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"Then I'll see you later."
Max didn't even hesitate at Moka Akashiya's invitation—he agreed right away.
He didn't have anything planned for the afternoon anyway.
Originally, he was going to spend the day gaming… but when a pretty girl invites you out on a date, how could you possibly turn that down?
They settled on a time and place.
After that, Max sprawled out on the sofa without moving and opened up another message.
Utaha:"Junior-kun, are you feeling better now?"
Her full name was Utaha Kasumigaoka.
That's right—the famous black-stocking senpai from Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend.
She'd debuted as a light novel author under the pen name "Kasumi Shiko," and was also a top student at school.
Flashback to two and a half years ago—
After Max crossed over into this world and figured out both the situation around him and his own circumstances, he put together a plan.
Mainly, how to make money and improve his life.
After weighing the options—part-time jobs, sugar mommas—he realized the easiest fit for him was the ACGN industry: anime, manga, games, and novels.
No point overthinking it. Max chose light novels straightaway.
After some market research and prep work, Max debuted under the pen name Daydream with his first work Game of the Gods.
He submitted it to the Shinsei Awards held by Fushikawa Bunko, won the grand prize, snagged the reward money, and gained access to multiple promotional channels.
The first volume sold over 100,000 copies in its first week alone.
He became the undisputed rookie king.
Later, through his editor, Machida Sonoko, he met Utaha Kasumigaoka—who at the time was going through a rough patch. Slowly but surely, the two grew closer.
They'd known each other for a year now.
Their relationship… well, it was in that gray, ambiguous stage.
Looking at her message, Max's lips curved slightly.
Max:"Yeah, I'm all good now. Actually, I'm so strong I could do push-ups seven times in a single night without breaking a sweat."
Meanwhile, over in Taitō district—
Inside a twelfth-floor apartment of a high-end complex, Utaha Kasumigaoka sat at her desk.
She was dressed in a loose white nightgown; the collar fell open just enough to reveal her collarbones, and further down… well, there was no shortage of curves.
Her long, silky black hair spilled over her shoulders, and her pale, delicate face curved into the faintest smile as her red lips tilted up.
"Seven times in one night… push-ups?"
Her beautiful, wine-red eyes flickered at Max's reply.
Then, as if realizing something, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
A hint of shyness flashed in her eyes.
Her fingers tapped against the phone screen:
Utaha:"Junior-kun, when you say push-ups… are we talking about the normal kind of push-ups?"
Max's reply came back almost instantly:
Max:"Of course the normal kind. What other kind could there be?"
"But if there are other kinds, you'll have to tell me. I'm curious. And if senpai could show me, step by step, that'd be even better."
"Step by step…"
Utaha's thoughts immediately wandered to a few… subscription-only kinds of "content."
Her face flushed crimson, spreading like ink bleeding into water.
She looked like a blooming peach blossom—radiant and irresistible.
Trying not to think of those images, she steadied herself and typed back:
Utaha:"Ara, so Junior-kun is openly flaunting his pervy desires now? Should I be considering your request, then?"
Back in Nerima district—
Reading her message, Max's grin carried a touch of amusement.
Max:"Do you really need to ask? After all, just look at what we are to each other."
Utaha blinked, as if teasing, maybe even a little expectant:
Utaha:"Oh? And what are we to each other? Senpai and kouhai? Upperclassman and underclassman? Or… something else?"
Max:"What do you think we are?"
Utaha:"I asked first, so answer me first."
Max:"Fine. I think we're at the stage where we could… do this and that together in the same room."
Utaha instantly caught the double meaning, her cheeks heating up again.
Biting her lip, she typed:
Utaha:"Do… what, exactly? Be a little more specific."
Max:"You know. The kind of thing that's intense sometimes, gentle other times, but always leaves both sides feeling really good afterwards."
Utaha: "…"
She knew Max was deliberately steering her thoughts down a dirty path, but she still couldn't help it.
Images—wild and heated—flashed across her mind before she could stop them.
Her eyes flickered, and her long, pale legs squeezed together slightly, rubbing unconsciously.
Suddenly, it felt warm.
When Utaha didn't reply as quickly as usual, Max chuckled to himself.
As their relationship grew closer, their conversations had become more casual, more unrestrained.
Max knew her type well.
On the surface, Utaha looked like the perfect composed beauty, but when chatting she could be shockingly blunt, her words sometimes explosive—spiced with just a dash of sharp tongue.
Still, she wasn't mean-spirited. Just… playful.
Mature on the outside, sweet on the inside—kind of like a banana.
An hour later, after wrapping up his chat with Utaha, Max tidied up and headed out again.
He pulled on a mask and a cap.
This was his way of avoiding unwanted attention.
Plenty of people were thirsty for him; if he went out unmasked, someone was bound to hit on him.
It wasn't so bad if it was a girl… but what if it was a guy?
The world was complicated. Boys had to protect themselves too.
Near the train station—
Max arrived at the café where he'd arranged to meet Moka Akashiya and ordered a coffee while waiting.
He didn't have to wait long.
Barely five minutes later, Moka walked in.
"Over here, Moka."
Max stood and waved.
"Max!"
The moment she saw him, Moka's smile bloomed like a flower across her delicate face, and she hurried over.
Ever since they'd parted yesterday, she kept finding her thoughts drifting back to him, wanting to see him again.
It left her a little confused.
Did she want to see Max himself… or did she just want to taste his blood again?
Though, now that she thought about it, maybe it didn't have to be one or the other.
Because she really did want to see him again.
After all, Max was her very first friend in the human world.
And yes… she really did want to drink his blood again too.
Unlike the bland blood packs she usually fed on, Max's blood had given her a sense of satisfaction she'd never experienced before.
Once Moka sat down across from him, a waiter came over.
She studied the menu for a while, hesitated, then finally ordered a cappuccino.
"Please wait a moment," the waiter said, turning to leave.
Moka looked back at Max, her face filled with surprise.
"Max… you look different somehow."
To her, he seemed even more handsome.
At first glance, maybe nothing had changed, but the impression he gave her now was different—more pleasing, more… radiant.
Noticing her curiosity, Max smiled faintly.
"Maybe it's just because something good happened yesterday. I slept well, so my mood's a little different. You know, your mood affects your whole aura."
"Is that so…"
Moka nodded, thinking that made sense.
Then, smiling, she leaned in a little and asked curiously:
"So what good thing happened to you yesterday, Max?"
His lips quirked. "Plenty of things. Like… becoming friends with you, for example."
"Eh!"
Moka's eyes widened slightly.
"....."