On the other side, Kanade was practically fleeing from the room after his "rescue call."
He stood in the restroom for what felt like an eternity, splashing his face repeatedly with cold water in an effort to calm down.
As a former spectator of romantic antics, he used to think the most infuriating thing was when a climactic moment in a story was interrupted. The moment the audience anticipated with bated breath would be snatched away, replaced by mundane, anticlimactic filler.
"Right here is where the doujin should start!"—the classic cry of disappointed fans.
Now, however, Kanade found himself in the role of the protagonist, and he could confidently say: "Interruptions are the greatest blessing!"
Because if something had happened back there…
He shuddered.
If he were to actually cross that line with Utaha, the aftermath was as clear as day.
In one scenario, she'd surely lord it over him for the rest of his life, turning their relationship into some bizarre game of control. With her twisted personality, Utaha could very well develop new "hobbies" involving him, forcing him into ever more humiliating situations under the guise of punishment for his misdeeds.
In another, colder outcome, she might kick him out with disdain, severing all ties. She'd likely be heartbroken, devastated by the betrayal of her trust in him. Kanade didn't want to imagine how much he'd hate himself if he became the kind of man who hurt someone as proud as Utaha.
But the most horrifying possibility?
Utaha might forgive him.
Not only forgive him but comfort him, downplay the whole incident, and insist it was no big deal—while still rejecting any notion of a romantic relationship. She'd continue living her life, eventually moving on to someone else, leaving Kanade to watch as the woman he had wronged and still loved drifted away.
That thought made him feel physically ill.
"Why did I even think this whole situation was a good idea…" he muttered, clutching the sink for support.
His mind raced through the myriad ways things could have gone horribly wrong if he hadn't gotten that call. The absurdity of the "plan B" he'd hatched—the item from the vending machine—only added to his embarrassment.
But now he had a chance to redirect his thoughts and energy.
He pulled out his phone and dialed back the number of his unexpected savior: Kato Megumi.
She was practically a divine intervention.
The phone connected, and her calm, measured voice answered on the other end:
"Hello?"
Kanade's voice nearly cracked as he responded. "Kato? Thank you! I don't know how to say this, but you saved me!"
"…Saved you?" she echoed, her tone mild but clearly curious.
"It's a long story," he sighed. "Let's just say your call came at the perfect time. I owe you one. Seriously."
"That's nice to hear," she replied. "But I wasn't expecting such a dramatic reaction. I just called because I heard from Eriri that you're hosting a study session tomorrow and wanted to check in."
Kanade blinked. "Oh, yeah… That's happening. Wait, how'd you know about that?"
"Eriri mentioned it," Kato explained smoothly. "She said you're all meeting early, so I wanted to ask if I could join in. I've been having some trouble keeping up in class lately."
Kanade couldn't help but smile at her candidness. "Really? That's surprising. You don't seem like the type to struggle with schoolwork."
"Well…" There was a brief pause, and he could faintly hear a trickling sound in the background. "I missed a day because I wasn't feeling well, and after that, I couldn't quite catch up. Math, specifically, has been giving me trouble."
"Math," Kanade echoed sympathetically. "Yeah, math can be brutal. Even missing one class can throw you off completely."
He remembered his own experiences all too well: dozing off for a few minutes in class, only to look up and find the blackboard filled with hieroglyphics that the teacher was already erasing.
Before he could share his own horror stories, he noticed the faint sound of running water again.
"…Kato, are you, uh, busy right now?"
"Hm? Oh, no, not at all. I'm just…" There was a brief pause. "In the bath."
"…"
Kanade's brain short-circuited.
"That's why I might have been a little distracted earlier," Kato added. "Here, I'll turn on video. It'll be easier to talk."
"Wait—"
Before he could process her words, his phone vibrated with an incoming video call request. Against his better judgment, his thumb tapped "Accept."
The screen lit up, revealing Kato in her room, dressed in a comfortable pink-and-white hoodie with matching striped pajama shorts and black knee socks. Her casual, homey appearance made her seem like the quintessential girl-next-door.
Kanade exhaled in relief, realizing she wasn't actually calling from the bath.
"Can you see me clearly?" Kato asked, adjusting her phone on what seemed to be a stand.
"Uh, yeah. Loud and clear."
Kanade carefully averted his gaze, noting how the loose hoodie shifted slightly with her movements, revealing a faint glimpse of her collarbone. The innocuous yet suggestive image made him feel oddly self-conscious.
"Good," Kato said with a small nod. She knelt down, finally sitting still, and her calm expression made Kanade relax—slightly.
But he couldn't help but grumble internally:
Not from the bath, huh? Could've mentioned that sooner!