After reading Kurosora Twilight-sensei's suggestion message a few more times, Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly felt inspiration explode.
Without another word she pulled out her laptop and started typing.
At the same time, she felt a trace of gratitude—and even a little admiration—toward Kurosora Twilight-sensei.
After all, while Machida Sonoko was an editor who could point out problems, she couldn't really give Utaha much inspiration. She even kept urging her to axe the series, or to put down her pen for a while and go date a guy for "research."
Honestly—since when was Kasumigaoka Utaha that casual?
Dating was the first step toward marriage with someone she truly liked; she'd have to find someone handsome and talented, someone who understood her, doted on her, and protected her.
As a super beautiful girl, she was destined to stand out—if her boyfriend was too weak, he'd probably give up before long. Utaha Kasumigaoka did not like weak men.
Just look at Love Metronome: the lonely heroine Sayuka longs most to be protected and warmed in body and soul. The male lead wins her heart bit by bit, helping her again and again.
Thinking of Machida Sonoko, Utaha couldn't help curling her lip. That editor really knew how to be discouraging. Still, she had to thank Sonoko for introducing her to Kurosora Twilight-sensei—his advice was incredibly useful, like a veil had been lifted.
…
Over to Hayashi Maki: after lunch he strolled around Hakuo Academy.
Come to think of it, he hadn't really explored the campus since he got here. Scouting spots was important, too—if a "time-management master" didn't know the terrain, the moment several girls showed up together it'd turn into a full-scale battlefield.
As Japan's top high school, Hakuo was enormous. Even the path he wandered now was lined with neatly trimmed flowerbeds and trees. Ridiculously, there was even a small forest behind the campus, adding a touch of luxury and mystery.
As he surveyed the area, he spotted a pink-haired girl staring worriedly at a tree—as if something up there needed attention.
She was very pretty, wearing the girls' uniform of Hakuo. Her long pink hair fluttered; a yellow barrette pinned a lock of fringe at her forehead, giving her features a touch of firmness. Her eyes were yellow-green, bright and striking.
Since she was a beauty, Maki wasn't about to pass up the chance to chat.
"Hey—what are you doing?"
At the sound, the girl looked over, eyes lighting. Maki also heard a "meow~" from the tree. He looked up. "A kitten?"
"Are you worried it'll fall?"
"Mm. Yes." She nodded hard and glanced at Maki with expectation. She had a severe fear of heights, so she couldn't climb up to rescue it herself.
Maki figured that since the mischievous kitten could climb up, it could probably climb down—but he wasn't about to miss such a prime chance to raise a beauty's favorability.
"Leave it to me."
He flashed a smile, sprang toward the tree, tapped lightly up the trunk, and reached the branch in a blink. One scoop, and he dropped back down with the kitten.
"Here—you go."
"But the school forbids pets. I suggest you hand it over to the student council—or tuck it in your bag after class and sneak it off campus."
"Thank you, I will." The girl beamed, hugging the tiny kitten. The kitten seemed to sense her gentleness and kept meowing, rubbing its cheek against her hand.
"No need to thank me—wasn't a big deal." Maki waved and turned to leave.
Counting silently… three, two, one—
"Wait! I'm Katsura Hinagiku, a second-year. Could I have your name?"
Right on cue, the girl called after him, solemnly asking. Maki flashed a dazzling smile. "I'm Hayashi Maki, Class 1-B. So you're my senpai."
"Katsura-senpai, nice to meet you—please take care of me."
"Mhm, and you as well." Hinagiku bowed with a smile.
"Well then, see you, Senpai. I've got something to do."
"Go on—I'll take the kitten to the student council."
Leaving a good impression, Maki walked off. Inside, though, he wasn't calm. Katsura Hinagiku… that's the student council president from Hayate no Gotoku, isn't it? And the kendo-club captain to boot. Back in elementary school he'd even had a classmate named Katsura Kotonoha—were they related?
Running into Hinagiku was a coincidence; he didn't dwell on it. Unlike Shiina Mahiru, Asada Shino, or Yukino, Hinagiku wasn't someone you could make a move on after a first meeting.
Mahiru had fallen into his hands because she'd been a bit self-destructive, and he'd been shameless enough to push. Shino had been a case of "hero saves beauty" again and again. As for Yukinoshita Yukino, he hadn't sealed a pact yet; his chance to even touch her had come through her sister Haruno.
With Hinagiku, there was no rushing it. Besides being kendo-club captain and student council president, she was top-tier in combat potential—still a sword genius even without the Saginomiya family's famed blade and her ultimate technique.
Wait—wasn't Nibutani Shinka aiming to be student council president? How was she going to compete with someone like Hinagiku? Maybe she'd have to wait until third year—after Hinagiku graduated—to take the seat. Nibutani had a long wait ahead.
Thinking as he walked, Maki came to a vending machine—where he saw a beautiful figure standing there in a daze, troubled over how to get a drink. He smiled and strolled over; under Yukinoshita Yukino's wary gaze, he pulled out coins and fed them into the slot. The selection lit up; he pressed MAX Coffee twice. Two cans clunked down.
"Here you go."
Yukino stared at him, expression complicated, and didn't reach out.
"What—don't want it?"
"Hmph. I do. Why wouldn't I?" Seeing his playful look annoyed her. Thinking about how he'd "bullied" her more than once—what was a drink, anyway?
She took it. Makis lips curled; he cracked open the other can and took a swig. "Vending machines take cash, too—the slot below the coin slot. But it's better to use coins. This model's old and doesn't give change—if you feed it bills, you'll just be buying drinks for passersby."
At that, Yukino shot him a glance and said nothing, sitting on a nearby bench. She held the can and stared off in silence.
Maki sighed and went over to sit beside her. "So—what happened? Seeing our 'Second Heiress' with such a lonely look makes my heart ache."
"I'm not lonely. And please keep your distance."
She scooted a bit further away. Maki watched her with interest. "Even if you say that, I'm not leaving now. You know me—I'm shameless and clingy. If you won't tell me what's wrong, I'll keep pestering you. And then… who knows what will happen, or who might see."
At the heat in his eyes, Yukino flashed back to him hugging and kissing her; her cheeks went scarlet. "Don't—don't you dare!"
"Then tell me what's bothering you, and I won't."
"…"
After a moment, she turned her face away and murmured, "Nothing's bothering me. I just came to buy a drink after my bento."
"Is that so? I'm the one bothered." Maki grinned, staring straight at her. "I'm troubled over how to get our Second Heiress to let me kiss her."
Her gaze turned glacial, as if she could kill him with her eyes. She pulled out her phone and lifted it to her ear. "Hello, police? There's a pervert here—yes, at Hakuo Academy. Please come quickly."
Maki watched her with amusement, as if waiting for the next act. Of course she wouldn't actually call. He had a thick skin; she still cared about face. Rumors about being harassed would trouble her.
Seeing he wasn't afraid, she ran out of options. Thinking of his identity as a demon, she understood—mysterious powers or not, the police wouldn't be able to do anything. If she couldn't fight him, she could at least avoid him.
Yukino stood to leave—only for Maki to seize her wrist and pull her onto his lap.
"Yah! What are you doing? This is school!"
She struggled on reflex, but the scoundrel only held her tighter. "That's what makes it exciting. Don't move—be good."
Shivering, Yukino glared up at him. "Are you trying to bully me again? I already apologized, and—"
"I know. I just want to hold you, that's all."
Yukino actually laughed in anger. You call that "just"?
"Then could you at least move that ugly thing away first?"
~~~
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