Chapter 27: I Hope Kaguya Shinomiya Can Help Me Answer My Questions
Kasumigaoka Utaha sat at her desk, pen tapping against the edge of her notebook.
Until now, Yukino had only been mentioned once by the Mysterious Person—and even then, Renji had gone so far as to save her from a car accident.
Meanwhile, she, Kasumigaoka Utaha, was dragged into absurd situations again and again.
The difference was glaring.
Utaha closed her eyes and laughed under her breath. She didn't even need to ask why. Yukino was the legitimate heroine of her story—the one meant to laugh last. And she? At best, she had an IF route, a consolation prize. In the main story, she was destined to lose.
Losers. Always persecuted.
Her hand moved, scratching sharp lines into the margins of her diary:
"Hmph… as a loser, I'm sorry. One day, this bastard will taste our revenge. Hehehe…"
When she leaned back, the ink glistened like venom.
---
The next few days passed in a deceptive calm.
At Toyosaki Academy, rumors about Utaha and Eriri Sawamura swirled nonstop. Even their homeroom teacher had called them in to ask directly. With perfect timing, both claimed they were just long-time friends. That explanation didn't kill the whispers, but it at least gave them cover.
For Eriri, who had only just entered high school, the attention almost matched Utaha's. For Utaha herself, the attention was an irritation—but one she handled with her usual poise.
Meanwhile, Renji Miyauchi played his role as the quiet, straight-laced student. He traded idle conversations about horror stories with his classmate Sakakibara Kouichi, scaring away most curious girls by deadpanning questions like, "Do you think human char siu bao would taste better steamed or pan-fried?"
After that, even Kouichi gave him strange looks.
His sister, Miyauchi Kouka, wasn't fooled. She saw right through him—Renji was driving others away on purpose. But she let him be. High school was fresh and dazzling for her; she'd find friends, maybe even girlfriends, and if her brother regretted it later… well, she could always set him up with someone.
Her gaze fell on her deskmate, Kato Megumi. Pretty, gentle, approachable. But invisible to most. Kouka found herself smiling—if she played matchmaker between her brother and Megumi, she'd deserve triple her pocket money.
"If I were my little brother, I'd kowtow to me," she muttered, half-joking.
---
Renji, of course, saw all of this coming. He knew his sister's schemes, and Kato Megumi wasn't yet the sharp, commanding heroine she would become in the future. For now, she was still a background character, easy to overlook.
So Renji kept his attention where it mattered: the diary rewards.
He'd been testing the system, copying passages from Saekano directly. The results? Terrible. Copying gave the worst rewards—like the diary itself looked down on lazy plagiarism. Only when he mixed in his own thoughts, or original entries, did he receive something better.
He scratched a note to himself: No shortcuts. Keep it original.
That day's comment section caught his eye. Among the usual sarcasm and chatter, one stood out—Kaguya Shinomiya had posted, openly revealing her identity and inviting diary holders to an offline gathering. Saturday. Minami-Shinjuku Station.
Renji smirked. Minami-Shinjuku was practically deserted, the perfect place for Shinomiya family bodyguards to lie in wait. If he showed up, he'd be flagged immediately. Clever setup, but not clever enough.
And their excuse? To confirm Yotsuya Miko's situation.
Renji leaned back. If his Pure Yang Body made him a walking ghost-repellent, standing anywhere near Miko would out him instantly. Too risky. Not worth it. Jerry, maybe. But the little mouse was still locked in his room, trying to invent the Breath of the Mouse.
So Renji opened his diary and wrote:
---
[I heard you're planning an offline gathering this Saturday. I hope you all enjoy yourselves.
As for Yotsuya Miko, don't panic. If you suddenly feel unwell around her, it's just a vengeful spirit brushing by. A few days of rest and you'll recover. She's not a danger unless you make her one.
But I won't be joining. Honestly, after what I've put Kasumigaoka-sensei through, if she saw me in person, her emotions might be… intense. I'd hate to spoil your first meeting with unpleasant memories.
So instead, I'll offer an apology and a gift. Kasumi-sensei, when you read this, check the group. I've uploaded your compensation. If it's not enough, I'll make it up to you later.
And as for you, Kaguya Shinomiya—what can I even say? Explaining your story is like trying to fix a sieve with duct tape. Plot holes everywhere. Even if I told you everything, I doubt you'd understand.
Still, here's the short version:
Your father's health collapses in two years. The branch families rebel. Your eldest brother locks you up for a political marriage. Then comes a string of scenes that range from "new-age romance" to outright comedy.
Highlights?
Your ex-maid happily cohabiting with your so-called hero.
Said hero extorting a billion yen "for revenge," then keeping most of it as startup capital.
A marriage application waved in your dying father's hospital room.
And an unforgettable four-chapter essay on fried noodles.
Finally, you escape, only to be cornered by your brother. When he doubts you, you declare…
"I want to be a photographer."
Yes. That line. The one that's haunted me and countless others.
Even Jerry spat out his cheesecake when I told him.
Kaguya Shinomiya, I never got to ask the author why. But you're here now. Please—explain it. What in the world did you mean?]
---
In the Shinomiya mansion, Kaguya read the entry three times over.
The first half she could rationalize. Her father's prestige held the family together; if he fell, the vultures would circle. A political marriage? That much was believable.
But the rest?
A maid cohabiting with her rescuer? A billion-yen breakup fee? A four-chapter ode to yakisoba?
And finally—her future self, standing proud and declaring, "I want to be a photographer."
Her hands trembled. Her face burned.
She had no memory of ever wanting such a thing. She had never even touched a camera. And yet, the image of herself standing there, cool and composed, haunted her like a ghost.
"Why… why would I say that?" she whispered.
The absurdity gnawed at her, driving her to the edge of madness. She closed her eyes, but all she saw was that single line, glowing like neon in the dark.
"I want to be a photographer."
It made no sense. And the more it didn't, the more she felt she had to find the answer—no matter the cost.
---
✨ End of Chapter 27 ✨
150ps=1 extra chapter
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