectly rounded figure.

'Marin's got a great body,' Yuto mused, eyeing the shape with an appreciative nod.

It might even outshine Utaha's by a bit.

Ding-ding-ding…

The bell rang, silencing the classroom chatter as students shuffled back to their seats, awaiting the teacher.

Tap, tap…

Soon, the rhythmic click of heels approached.

A tall woman with short, neat hair stepped in, dressed in a women's suit and gray pencil pants, clutching a stack of books. She opened the door and took her place at the podium.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Yukino Yukari, the substitute homeroom teacher for Class 5 of Year 2. Your regular teacher, Mafuyu Kirisu, recently fell seriously ill and is currently resting. I'll be teaching your world history class in her absence."

"Kirusiu sensei's sick?"

"Is she okay?"

"How did this happen…?"

The students exchanged worried glances.

Mafuyu Kirisu had been their homeroom teacher since the first year–dedicated, responsible, and strikingly youthful. It hadn't been long since the school year started, so her sudden illness unsettled everyone.

"From what I know, Kirisu-sensei caught the flu and is in recovery. She should return soon, so there's no need to worry," Yukari said gently, easing their concerns with a kind explanation.

"Kirisu sensei is sick?"

Yuto paused mid pen twirl.

He pictured the tall, slender teacher with her dark professional attire and stunning legs, feeling a tug at his heart.

With Kirisu sensei unwell, visiting her might net me a new personal Craft Essence.

Utaha's earlier one had impressive effects.

Since his homeroom teacher was under the weather, a student's visit could boost her favorability, right?

He even knew her address, it was close to his place, just a street away.

"Besides introducing myself as your substitute, we also have a new transfer student today," Yukari continued from the podium. "Mei Misaki, please come in."

...

Click

The classroom door creaked open.

A petite girl stepped inside.

Dressed in a navy blazer, she was slim and delicate, with clear features and thick, dark hair styled in a rare bob cut.

Her complexion, though, was strikingly pale.

What stood out most was the white eyepatch covering her left eye.

'There she is–a character with supernatural powers!'

Yuto's expression sharpened as he glanced at Mei Misaki.

He knew that beneath her white eyepatch, hidden beside her wine-red right eye, lay a pale blue pupil , capable of piercing through death and seeing things best left unseen.

"Misaki-san, please introduce yourself to everyone."

Yukari smiled and led the class in a welcoming clap for the new student.

"Wow, the new transfer student is adorable!"

"An eyepatch? Is she into chunibyo? The silent type's totally my thing!"

"She's a keeper! I call dibs, hands off, guys!"

"Bro, I'm actually into this one!"

The rowdy chatter from the boys made Mei knit her brows.

She had always disliked noise, preferring quiet, and wasn't great with people.