Vol 2 Chapter 26: Truth

Yoru had just gotten Utaha's number from Chika.

He looked up—and saw that the computer had randomly selected him.

Hiratsuka read out the five names. Unlucky as ever, Yoru was one of them.

Maybe he'd run into some romantic development at the nursing home?

After giving a few more reminders, Hiratsuka didn't linger—but as she left, she gave Yoru an extra glance.

"What a waste of a weekend..."

Yoru sighed, but there was no getting out of it unless he faked being sick.

The class quickly erupted into chatter over the nursing home volunteer assignment.

Before long, the bell rang.

Yoru immediately grabbed his phone and rushed downstairs, calling Utaha.

Since not many students were moving around after homeroom, he wasn't too worried about being overheard.

On the third floor, in the senior classrooms, Utaha, the cold beauty known for sleeping during class and still scoring perfect marks, was lying on her desk, sleeping with her forehead resting on her arms.

"Utaha… Utaha…"

Tsubame, who sat in front of her, heard the phone ringing and called out twice.

Utaha was sleeping soundly and didn't hear it.

Tsubame grabbed Utaha's arm and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Mm? What's going on…?"

Utaha mumbled as she slowly lifted her head.

Her sleep schedule had always been irregular. She usually caught up on sleep during the day.

The stalker who had taken a break all summer had recently reappeared, seriously disturbing her daily life.

She swore that if she ever caught that creep, she'd beat them half to death.

"Your phone's been ringing nonstop..."

Tsubame reminded her.

"Really? Oh, I see..."

Utaha finally noticed and pulled out her phone from her bag.

She unlocked it and checked the caller ID.

"Who is it?"

Utaha, now more alert, hesitated before answering.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha?"

On the other end, Yoru was at a vending machine buying a bottle of juice.

"You? Who is this?"

The just-awakened beauty suddenly perked up and looked again at the number.

She was certain she didn't recognize it.

The voice sounded nice, but she had no memory of it.

"This is Kitakami. Are you free right now?"

"Go somewhere quiet. I need to talk to you."

Yoru spoke calmly.

"Kitakami?"

"It's you…"

Utaha stood up, her wine-red eyes showing a flicker of confusion.

"How do you have my number?"

Her phone number was private. If it ever got out, she'd be spammed into oblivion.

"I got it from the student council. I found the real culprit."

Yoru explained.

From the spring trip at the end of March until now, mid-September, this matter had dragged on.

He could finally clear his name.

Was Yoru excited?

Not in the slightest. In fact, he was incredibly calm.

"Say that again?"

Utaha was stunned. Something this important had caught her completely off guard.

She wanted to make sure she heard right.

All this time, she was absolutely certain—without a doubt—that Yoru was the one who stole her panties and stockings.

She had never suspected otherwise.

The stalker… getting on the wrong bus, staring at her thighs like a pervert, the dark circles under his eyes from staying up late stalking her…

His foot fetish manga collection…

To her, Yoru had always been a perverted, creepy fat guy with a severe foot fetish.

She'd even imagined putting her feet in her used stockings in front of Yoru, just to make him beg and lick them.

Every bit of evidence pointed straight at him.

"I caught the real culprit. This afternoon..."

Yoru paused, then continued, "After school on Friday, we'll have plenty of time. I'll bring the culprit to meet you. We can talk it all out then."

Utaha walked toward the restroom, the quietest place she could find, and noticed how calm, steady, and firm Yoru's voice was.

No nervousness, no weakness at all.

"The culprit… wasn't him?"

Utaha lightly pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow in doubt.

"You didn't hear?"

Yoru asked in return,

"I heard it. Who's the culprit?"

Utaha leaned against the hallway wall, her beautiful face slightly tense.

"It's not something I can say over the phone. I'll bring it this afternoon. We'll talk in person."

Yoru replied,

"Alright…"

"Male or female?"

Utaha was confused by how confident Yoru sounded. Her mood suddenly turned complex.

"Female. She did it to get back at you."

Yoru gave a cold snort.

That little blonde brat deserves to be punished.

"Female?"

A strange expression crossed Utaha's face.

She knew she was too exceptional, and as a student in the 'impure' section, there were a few girls in school who didn't like her.

When this happened, she had briefly considered whether it could've been one of them.

But when compared to Yoru, that possibility could be ignored completely.

"Anyway, it's not convenient to talk on the phone. I'll contact you in the afternoon."

Yoru added before slowly hanging up.

"That woman Kasumigaoka Utaha must be totally confused now..."

"She's probably full of questions, desperate to understand everything."

Smiling, Yoru put away his phone and opened a bottle of juice.

Clink—

He pulled the tab and took a big gulp. Wasn't he in the same position himself?

Break time was only ten minutes. It wasn't enough for anything.

He returned to the classroom, stepping in just as the bell rang.

Yoru sat down and quietly waited for the teacher to arrive.

—

Meanwhile.

Still full of doubt and hesitating whether to call back, Utaha dawdled, gave a perfunctory greeting to the teacher, and returned to her seat with an unsettled mind.

"The culprit isn't Kitakami... it's a girl?"

"Seriously?"

"Could it be that he found some girl from the field trip, made a deal with her to take the blame for him?"

Resting her chin in one hand, Utaha completely lost her drowsiness and stared blankly out the window.

That guess didn't seem impossible.

A girl stealing her stockings and panties was different from a guy doing it. The legal consequences were completely different.

One glance at the law made it clear.

Rape of a female is a crime. Rape of a male is treated differently.

If the culprit was a girl, and as long as she didn't have a prior disciplinary record, Shuchiin Academy would just issue a major demerit rather than expel her outright.

That's how the world works.

What Utaha was thinking now was—since Yoru slimmed down, the rumors about him in school had taken a complete 180.

Some rich young ladies had started talking about Yoru in a way that disgusted her.

So it's all about looks, huh?

What if…

What if Yoru used that perfect face of his to fool some love-struck girl into taking the fall for him?

Because the consequences of taking the blame weren't really that severe.

A quick online search turns up plenty of cases where teenage girls helped their boyfriends smuggle cocaine and ended up getting the death penalty.

Just one search, and you'd find tons of them.

If they could do that, taking the fall for a theft accusation wasn't a stretch.

"No... no…"

Utaha took a deep breath, muttering repeatedly, trying to shut down her own theory.

That probability was just too low.

She was clearly overthinking it.

If she knew the culprit was Eriri, she wouldn't be guessing anymore.

The teacher continued the lecture on the blackboard, ignoring Utaha's distraction as if he hadn't seen it.

Several boys seated separately around the classroom were sneaking glances at their goddess.

After class—

Yoru stretched and wore a clearly annoyed expression like he didn't want to talk to anyone.

Lately, after class, random girls would inexplicably crowd around him.

Nearby, his deskmate Yumiko led the clique of normies, chatting away as usual.

"Kitakami-kun, are you going to the nursing home for that extracurricular event this weekend?"

Yui stood on the edge of the group, waving at Yoru.

"Yeah."

Yoru sighed helplessly.

Who wouldn't want a relaxing weekend?

"I got picked once in my first year. It only takes half a day."

"It's not too exhausting. Just play chess with some old ladies or help trim the garden. It might be tiring for boys though."

Yui tapped her chin with her pale finger as she spoke.

"I don't really mind..."

Yoru forced a slight smile.

"Hey hey, what are you two talking about?"

Ebina suddenly came around from the other side and grabbed Yui's arm.

"Nothing much. Just about the nursing home."

Yui waved her hand casually.

"Huh? I thought you don't need to go, right?"

"Are you worried about Kitakami-kun?"

Ebina teased with a feigned look of surprise. Anyone could tell she was joking.

She remembered that Yui and Yoru were in the same club.

The Service Club, was it?

Their main activity was helping fellow students?

She might need Yoru's help in the future.

"No, it's not like that."

Yui smiled awkwardly.

Just then, Yoru suddenly caught sight of Tobe, who was glaring at him.

His eyes darted between Yoru and Ebina.

When Yoru looked back, he quickly turned away and pretended not to see.

"What's there to look at?"

Yoru thought to himself, shifting his gaze back to Ebina.

Wait—

Tobe liked Ebina?

This normie group really had messy relationships.

Everyone knew Yumiko liked Hayato.

There were only seven people in the group.

Did they become friends because they got along, or was the whole thing being held together by unspoken crushes?

Might as well disband…

"Hey hey, we're going shopping this afternoon. Want to come with us, Kitakami-kun?"

Ebina suddenly invited him.

"I've got something else to do, so I'll pass."

Yoru rejected her directly.

"Going with your girlfriend?"

Ebina asked curiously.

As soon as she said that, a strange thought passed through everyone in the normie group.

Ebina was acting totally different today!

Usually, she was an extreme fujoshi who'd randomly say the weirdest things.

Yumiko had even tried to set her up with guys before.

But each time, Ebina reacted so strongly and weirdly, it scared Yumiko off.

From then on, she gave up entirely on matchmaking.

But today, Ebina was being uncharacteristically warm toward Yoru.

Everyone found it hard not to overthink it!

After chatting a little more—

Yoru went to the bathroom and also took the chance to check on that little blonde.

She was lying face-down on the desk, her face hidden.

Three periods later—

Lunch break.

Yoru had come straight from Eriri's house and hadn't brought lunch.

Even though school would be out soon after, he didn't want to go hungry.

After some thought, he decided to eat at the cafeteria.

There were two cafeterias for the high school division.

One was more expensive and offered buffet-style meals.

The other served set meals at more reasonable prices.

Yoru, who hated crowds and being stared at, stayed in the classroom playing on his phone for half an hour before heading out.

Yoru walked unhurriedly to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria was bright, spacious, and cleanly decorated, with an upscale atmosphere. The seating consisted of leather sofas, and the environment could easily rival an outside buffet restaurant.

Every day, the cafeteria displayed samples of the set meals at the entrance, allowing students to choose what they wanted.

"What should I eat today?"

Yoru glanced over the samples and looked around the cafeteria.

Still quite a crowd...

"Grilled meat rice bowl, fried pork cutlet, Tianjin rice..."

"Whatever, I'll just go with the best-selling grilled meat rice bowl."

Once he decided, Yoru got in line.

His presence drew curious glances from many students.

The second years were more used to seeing him since they shared the same building. But the first and third years treated Yoru like a lunchtime topic, chatting quietly among themselves.

As he waited in line, he noticed a familiar face ahead.

"Kawasaki?"

That distinctive long high ponytail—he couldn't mistake it.

Kawasaki Saki turned around sharply, startled when she saw Yoru, then relaxed with a sigh.

"Oh, it's you. Keika was saying she missed you the other day..."

"Keika misses me? Your little sister's pretty cute..."

Yoru thought of the gluttonous little girl.

Then again, maybe she just liked chocolate.

"She is my sister..."

Kawasaki took a step closer, eyeing Yoru cautiously, then quickly turned her head as she realized she was staring too long.

He really was too good-looking. If you stared too long, you could get drawn in.

"It's our turn."

Yoru gave her a quick reminder.

"One grilled meat rice bowl," said Kawasaki.

"Same for me," Yoru added.

"We're out of grilled meat bowls. It's our most popular set. Please choose something else."

The cafeteria lady shook her head.

"Out already?"

Yoru paused, unsure of what to eat next.

"You can have mine if you want?"

Kawasaki turned to him again.

"No need, you go ahead."

Yoru declined with a smile.

Guess I'll have ramen then.

He headed to the ramen counter and got in line.

There were more than ten people ahead of him—it was clearly a hot spot.

Apparently, the chef was the son of a century-old ramen shop owner, inheriting secret techniques. He had applied for a staff position just so his child could enroll at Shuchiin Academy as a staff family member.

"Tokisaki..."

Yoru muttered inwardly, spotting familiar acquaintances ahead in line.

Kurumi and Ichinose were right in front of him.

The ramen was pre-cooked with the broth already prepared for quick serving.

Two minutes later, it was Yoru's turn.

"Fancy seeing you here, Kitakami-kun."

Honami approached from the side with a tray.

"Yeah, what a coincidence."

Yoru nodded.

"I'll have the tonkotsu ramen. Extra spicy."

Kurumi placed her order first, then turned to look at Yoru.

They weren't exactly close, so both gave awkward, polite smiles—greetings of a sort.

"Tonkotsu is too greasy... Mushroom ramen smells weird... I'll take the soy seafood ramen."

After a brief pause, Yoru made his choice.

A few moments later, he got his lunch.

The broth was milky white with a subtle blend of soy sauce floating on top. A few large shrimp rested in the bowl, along with some shellfish.

Yoru chose a corner seat in the cafeteria to eat alone.

"Ara ara, Honami, you've been staring at Kitakami-kun for a while."

Kurumi nudged Ichinose with her elbow after sipping some broth.

"Stop it, I wasn't thinking anything. I'm just curious how he lost weight so fast."

Ichinose pouted in mild annoyance.

"You're not even fat—just developed early. And it feels so nice to squish."

Kurumi giggled mischievously as she leaned closer.

"You're still going to the nursing home this weekend, right?"

Ichinose deflected the topic that made her uncomfortable.

Slurp...

Yoru made slurping noises while eating his noodles.

In Japan, slurping is considered a sign that the ramen is delicious—a compliment to the chef.

"Really does taste good..."

Yoru swallowed and pulled out his phone.

He received a message from Chika.

The student council was in charge of organizing this nursing home visit activity to care for the elderly.

All council members were required to participate.

They'd be divided into teams of 15 to 20 and sent to the same nursing home to help out with miscellaneous chores.

"Tokisaki Kurumi... Shinomiya Kaguya... Hayasaka Ai..."

Yoru read the list Fujiwara had sent—exactly twenty names.

Three of them he already knew well.

"Hope Kitakami-kun can get along better with Kaguya-chan..."

Chika sighed after sending the message, feeling conflicted.

...

Yoru ate quickly, feeling self-conscious under the many stares.

Then, out of nowhere, Utaha showed up and took the pressure off him.

Yoru's eyes locked onto her, his brows furrowing.

No doubt about it Utaha was stunning.

Her face carried a cold and elegant charm, and her figure was explosive. Though just a high school girl, she looked like a mature beauty.

Yoru thought of teacher Hiratsuka. But even she didn't compare—she was a budget version of Utaha.

And she wore cropped trousers, unlike Utaha, who flaunted her curves in tight black stockings that clung to her hips. It was downright seductive.

At school, students privately talked about wanting to be her dog, sit on her face, or lick her feet.

And those weren't jokes—they meant it.

Utaha, with her sharp perception, turned and caught sight of Yoru.

A flash of surprise passed through her face. It was her first time seeing him after his weight loss.

And he looked ridiculously handsome.

Yoru casually waved his phone, gesturing toward the cafeteria entrance.

Then he got up and left.

"I'll go with ramen too, quicker that way."

Utaha was still full of questions.

That phone call this morning had kept her anxious all day.

She decisively chose the soy seafood ramen. Strangely enough, she and Yoru had similar tastes.

Outside the cafeteria, Yoru bought a black coffee from the vending machine and sat nearby to rest.

Bored, he scrolled through news on his phone.

About ten minutes later…

Utaha rushed out, wiping ramen broth from the corner of her lips with a tissue.

"What was that phone call about this morning?"

Even before she reached him, her anxious voice reached Yoru's ears.

"I was going to talk to you this afternoon, but since we met, I'll say it now."

"Let's go somewhere else."

Yoru stood up, slightly taller than Utaha.

Their eyes met at the same level, and a chill flickered in Yoru's gaze.

"Come with me."

Utaha turned decisively, her smooth, alluring legs leading the way.

Yoru followed her to a small maple grove near the third-year building.

"Speak. Who is it?"

Utaha took a deep breath, eyes fixed on Yoru with anticipation.

She really wanted to know whose name he would say.

"Eiriri."

Yoru gave a faint smile and calmly said the name.

After saying it, he didn't show any excitement, joy, or nervousness. Apart from a slight sense of exhilaration, what he felt was mostly irritation toward Utaha.

No shock. She had violated his privacy, bullied him, and forced him to consider dropping out of school.

Luckily... luckily...

Luck was on his side.

"Eiriri?!"

Utaha's wine-red eyes trembled as she cried out in surprise.

It made sense—and yet, she hadn't expected it.

'I initially suspected it was a girl who didn't like me... but Kitakami really seemed more like the culprit... and it turns out to be Eiriri?'

Utaha's thoughts churned wildly.

If it had been another girl, she wouldn't have had this kind of reaction.

But Eiriri... her relationship with her was very complicated, not something to be judged on the surface.

"Eiriri told me she had a grudge against you, got carried away and came up with that awful idea to get back at you, to disgust you."

"If you don't believe me, I can contact Eiriri right now."

Yoru said coldly.

"I believe you... how did you catch her?"

Utaha's heart started racing, her expression turning increasingly grim.

"I just happened to have information that matched with someone else's. She saw Eiriri. The evidence is solid."

Yoru didn't want to elaborate on that. He narrowed his eyes.

"Now that the truth is out, don't you think it's time we settled things, Utaha?"

"You...?!"

The sudden change in Yoru's tone made her heart skip a beat.

"Hmm?"

Yoru tilted his head and slowly stepped closer to her.

"Contact Eiriri first. The three of us need to have a talk this afternoon."

Utaha inexplicably felt afraid.

It was a primal instinct, a biological reaction.

She felt like a helpless little lamb, while Yoru was a ferocious wolf, locking his eyes on his prey.

Ready to hunt.

"I'm really curious now. What exactly happened between you and Eiriri?"

Yoru activated his mind-reading ability and shifted the topic.

He was calm—very calm.

He had waited months. What difference would one more day make?

If Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't offer a satisfactory way to make up for it...

"That's none of your business!"

At his words, Utaha frowned deeply and shook her head without hesitation.

"Heh... So because of your strange little feud..."

"I became the scapegoat?"

"I took the blame for Eiriri for months, endured all the dirty looks, bullying, and insults?"

"You forced me to show up at school, scolded me? Violated my privacy? Tried to drive me to death?"

Yoru threw his head back and laughed bitterly, then swung it down, staring hard at Utaha.

"Give me some time. My mind is a mess right now..."

Utaha's heart was pounding so fast she couldn't think straight. Her mind was a blank.

Yoru picked up thoughts of surprise, anger, and even a bit of gloating...

And some complex emotions he couldn't fully define.

"If you won't say it, I'll just make Eiriri tell me."

Yoru had long suspected something was off between Utaha and Eiriri.

It had always seemed strange—abnormal.

"This is my private matter!"

When Yoru brought it up, she instantly thought of Tomoya and Eiriri.

People can't help but let their thoughts wander.

Though she verbally rejected the idea, Utaha didn't know Yoru could read her mind.

"Haven't you violated my privacy before?"

"As the victim, don't I have the right to know?"

Yoru let out a sneering laugh, stopped walking, and stared into her eyes.

"I won't tell you!"

Utaha nervously swallowed and stood firm.

"My privacy—why should I tell you?"

And Eiriri, just to get back at her, had stolen her stockings and underwear.

They had already had several big fights over this. Wasn't that enough?

No wonder Tomoya was afraid of her sometimes.

So unreasonable.

But maybe it's for the best...

Wait, no...

Now's not the time to think about that...

The culprit was Eiriri, not Yoru. Back then...

Utaha bit down on her lip.

She wasn't stupid. At this point, she had no choice but to admit she had wrongly accused Yoru.

Using his mind-reading skill, Yoru picked up her thoughts and caught something vital.

"Rinri... who is that?"

He whispered to himself. Something didn't feel right.

Utaha always acted cold and aloof, yet she called some guy such a familiar nickname?

There had to be more to it.

"Could that be the reason for her conflict with Eiriri?"

Yoru studied Utaha again.

Her cute, beautiful face showed how flustered she was, trying to process everything.

"So this is Eiriri's weakness?"

"But it's still not enough."

With a cold breath, Yoru refocused and stared indifferently at her.

"You've had your moment of shock. Now, shouldn't we discuss our situation?"

"Kasumigaoka-senpai?"

Yoru's tone carried a hint of mockery. It sounded like someone taking satisfaction in a small revenge.

And yes—he was that kind of person. So what?

"What do you want?"

Utaha's thoughts were interrupted. She stared at Yoru for a moment, then steadied herself.

She remembered the spring field trip months ago.

Scene after scene replayed in her mind, like it all happened just yesterday.

To be honest, she felt relieved when she found out Eiriri was the culprit.

Because it meant Yoru hadn't touched her underwear or stockings. But that relief was quickly followed by guilt and complicated emotions.

She had wronged him...

"You're not going to say it yourself?"

"What if I said I wanted you to die? Would you do it?"

Yoru rolled his eyes and laughed coldly.

"Sigh..."

"No. How much do you want as compensation?"

Normally, if Utaha had heard something like that from Yoru, she'd have completely flipped.

But this time was different. She'd made a mistake—and had to lower her head.

"Money, money, money!"

"Is that all you people think about?!"

"Unbelievable. Do you all think money can fix everything? That it's omnipotent?"

Yoru couldn't help but scoff and curse.

Eiriri had done the same—trying to use money to smooth things over.

Unfortunately, he wasn't short on money.

Though, using money as compensation was the most common—and most basic—solution.

"Three hundred thousand?"

Utaha furrowed her brows slightly and offered a number.

She didn't understand why Yoru reacted so strongly upon hearing money.

"Three hundred thousand?"

Yoru took a deep breath, his expression clearly revealing that he found this amusing.

"One million?!"

Utaha frowned even deeper.

Yoru said nothing.

"Five million??"

To her, the number sounded unbelievable.

Compensating five million just for misunderstanding someone? That's outrageous.

Yoru folded his arms in silence, a faint trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.

He wanted to see just how high a number Utaha could throw out.

"Ten million?!"

She shouted, not even believing it herself.

That was all the money she had.

Five hundred thousand copies of her light novels sold, with a 10% royalty rate.

She hadn't been frugal all those years either.

Ten million was her everything.

Converted, it was seventy-five thousand US dollars.

Check court rulings for traffic accidents where the victim ends up disabled—compensation usually capped at ten million yen.

From her point of view, she had misunderstood Yoru and wrongly accused him.

She was in the wrong, so compensation made sense.

But ten million yen was already far beyond the standard amount.

In her heart, even five hundred thousand would have been more than enough.

"Eiri was willing to pay me twenty million just to take the fall."

Yoru let out a cold laugh.

"I only have ten million. I don't have more."

"No matter how high your price, I can't afford it."

Utaha was stunned.

Yoru wasn't satisfied with the offer?

And Eiri... she's that rich?

Was she really supposed to pay ten million just for a misunderstanding?

"What do you mean?"

Yoru smiled calmly and asked in return.

"You can look it up yourself. Compensation for someone crippled in a traffic accident, or even someone wrongly detained by the police for three years—those payouts aren't much more than this."

"I believe giving you ten million is already a lot—extremely, extremely, extremely generous."

Kasumigaoka Utaha emphasized with three "extremely"s.

As a light novel author, she had done a lot of research and recalled similar cases.

"So what?"

Yoru swallowed hard and kept asking.

"So..."

"So I think..."

Utaha looked a little nervous. She stared at Yoru and said, "Honestly, I think compensating you a few hundred thousand, or a million at most, should be enough."

Based on the previous examples, her mistake wasn't even remotely as severe.

Even if Yoru wasn't satisfied and took her to court, the worst a judge might do was order her to apologize and pay some tens or hundreds of thousands in mental damage compensation.

"And I've already multiplied it several times."

"And Yoru still isn't satisfied?"

That was her honest opinion.

And honestly, she wasn't wrong.

But Yoru wasn't short on money.

For example, imagine a taxi driver whose faulty vehicle accidentally kills the son of a billionaire.

The court orders the driver to pay one million yen and serve three years for involuntary manslaughter. The driver feels bad and wants to pay two million instead.

But the billionaire is furious. He doesn't want money—he wants a life for a life. He wants a life sentence or death. He's itching to skin the man alive.

Because even one percent of his assets left in the bank earns him millions every year.

At this moment, Utaha was that driver. Yoru was the billionaire.

...

"I don't want your money. How about you drop out instead?"

Yoru kept breathing deeply, trying to stay calm.

Of course, he knew he was just speaking on impulse.

Leaving aside her excellent grades that had impressed Shuchiin Academy...

What school wouldn't want a student who was both model in behavior and grades?

Even if she agreed, the school would probably intervene.

Not to mention that she was from the 'impure' division.

In Shuchiin's mission to bridge the gap between the pure and 'impure' divisions, she was a symbolic figure, a role model.

Just like Shirogane.

She could be considered one of Shuchiin's greatest assets.

"That's impossible. I won't drop out."

Utaha shook her head gently, sweating from nerves.

"Then fine. Get on your knees and bark like a dog, and I'll forgive you."

Yoru had no idea how to punish her.

Damn it.

If only he could rewind time again.

Or if that golden-haired girl Eiri would just be thoroughly scared off, then after finishing with her, he could do the same to Utaha.

But who the hell was this "Rinri" anyway?

"Are you joking?"

Utaha looked displeased.

She believed her offer was sincere.

Taking the fall for months and walking away with ten million yen?

Did he really think making money was that easy?

First take a look in his own wallet.

Does he still need to ask his parents for money? Still living off them?

"Then bring your parents over to apologize to me. I'd love to see what kind of people raised you."

Yoru said.

"Goodbye!"

Utaha shot him a deep look and turned him down cold. Was he joking around and deliberately trying to humiliate her?

From her perspective, Yoru had no intention of having a proper conversation or resolving the matter.

It was like he was just using her for entertainment.

"Trying to leave?"

Yoru stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Bring Eriri here. Then we can talk about compensation and apologies. Right now, I haven't even heard the culprit admit anything..."

Utaha's toes stiffened. Her back tingled with unease.

She quickly made an excuse.

"I told you at the time that my privacy shouldn't be touched. Did you give me a chance?"

Yoru said that, but still stepped aside and let her leave.

No rush. There was no need to rush.

Utaha wouldn't be able to escape.

And doing anything in Shuchiin wouldn't be convenient anyway.

He needed to sort through the whole mess with that Rinri from beginning to end.

"Bring Eriri over this afternoon."

Utaha relaxed visibly. She had been worried Yoru might use force.

In that hidden corner, Yoru and Utaha had an unfriendly verbal confrontation.

After they separated, Yoru headed back to class deep in thought.

He passed by Eriri's seat but didn't see her.

Soon, the afternoon class began.

It was a relatively unimportant music class.

Yoru was completely distracted. He sent Eriri a message while going over everything in his head.

First, the key figure: Rinri.

Utaha referred to him in a familiar way, suggesting she at least had a good impression of him, maybe even liked him.

From her words, it seemed Eriri knew him too.

All three of them knew each other.

Now that was interesting.

Yoru sat by the window, mouthing the lyrics absentmindedly.

"Utaha specifically mentioned Rinri because of Eriri..."

"Maybe... he's the reason their relationship is strained..."

"Let me take a wild guess. What if both Utaha and Eriri liked this Rinri guy..."

"And that little golden-haired girl got pissed off and decided to get back at Utaha?"

Thinking about it, Yoru gently tapped his desk with his fingers.

Yumiko was sneaking glances at her phone. She peeked at Yoru, then lowered her head again.

"This would all make sense... but who exactly is Rinri?"

"He's probably not from our school, right?"

"If he were, the most outstanding student here would be Miyuki Shirogane. It's obviously not him, so he must be an outsider?"

"Don't tell me that the guy who's got these two proud flowers head over heels is just some ordinary dude."

"That 'Rinri' sure is enviable..."

Yoru suddenly smiled, feeling in a good mood.

But wait—does that 'Rinri' really need to see a urologist?

Eriri... no, that's not right...

It should be Utaha who's closer to 'Rinri'. That sultry figure of hers was probably trained by him, and Eriri...

Yoru spent the entire class period thinking about it, his brain about to explode.

If Yoru ever found out—

That so-called 'Rinri' was just a cowardly loser, and even with the cold, noble Utaha and the cute, soft Eriri both throwing themselves onto his bed, he still didn't dare touch them—

Not even hold their hands—

He'd probably die laughing.

What a loser.

"Class dismissed, everyone. See you next period," the music teacher announced.

Yoru stretched lazily and walked straight out of the school building.

He went once again to the quiet, secluded pond behind the campus.

It had long been abandoned, so barely anyone ever came by.

"Why'd you ask me to come here?"

Eriri had received a message from Yoru during class.

As soon as class ended, she rushed over immediately, a flicker of hope in her heart. Had Yoru changed his mind?

"I just wanted to tell you—I already spoke to Kasumigaoka Utaha. After school today, we're going to talk things out with her together."

Yoru looked at the flustered Eriri and activated his mind-reading ability on her.

"Mm…"

Eri's heart clenched. She softly replied, sitting down blankly.

"This little golden-haired bitch…"

Yoru stepped closer.

He hadn't known her very well before.

But after spending more time with her, he started to understand just how fragile and easy to manipulate she was.

She was far too easy and cute to be wasted.

And just yesterday morning, she'd even softened up toward him.

She'd proposed that kind of offer, which he had decisively rejected.

"Eriri, Kasumigaoka Utaha told me everything."

"What you did… was really stupid. Was it worth it?"

Yoru sat across from Eriri and probed gently, while fully activating his ability to read the thoughts of the proud young lady in front of him.

Eri sat like a corpse, her mind flooded with flashes of memory—

About herself, Kasumigaoka Utaha, Izumi Sagiri, and Yoru…

But there were no waves of emotion. No thoughts.

Yoru's words might as well have not reached her.

What he sensed was a desolate emptiness in her heart, like a forest scorched by wildfire—ruined and charred, nothing left but ashes.

No trace of life.

"Eriri? Aren't you going to say anything to me?"

Yoru raised an eyebrow.

Something was seriously wrong with her.

She wasn't even insulting him anymore!

Like a patient diagnosed with the king of all malignant cancers—terminal pancreatic cancer—sitting in a hospital, completely broken.

Yoru gave up on reading her mind, squatted down, and observed her face.

Her facial muscles were completely relaxed, her eyes slightly widened yet powerless, staring blankly at the dirty ground.

She looked… absolutely pitiful.

"Eriri?"

Yoru called her name again.

Still no response—she was like a statue, unmoving.

Her life was being controlled by Utaha...

What kind of reaction could she even give?

"Eriri?"

Yoru stood up and gently reached out to touch her.

He expected her to flinch, maybe shout at him, maybe slap him.

But Eriri didn't react at all.

His hand even reached her twin tails. He lightly tugged on it.

Still nothing.

Which only proved that her mind wasn't nearly as tough as she pretended to be.

"No reaction..."

After a moment's hesitation, Yoru sat beside her.

He leaned toward her delicate face and slowly moved in for a kiss.

He didn't believe there'd be no response.

Her flawless, porcelain face got closer and closer…

In the final inch before their lips met, Yoru froze in shock.

Eriri didn't move.

"…Sigh."

Realizing he wouldn't get anything from her, Yoru sighed and stood up to leave.

The next second—

The previously lifeless Eriri suddenly burst into tears and charged toward him.

"Waa… waa…"

"Why are you doing this to me? Why?"

"I don't want this... I really don't... waa…"

"I was wrong… I really know I was wrong… why?!"

Eriri broke down completely, attempting to crash into Yoru.

But perhaps because she was overwhelmed, her body didn't follow through as she intended.

Just as she got close, she stumbled and collapsed into Yoru's arms.

"Waa… heh…"

"Waa…"

Eriri clutched Yoru's school uniform tightly, refusing to let go.

Her tears soaked into the black fabric, darkening the area.

Yoru looked down at the crying, doll-like girl in his arms and let out a cold chuckle.

Did he feel... a little cruel?

But cruelty was good.

He immediately reached out to push her away.

But Eriri got even clingier, clearly trying to protest through her actions.

Her slender arms hugged Yoru with surprising strength, her petite frame pressing tightly against him.

She kept nudging him with her little head.

It didn't hurt at all. If anything, her soft, fragrant body was practically a reward—a temptation.

"After school, make sure you answer my call."

Yoru gently pushed Eriri off him, letting her fall back to the ground.

Still crying, Eriri stubbornly stood up and reached for Yoru again, trying to stop him from leaving.

But just as Yoru leaned close to whisper a few words into her ear—

Eriri snapped out of it. She stopped crying and pulled her hands back.

"Get used to it. You're the one who turned me into this in the first place."

Yoru said coldly.

As the school bell rang, he quickly left.

Eriri sat blankly again, returning to where she was before...

Who cared about her now?

The last period on friday was Kirisu Mafuyu's World History class.

Yoru looked at her while mentally drafting three tentative plans.

First, open the gold treasure chest.

Second, figure out who 'Rinri' really was.

Third, handle Kasumigaoka Utaha and Shinomiya Kaguya…

Top priority: open the gold chest.

After class—

Yoru lingered for a bit, then called Utaha from the bathroom.

The conversation was short—they agreed on a time and place for a three-person discussion.

After the call—

Yoru picked up his bag and left, running into Eriri waiting for him out front.

"Let's go."

Eriri's voice was hoarse beyond recognition.

"Finally figured it out? If you'd known this earlier, you wouldn't have done what you did."

Yoru found Eriri much more tolerable now. An obedient little blonde is the cutest, after all...

Eriri didn't respond. She had already accepted her fate and was prepared to face Utaha's judgment.

"Come on," Yoru urged.

Eriri, dejected and stiff, walked down the stairs.

Yoru followed close behind, occasionally making comments to provoke her, trying to get useful information out of her. He hadn't forgotten—Eriri was a ticking time bomb. The more cards he had in his hand, the safer he'd be. Who would complain about not having enough bombs in a game of poker?

Unfortunately...

By the time they arrived near Shuchiin Academy's gate, Eriri had remained in that state the whole way, giving Yoru no opportunity at all.

Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes hidden behind black-rimmed glasses had been watching closely.

"That's Yoru?"

Tomoya trailed behind the two from a distance, clenching his fists and furrowing his brow.

"Is he hitting on Eriri?"

"How dare he?!"

Muttering under his breath, Tomoya's ugly sense of possessiveness was stirred. He recalled the comments from classmates earlier that morning. Yoru was so good-looking—would he try to flirt with top-tier girls like Eriri or Yukino?

A vague sense of inferiority and fear crept into Tomoya's heart. Anyone seeing a girl they liked walking with a handsome guy would overthink.

Luckily, Tomoya kept his eyes fixed on Eriri the entire time.

Seeing that Eriri never once acknowledged Yoru, even as they exited Shuchiin's gate, he finally relaxed—and even felt a little smug.

...

"Follow me."

After stepping down the marble stairs, Yoru gave Eriri a reminder.

He headed in the direction opposite the shopping street, toward a nearby residential area—quiet and a bit secluded. A few hundred meters away was a small park, pleasant and peaceful. Kasumigaoka had arranged to meet here.

"Where are we going?" Eriri finally asked, following obediently.

"That small park up ahead. Kasumigaoka chose the location."

"I'm just curious—what exactly happened between you two to make your relationship so strained?"

Yoru spoke casually.

Eriri lowered her head again.

After a few minutes of walking, Yoru led Eriri to the park entrance. There was also an old shrine nearby.

"Eriri..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up with a complicated expression and quickly stepped forward.

Hearing her voice, Eriri raised her dull eyes and looked at Utaha. Her lips moved slightly, and with all the strength she could muster, she said, "I'm sorry..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she lowered her head again. She had nothing more to say.

Yoru wasn't in a hurry. He crossed his arms and stood silently, observing from the side, listening for anything revealing.

"You really are..." Utaha began with a complex tone. Her face didn't show much anger.

When she'd heard from Yoru at lunch that Eriri was the culprit, she'd actually been excited. The resentment between her and Eriri could be resolved. She could declare victory.

She only needed to make it public.

Shuchiin might not expel someone from such a prominent family, but Eriri certainly wouldn't have the face to stay, let alone remain in Japan. She'd be forced to return to her family estate in Europe and vanish from Tomoya's life.

Then Tomoya would no longer be torn. He'd be hers alone.

Alternatively, she could keep Eriri's theft a secret and use it to control her. Like forcing her to stay away from Tomoya forever.

But...

Utaha suddenly sighed, uncertain.

At that moment, deep down, she didn't feel like using this against Eriri. It was complicated—even she couldn't explain it. She didn't know if she even wanted to expose it.

After apologizing, Eriri kept her head down, staring at her toes. Combined with her tear-stained face and petite figure, she looked incredibly pitiful.

"I get it. We'll talk about this later."

"I'm tired right now..."

Utaha stared at her for a long time, then casually waved her hand.

"That's it?" Yoru muttered.

Not a single piece of useful information. Kasumigaoka didn't explode in rage or gloat like he imagined—not even a look of disgust.

"Maybe I need to reevaluate that so-called Rinri," Yoru thought.

"Don't you... have anything to say?" Eriri slowly lifted her head, her swollen red eyes meeting Utaha's.

"Not for now," Utaha replied, visibly conflicted.

Then she looked away from Eriri and toward Yoru.

"Now, let's talk about us," she said, walking up to him.

All the hate and resentment she'd felt was almost completely gone. The real culprit wasn't Yoru—she had misunderstood everything.

But still, a tiny sliver of dislike remained. She had been willing to pay a sum dozens of times larger than any lawsuit settlement to compensate him, and he still wasn't satisfied? He wanted her to kneel and bark like a dog?

Can dignity be bought with money?

"I've made myself very clear. Either kneel and bark like a dog, have your parents apologize to me, or..."

"I'll go to them myself."

Yoru cast a sideways glance at Eriri before shifting his gaze back to Utaha.

"You can give up on that plan. My parents are archaeologists and are rarely home."

Utaha's wine-red eyes narrowed.

She had already humbled herself and offered money, and that wasn't enough?

Unbelievable...

"Ten million. I'll apologize and publicly clear your name at school."

She crossed her arms defiantly, puffing out her chest.

"I really don't get how your minds work. Do you think money erases the damage you did to me?"

"Honestly, making you bark like a dog would give me more closure..."

Yoru didn't feel like he was gloating. With people like Gabriel, Nanami, and Megumi, he could be generous and forgiving.

But to his enemies—the ones who ruined him...

Especially someone like Utaha, who could've figured out the truth if she'd just calmed down and thought it through—she didn't even have direct evidence and still pinned everything on him.

He wasn't some saint.

A flimsy apology and cash weren't enough.

Back then, people cursed him, insulted him, made him feel disgusting and unwanted...

If it weren't for the golden treasure chest, his life would have been ruined. He might've lived in shame and regret, forever branded with a false crime, fading into a miserable existence.

Compared to the way Utaha had once threatened to crush him...

Asking her to bark like a dog now was mercy.

"You're insulting me!"

Even a clay figure has a temper. Utaha stomped her foot hard.

"Haven't you insulted me before?"

"How about this—I'll give you ten million yen. If you get down on your knees and bark like a dog, I'll forgive you."

Yoru let out a chuckle.

Girls like Utaha, who are proud and come from a fairly decent background, would never do something like that just for ten million yen.

But if it were an average person out in society, even a million would be enough to line people up from Tokyo to Paris.

'By the way...'

'Isn't Kasumigaoka Utaha in the arts program? Where'd she get ten million just like that?'

Yoru couldn't help but wonder.

"Why don't you just say it—you want the stockings I'm wearing right now?"

"Do you want them?"

Utaha glared at Yoru and suddenly sneered, her hands reaching for her waist.

"Huh? What did you say?"

Yoru was stunned.

Meanwhile, Eriri quietly walked off to the side, crouched down, and began to sob.

"You're a disgusting perverted foot freak. Isn't it just that you're into feet?"

"I said, I'll give you the black stockings I've been wearing all day today. Do you want them?"

Utaha stared at the face in front of her, which—aside from the thief-like expression—was undeniably handsome.

Devastatingly so.

But just thinking that Yoru was a filthy foot fetishist was enough to make her nauseous.

None of the other girls at school, those starry-eyed fangirls, had any idea that their cold, handsome dream guy was secretly a pervert obsessed with feet.

Only she knew—and that secret gave her a perverse satisfaction, something she could use to mock Yoru.

Still, if she were to clear Yoru's name...

Every girl at school would probably turn into his fangirl.

Disgusting!

"If you take your panties off, right here, I'll forgive you."

Yoru could tell exactly what Utaha was doing. She was deliberately trying to disgust him.

'I don't believe this... would she actually do it? Go commando back home?'

"You..."

"So gross..."

Before he finished, Utaha gave a mocking snort and pulled something out from under her skirt.

"I am into feet. I think it's totally normal."

Yoru admitted it openly, staring at Utaha.

"I apologize to you..."

"I'm sorry..."

Utaha pursed her lips and sincerely apologized.

She bowed slightly.

But...

As soon as she finished, she lifted her head and went right back to her usual self.

"I don't think I ever asked you to do that."

Yoru was momentarily taken aback by her sincere apology but quickly responded flatly.

Then he activated his mind-reading ability.

"I'll talk to the student council next Monday. As for the money..."

"I'll give it to you then..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha muttered to herself, her eyes full of pain and reluctance.

That was a huge amount of money!

Think about it—wouldn't even a high schooler or a normal person be thrilled to find ten thousand yen on the street?

And she just handed over seventy-five thousand U.S. dollars!

In Japan, that was enough to buy a fully loaded BMW 5 Series.

That afternoon, Utaha had thought it over. As a student of Shuchiin Academy, money wasn't really a problem.

Ten million yen might not be much.

"I'm sorry. I won't accept it."

Yoru refused without hesitation.

"Then dream on! Either that or take my stockings and get lost!"

This time, Utaha wasn't joking.

She was really willing to take off the black stockings she'd worn all day.

Stockings that had clung tightly to her pale skin, her full, straight, beautiful legs, and perfect feet—steamed inside her shoes all day—she threw them at Yoru.

"Huff... haa..."

Yoru took a deep breath, his chest heaving as he stared at the golden treasure chest floating above Utaha's head.

The progress bar on the treasure chest inched forward slightly.

Should he take this chance to disgust Utaha and open the treasure chest?

After all, from now on, getting close to her would be difficult.

She was a third-year student. By the end of February next year, she would graduate and leave Shuchiin Academy.

The power of the treasure chest needed no explanation.

Yoru understood its importance very clearly.

But just as he was about to act, Utaha said something that shattered his ridiculous plan.

"Pervert. Don't look at me!"

Seeing Yoru staring intently without saying a word, having rejected her offer, Kasumigaoka Utaha assumed this disgusting foot fetishist was now lusting after her body and was going to ask for something even worse.

She had personally flipped through Yoru's sketchbook and thought she understood his level of perversion.

No, being into feet was already perverted enough.

"I shouldn't have provoked him earlier..."

Her eyes filled with suspicion, Utaha reached for her school bag.

"Arrogant little bitch!"

Yoru not only heard her insult him but also read her mind.

Even now, she still thought her body was desirable?

"What did you just call me?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's temper instantly flared.

"I called you a stinky shit. A bitch. A whore..."

"You haven't grown at all. Still acting like on that field trip..."

"You think I'm ogling your body?"

That was what made Yoru truly angry Utaha still thought that way about him?

There would be more chances to open that treasure chest!

Burning with rage, Yoru walked toward her.

"You... don't come any closer."

"Get lost!"

Utaha was spaced out for a second and only reacted when Yoru was already close.

Smack!

Suddenly, Yoru struck.

Look at that slap—broad and solid!

The crisp sound of the slap made even Eriri lift her head.

Utaha was stunned.

"I don't want a single yen of your dirty money!"

"Kasumigaoka Utaha, do you really think you're above everyone?"

"Used to being flattered so much you think the world revolves around you? That everyone owes you respect?"

"Just because politicians, rich bankers, and corporate heirs fawn over you, you've gotten used to it?"

"Even the President of America couldn't save you now, you fucking bitch!"

Enraged, Yoru even started using Kansai dialect curse words.

That slap hurt his own hand.

So imagine how Utaha felt—her head was ringing.

"Nothing feels better than settling it with a slap..."

Now Yoru understood why some people, even when in the right, couldn't resist lashing out first.

That satisfaction was like a T-Rex devouring prey.

'But if it were Shinomiya Kaguya, I wouldn't dare...'

Yoru hadn't forgotten his boundaries. There were some people you just couldn't cross.

Shinomiya Kaguya was one of them.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha, get a grip. Not everyone's a simping fool."

Yoru added.

Feeling the sharp pain on her cheek, Utaha suddenly came to her senses and stumbled backward in panic.

"Let this slap wake you up."

"I don't want your money. On Monday, explain everything to the school and give me a formal apology in front of everyone. Then this matter is over."

Yoru spoke calmly, gave Eriri one last glance, and turned to leave the small park.

As for the money, he had mind-reading powers. Making money would be easy.

Besides, what if Utaha turned around and sued him for blackmail?

Utaha didn't make a sound from the pain. She simply glared at Yoru's departing figure.

"You... does it hurt?"

Eriri stood up, supporting herself against the wall.

Utaha glanced at Eriri, her expression complicated.

It was as if that slap from Yoru had snapped her out of something.

And to think Yoru didn't hold back at all. He actually slapped her.

"I've been hit by him too. You'd better ice it quickly."

"And... is there something you want to say to me?"

Eriri nervously lowered her posture.

"Just... go..."

"Ugh..."

The pain in her face was more than Utaha had expected.

"Huh? You're not going to threaten me?"

"You don't need Rinri to threaten me anymore?"

Eriri was slightly shocked.

"Get lost."

Utaha's expression changed instantly.

Eriri froze, hesitated, then quickly jogged out of the small park.

She looked back three times.

"That should be enough, right?"

Utaha sat on the ground, drained. She was angry, but not overwhelmingly so.

Yoru had slapped her. Fine. They were even.

She'd even give him part of the money.

So she wouldn't carry a guilty conscience.

---

Yoru left the park and headed back toward Shuchiin.

On the way, he blew on his tingling, reddened palm.

As he neared Shuchiin, he happened to spot a student pacing around.

More accurately, the other person noticed him first, from across the road.

"Don't know him..."

Yoru assumed it was just another student and kept walking.

A few meters later, he suddenly turned around to glance at the guy.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Yoru chuckled.

The other student's Shuchiin uniform was clearly ill-fitting—too small, even faded from washing.

Shuchiin uniforms were custom-made for each student's height, weight, and measurements.

They fit perfectly.

Six sets per academic year.

Wearing a small, faded one was definitely strange.

"I still don't get what the conflict between Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha was really about..."

"Rinri?"

"Whatever, let things take their course. I've already done what I could for Eriri."

"My mom and Eriri's mom are close friends too..."

"Eriri's more fragile than I thought. Easy to manipulate, but risky too."

Yoru quickly erased the dark thought that had crossed his mind.

Still...

That's assuming Eriri doesn't start any trouble with him again.

Otherwise, she shouldn't blame him for what might happen.

"Yeah, that blonde girl really is like that..."

Hands behind his head, Yoru mumbled as he passed Shuchiin's gate.

He arrived at the shopping district.

It was Friday, so the place was bustling.

Passing by Angel Café, he glanced inside.

At the same time—

Eriri had already left the park. She walked slowly.

A few minutes later, Utaha left too, having covered the slap mark on her face with concealer.

From a distance, she spotted Eriri's silhouette.

As Eriri walked past the bookstore where Nanami worked, Tomoya caught sight of her and froze.

He had seen her earlier walking with Yoru.

It had looked like Yoru was hitting on her!

Logically, Eriri should've gone home by now.

But here she was, walking past him.

"And... she came to see me earlier too. Did I upset her somehow?"

Tomoya set down his light novel, clenched his fists, and ran after her.

At the far end of the shopping street, Tomoya mustered his courage and caught up.

"Eriri!"

The area near the station was crowded, so Tomoya didn't hesitate to call her name.

Hearing the familiar voice, Eriri was startled and lifted her head, unsure how to face him.

What would he think if he found out she was a thief?

And about her and Yoru...

"Didn't you already go home?"

"Why are you still here? And... you look upset..."

Tomoya leaned closer, trying to get a good look at her.

"It's nothing!"

Eriri turned her head in a panic, looking away to hide her tear-streaked face.

If he asked, she wouldn't be able to explain.

"No, something's definitely wrong. What's going on, Eriri?"

Tomoya stepped to the side, trying to see her face directly.

Having grown up with her, his instincts told him something was off.

"Could it be... no, no, no..."

"There's no way she was just on a date with Yoru!"

That outrageous idea popped into his head—and he crushed it instantly.

"I told you, don't talk to me so casually..."

Eriri huffed.

"But..."

Tomoya tried to speak again.

At that moment, Eriri seized the chance and suddenly bolted.

In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the crowd.

Something's definitely wrong...

"Could it really be Kitakami?!"

Tomoya's paranoid thoughts spiraled.

He couldn't help it—if it were anyone else, he might let it go.

But Yoru had that face. That face...

No. From now on, he had to watch Eriri more closely.

He needed to protect his childhood friend, the pure doujin artist Eriri Sawamura Spencer, from Yoru's sweet talk.

"Rinri..."

Utaha stopped walking and silently stared.

She remembered the harsh words Yoru had thrown at her.

Yeah...

Not everyone revolved around her.

Even the one she liked—Rinri—didn't.

"Was I too warm toward Rinri? So much that he felt no pressure, no spark with me?"

"Whereas Eriri... acted cold toward him, didn't even tell him when she was sick... and he still stuck to her..."

"I..."

Utaha's wine-red eyes narrowed. For a moment, she even forgot about the pain in her face.

She thought maybe she should start keeping some distance from Rinri, to make him feel a sense of crisis.

Just like Eriri did...

Compare their weight in his heart.

Even when she had someone tailing her, Rinri wouldn't stay with her.

And when that psychiatrist said those things...

He didn't believe her.

He even helped the psychiatrist talk her down.

Sure, she could threaten Eriri with the theft incident and tell her to stay away from Rinri.

She could even force Eriri to transfer overseas.

But maybe it was pride, or maybe she just truly didn't want to go that route.

Maybe if she really got pissed, she'd say something.

But for now—she had no desire to.

Soon, Utaha regained her composure and sucked in a breath.

The swelling on her left cheek had fully risen.

Even concealer was useless now.

She had no choice but to stop, standing by the roadside using her phone to call a ride home.

While she waited—

That terrifying feeling of being watched from the shadows, the one that had haunted her countless nights, returned again to Utaha.

This stunning girl knew all too well she had been marked by an unknown stalker lurking in the darkness.

The person was relentless, as if holding a deep grudge against her.

Fortunately, she had been cautious and careful enough not to let them find out where she lived.

"Damn it..."

Deep inside, Utaha was fragile. Her parents were often away, and it left her feeling insecure.

Falling for Tomoya had started because she was feeling lost, bored, and vulnerable, trying to vent and escape through writing light novels.

In the end, she genuinely fell in love with light novels.

Even when her own stories flopped, Tomoya promoted them, made them bestsellers, and helped her earn money.

That wasn't why she fell for him.

It was the encouragement and companionship when she felt lonely and helpless that had drawn her in.

She tilted her head slightly, trying to gauge the general direction of the creepy gaze.

Behind her, the shopping district.

It was packed with people, including students from Shuchiin's middle and high schools...

All she could see were black Shuchiin uniforms, which she subconsciously ignored.

Until now, she was convinced the stalker couldn't be a Shuchiin student.

After all, Shuchiin students came from prestigious families.

Even Yoru—who got in through connections and had a reputation as a gross, fat pervert—wasn't actually a real thief...

About ten minutes later, Utaha got into the rideshare and safely made it home.

Back home, Yoru resumed his usual routine.

Worked out, cooked, played with his cat.

During his shower, he looked in the mirror, checking his body.

His body fat was probably around fifteen percent. His stomach was flat now, though he didn't have abs yet.

Before going to bed, he chatted with Kato and messaged Chika.

Saturday, he stayed home for half the day.

In the afternoon, he returned to school but didn't find Nanami there.

She was probably out working a part-time job.

The next morning, a beautiful Sunday.

At exactly 8 a.m., Yoru arrived at Shuchiin.

He was heading to volunteer at a nursing home.

With Shinomiya Kaguya.

They took the same kind of bus used for the school's spring outing.

About ten minutes later, roll call was done, and everyone lined up to board in groups.

Each group would go to a different nursing home.

"I'll sit next to Ai Hayasaka."

Seats weren't assigned, so Yoru didn't hesitate and took the spot next to her.