Chapter 18: Voldemort Joins the Group Chat
How could Katsura Kotonoha really think that way? She hadn't even met the man, so how could she guess so accurately?
Kasumigaoka Utaha exhaled slowly, steadying her emotions with Ripple Breathing. In the group chat, the other girls were sending cheerful encouragements to Kotonoha, but Utaha stayed silent. It was better not to voice the darker thoughts that had briefly flashed in her mind. Why poison the air with guesses best left unsaid?
Still, her irritation bubbled over. That "Mysterious Person"—always wandering, always teasing—kept adding schedule after schedule into his diary as if his life were some elaborate fan event.
Kasumi Shiko: "Today he mentioned going to Kanagawa for basketball, camping, idol concerts, my book signing… How many itineraries is he piling up for himself now?"
Classical Literature Club Girl: "On the first day, he wrote about playing with his little sister. But on the second day, he overslept and forgot. That's consistent—he's careless."
Utaha stared at Chitanda's calm, almost clinical deduction and sighed. All of them were relying on scraps written by the man himself. A male, clearly an otaku, with a younger sister, newly resigned from his job and wandering around Japan. That was all they really knew.
And none of it could be trusted. The Mysterious Person wouldn't be stupid enough to hand them his real identity. Until he stood before them, he was just a shadow on the page.
The thought made her clench her jaw. Her fingers hovered over the diary, her frustration spilling out in sharp, bitter words. She didn't expect them to be chosen.
But an hour later, her heart skipped when her own message appeared at the bottom of Renji Miyauchi's diary.
---
[Kasumigaoka Utaha:
I am Kasumigaoka Utaha, though I imagine most readers already know that much.
Tom, I've noticed how easily you keep filling your schedule lately. You've even written that you might attend my book signing. That honor leaves me… conflicted.
Of course, I would welcome you. I sincerely invite you to attend. But if you are too busy, I understand. After all, I am only the woman remembered for deleting the heroine in an IF route, a dull supporting act that no one looks up to. How could I dare demand anything of you?
Even so, not only I, but Hoshino Ai as well, look forward to your presence. We've even gone so far as to form a LINE group chat around you. Will you join us, Tom?]
---
Renji rubbed his forehead, muttering to himself.
Fantastic. In every other diary novel, the girls get curious, maybe a little flustered. Me? I write two pages too many and suddenly Utaha looks like she's about to go full yandere on me.
He eyed the comment again, then chuckled humorlessly. Good thing I never revealed myself. Otherwise, I'd already be locked up in a soundproof basement, toyed with by a bunch of yanderes.
"Forget it," he muttered. "In a couple of days, I'll slip your IF route manga into Eriri's shoe locker. That should spice things up."
He hesitated at the mention of the group chat. Was it worth it? A chance to peek into what they were saying about him… but the risk of exposure was high. He tapped to join—only to be greeted by an unexpected system prompt.
"The Diary Master will automatically become the group owner upon entry. Do you wish to proceed?"
Renji froze. So much for sneaking in as a lurker. He had dreamed of slipping inside under a fake name, observing quietly from the shadows. Now? He'd walk in wearing a neon sign that screamed Group Owner. Utaha would tear him apart.
He weighed the options. Writing in his diary gave him time, space, control. A group chat? That was fast, chaotic, and every word would be seen as his "stance."
But curiosity gnawed at him. After a moment of hesitation, he clicked Confirm.
---
Meanwhile, in the fan club chat room, Utaha's resentful comment had already stirred up waves.
Within half an hour, the group expanded from four to thirteen members. Most newcomers lurked, hesitant to speak. A few, like the socially anxious "Guitar Hero," joined but fell completely silent.
But of course, the chuuni virus spread. Rikka Takanashi loudly proclaimed the authority of her Evil King's True Eye—only to be immediately challenged by another girl styling herself as the "Fallen Saint Black Cat." Soon the chat was flooded with chuuni dueling incantations, dragging the conversation to the edge of a text-based apocalypse.
And then—
[Voldemort has joined the group chat.]
[Voldemort has obtained group owner status.]
[Voldemort has enabled global mute.]
The entire chat froze.
Voldemort: "Hmm, still a small group. I came too early, it seems."
Voldemort: "Why can't I see the chat history? Boring."
Voldemort: @Ai—Of course it was you who made this group. Very fitting. I wanted to send you your theme song, but you're not ready to sing it yet. For now, here are the lyrics."
[Voldemort uploaded attachment: Idol]
Voldemort: @Kasumi utako—You're impatient, but don't be. Didn't I already say I'd come if I had time? I'll save your first volume of Saekano for another day."
Voldemort: @All members—I can already guess who some of you are, but I'm sleepy. I'll write about it in the diary instead. Don't wait up."
[Voldemort has left the group chat.]
[Ai has obtained group owner status.]
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then chaos.
Ai: "W-Was that… the Mysterious Person!?"
Evil King's True Eye Strongest: "Such terrifying pressure… even my sealed power was suppressed!"
Fallen Saint Black Cat: "Relax. It was just a mute. Give me admin rights and I'll suppress you too."
Classical Literature Club Girl: "But why Voldemort? Does that name mean something?"
Kasumi Shiko: "…Who knows what kind of sick joke he's playing. All I know is that he just proved he can waltz in, steal the group owner title, and silence us at will. What an infuriating permission dog."
Her fists tightened around the diary. He had walked in, taunted them, and left with smug laughter. She could only grind her teeth.
But his intrusion had shaken the lurkers free. One by one, new voices appeared.
UMR: "I wanted to ask if he knew me, but I missed my chance."
Sakura: "I wanted to thank him. Ripple Breathing has helped me feel better."
Ai: @Sakura—"What's wrong? Are you sick?"
Sakura: "Yes. Health problems. But Ripple Breathing gives me strength."
Menma: "Me too. I almost drowned when I was small, and I've been weak ever since. I can't attend school like others. But I practice Ripple every day, hoping I can heal… and also find the boy who saved me back then."
Utaha's irritation dulled into a quiet reflection. These girls were flawed, wounded, human. Far from perfect heroines. And yet, thanks to the diary, they were gathering here, changing their futures.
But before that warmth could settle—
[Voldemort has joined the group chat.]
[Voldemort has enabled global mute.]
Voldemort: "Back again. Leaving again. @Kasumi Utako—angry yet? Then come find me, hahaha!"
[Voldemort has left the group chat.]
Utaha ground her teeth so hard the diary creaked in her hands.
One day, she swore silently, I'll wring the smugness right out of you.
Meanwhile, Ai's eyes sparkled over the lyrics he'd left her, Kaguya Shinomiya struggled with her flip phone that couldn't even install LINE, and far away, Katsura Kotonoha calmly polished a kitchen knife.
No, she hadn't snapped. Not yet. But the reflection in the blade hinted at a girl the world hadn't met.
(A/N) = 150 power stone=1 extra chapter and so on and all extra chapter will be released on Sunday