By now, Kasumigaoka Utaha had become a mature creator. Her talent, guided by Izumi Chihiro, had been unleashed to a greater extent. Coupled with her extraordinary dedication, this was fully showcased in the final volume.
"Honestly, there's no longer much need for me to give you advice," Izumi Chihiro concluded first.
He believed that the two of them were now more in a state of mutual exchange and mutual encouragement, rather than the one-sided imposition that had characterized their initial interactions.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression shifted slightly, then she smiled charmingly and said, "So, does this mean I've officially graduated now?"
"Graduated? Kasumigaoka senpai already changed her address a long time ago, didn't she? No need to emphasize it now," he retorted.
"Heh." Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled, her eyes sparkling.
"In that case, we should also switch to a more practical form of address from now on."
"Chihiro." She said it as if she had practiced it many times, her burgundy pupils revealing a hint of allure.
"Utaha?" he tentatively asked.
"Senior, don't omit it, junior," Kasumigaoka Utaha's delicate brows arched.
"Utaha Senior?" he chuckled inwardly.
Even the seemingly most mature Senior had a childish side when she was sulking. She probably wanted to regain the face she had lost when she used to call him 'Teacher.'
"Hmm, what a good boy. Big Sister likes you very much. If you have time, you can come to my house. Big Sister will teach you some useful knowledge, you know." Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned forward, her face tilted, long hair cascading like a waterfall, her finger lightly touching her red lips, her demeanor perfectly unrestrained.
"Don't get into strange roles, hey!" he couldn't help but retort.
Kasumigaoka Utaha still looked at him with a half-smile.
"Speaking of which, the ending is still missing a bit, isn't it?" he changed the subject.
"Hmm, I'm still thinking," Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze sharpened, and she looked at him critically. "Sayuka or Mami, who should I choose in the end? According to my setting, Sayuka should be the sole and unshakeable true heroine, right? What do you think, Chihiro?"
"You've asked this question before, Senior, haven't you?" he said with an unchanging expression.
"Indeed, I still remember your scumbag-like remarks back then, Chihiro. What, are you going to use the same answer to fob me off again?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes revealed a hint of disappointment.
Sayuka was the first character she created, a character into whom she directly projected her own personality, used to represent herself. Mami, on the other hand, could represent others. Therefore, this answer was very important, signifying a choice.
Literary girls liked to speak in riddles. However, it wasn't hard to understand.
"Yes, my answer is still the same," Izumi Chihiro's eyes were bright and sincere.
"Both Sayuka and Mami are heroines who make one's heart flutter. They both love the protagonist. Since that's the case, the protagonist should face these two different affections. Accepting one person will hurt the other. In my opinion, that is the act of a scumbag." His impassioned tone was as if he were giving a grand speech.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze was blank, her red lips slightly parted. After a long moment of composure, she finally gave him a look reserved for scum.
"What an incorrigible answer. The word 'scumbag' alone is not enough to describe it. Anyone who thinks like that should die a hundred times."
However, when such an unreasonable statement came from the mouth of the person before her… his serious demeanor made one unable to help but want to believe his twisted logic.
After a few seconds of silence, Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled again, a somewhat morbid smile.
"How about this: Mami cuts off the fickle male lead's head, Sayuka kills Mami for revenge, and then Sayuka sails into the ocean on a speedboat, holding the male lead's head… Doesn't that plot sound interesting?! It's a similar kind of brilliance to Madoka, the Old Thief should be ecstatic!" Her gaze was somewhat aggressive.
"Uh, that's not really necessary, is it? After all, it's a youth romance novel. Doing that would be too unorthodox. Give the protagonist a way out, won't you? He is a character you created, after all," Izumi Chihiro said, sweating.
"Of course, I'm just joking," Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted lightly. "However, I have indeed thought of an ending. I'll just make it a harem ending. As for the post-ending interview, if anyone asks, I'll say, 'This is what my teacher taught me. He loves this kind of setting the most, and his dream is to have a harem.'"
"Please spare me that. I don't want to be socially dead," Izumi Chihiro still cared a little about his reputation.
"That, of course, is also just a joke," Kasumigaoka Utaha said slowly.
However, she had indeed thought of a solution for the ending. Since it was so difficult to decide, she would use an 'open ending,' where the protagonist chooses Sayuka but the possibility of Mami is still retained. Anyway, it was the last volume, so it was her right to be a little willful at the end.
… …
"That guy, he seemed to be coming back from the rooftop, right? But aren't rooftops usually closed off? What exactly did he go there for, could it be…?"
Eriri had just returned from the restroom when she bumped into her childhood friend coming down from upstairs, and a suspicion arose in her heart.
There had been a few times before when he brought his bento but didn't eat it in the classroom, nor did he go to their secret base.
The next day, she tried to stake out the place, wanting to figure out this mystery. Then she saw that woman, her lifelong rival on another level!
"Kasumigaoka Utaha?"
Eriri's gaze swept over her.
Black stockings, long legs, a model figure, intoxicating beauty—she was indeed one of the two great beauties of Toyogasaki Academy who could be compared to Eriri.
"Sawamura Spencer Eriri."
Kasumigaoka Utaha clearly spoke her name.
"You know me?"
"You're a celebrity at school, after all."
"Well, it's been a long time, then."
"The feeling is mutual."
Beneath the gentle greetings, a terrifying killing intent was hidden.
"So, Chihiro comes to the rooftop to meet you every time."
Eriri's tone was subtle.
"That's right, oh. Is Kashiwagi Eri-sensei perhaps jealous?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha had a playful expression.
"You, you… Chihiro told you about this!?"
Eriri's serious expression immediately turned to panic.
"This kind of thing, it's not hard to guess once you slightly understand Chihiro's social circle. As for my identity, I believe Sawamura, you already clearly understand, right?"
"Yes, that's right… Oh, I have something else to do, I'll be leaving first."
Caught off guard, Eriri was already planning to escape.
"Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, you haven't answered my question yet."
Kasumigaoka Utaha blocked the twin-tailed girl's path with her tall figure, like a big bad wolf stopping a little white rabbit, pressing down on her.
Eriri retreated in a panic, until her back hit the wall.
Scared.jpg
The woman who gave both the protagonist and the readers PTSD is back!
"Nani, what are you going to do! Don't expect me to comply! I'm telling you, I'm the young lady of Sawamura, a person like you…"
Eriri's blustering appearance was like a delicate girl in a doujinshi plot, even her lines were similar. In fact, she did indeed think of certain plots from doujinshi.
"I won't do anything to you, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei. Or are you perhaps fantasizing about something?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha had a look of disdain, as if she had seen through Eriri's thoughts.
"Speak, Sawamura Student, what are your thoughts? Although it's our first meeting, we should already know each other… I don't want to be coveted by someone like you."
She moved aside and continued.
These contemptuous words made Eriri somewhat annoyed.
"What do you mean, 'someone like me'! I'm not a doujinshi artist anymore, but a officially debuted manga artist! Kasumigaoka Utaha, you have no right to look down on me, do you?"
Eriri said with an unwilling tone.
"Mm, I see, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei."
Kasumigaoka Utaha still had that nonchalant look. "If that's all you have to say, then I should be going."
Unbeknownst to them, the initiative between the two had shifted.
"Wait!"
Eriri stopped her.
Since that's the case, I won't pretend anymore!
"Don't keep bothering Chihiro every day! A woman like you will only bring trouble to Chihiro…"
"Speaking of trouble, isn't Sawamura Student's personality more troublesome?"
Before she could finish, Kasumigaoka Utaha interrupted her, her eyes narrowed slightly, exuding a dangerous aura.
"However, with that statement, Sawamura Student is admitting that she's jealous, aren't you?"
"Wh-… what jealousy? I'm just slightly concerned about his social interactions, to prevent him from meeting bad people. As a childhood friend, this is just a very normal thing."
Eriri gave a reason she considered 'convincing.'
"childhood friend, huh…"
Kasumigaoka Utaha repeated it, a hint of disdain visible at the corner of her mouth. "What era is this that you're still using the childhood friend relationship as an excuse? I'm telling you, a childhood friend is nothing! That attribute is long past its prime, it's just the role of a loser."
"Loser!? You'd better take that back!"
Eriri bared her fangs, making a threatening gesture.
"It's a fact, blonde, loser, Sawamura Student."
Kasumigaoka Utaha tossed out this mocking remark and walked downstairs without looking back, leaving only the twin-tailed girl trembling with anger.
"Ka-… su-… mi-… ga-… oka-… Utaha! From now on, you and I are irreconcilable!"
The two thus became sworn enemies.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter