After stepping out of the classroom, Tatsuki asked bluntly, "You were looking for me?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha met his gaze, tucking a strand of her long black hair behind her ear as she introduced herself. "I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha, Class 3-1."
"Oh." Tatsuki nodded casually.
"…Tatsuki-kun, could you come with me to the rooftop? There's something I'd like to ask."
"The rooftop, huh…"
That place instantly reminded him of the time he'd run into Utaha there by chance while chatting with Eriri and Megumi. His eye twitched slightly, but he still agreed. "Alright."
…
On the rooftop, the two faced each other.
Up close, Utaha was undeniably beautiful—tall and elegant, wearing a white headband over her smooth, straight black hair. Her dark crimson eyes gave her a calm, intellectual air, while her voluptuous curves and long, black-stockinged legs exuded quiet allure.
Utaha began as if making small talk. "Tatsuki-kun, do you like light novels?"
"They're alright. I actually enjoy them quite a bit."
Her eyes brightened. "Then… have you read Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day? Or Heaven's Lost Property—"
She started listing a long chain of well-known titles.
Tatsuki instantly understood her intent and cut in flatly, "Yeah. I'm the one who published those."
"???"
Utaha froze. That wasn't the answer she'd expected. She'd planned to gauge his reactions through casual conversation—not have him drop that bomb on her.
Her heart skipped a beat. "Wait—you're saying you're the 'Unheard Flower' senpai?"
Tatsuki didn't hide it. "My pen name really is 'Unheard Flower.'"
"Tatsuki… Unheard Flower… it really is you!"
Her excitement overflowed. She could hardly believe that the senior who'd once given her crucial guidance in writing was actually her underclassman!
Her voice trembled as she asked, "Unheard Flower-senpai, do you still remember Kasumi-ko?"
Tatsuki sighed, deciding to just lay it out. "Don't beat around the bush. Kasumi-ko—the junior I used to chat with, author of Love Metronome—that's you, isn't it, Utaha?"
"…"
Her black-stockinged leg twitched slightly; she looked up at him with a faintly wounded expression. "Senpai, you're still as blunt as ever."
Tatsuki patted her shoulder with a small smile. "It's not that I'm blunt. You're just too roundabout."
"Even when we used to talk, you'd go in circles about everything. I prefer people who just say what they mean."
Utaha glanced down at the hand on her shoulder, but didn't pull away. Instead, she frowned slightly, asking the question that had haunted her the most. "Then, Senpai… why did you quit writing?"
Tatsuki blinked. "Can you not call me senpai?"
"…Huh?"
"Think about it. You're my senior in school, but I'm your senior in the industry. You calling me senpai while I call you Kasumigaoka-senpai sounds weird. Just call me Tatsuki."
That actually made sense. "Then… Tatsuki-kun, just call me Utaha."
"Alright, Utaha. As for your question—it's simple. I made enough money. So I quit."
"Huh?"
Utaha's eyes widened. That answer was far more… mundane than she'd expected. Her leg bounced lightly against the floor in disbelief. "So that's it? Just money?"
"And why did you stop keeping in touch with me?" she pressed. "Was it because my work wasn't good enough for you?"
That question had weighed on her heart for years. After finishing Love Metronome under his guidance, Tatsuki had vanished—no messages, no replies.
She'd often wondered if she'd disappointed him.
Tatsuki laughed. "You're overthinking it. Honestly, you were great. I just figured my advice wasn't useful anymore. You'd already surpassed me in writing."
His tone was calm, but to Utaha it sounded almost ironic.
He, the author of dozens of best-selling novels, saying she surpassed him? She, who had only one moderately successful book?
Her lips tightened.
Seeing the look in her eyes, Tatsuki smiled faintly. "I'm serious."
His voice carried a weight of sincerity that made her hesitate.
"But your works…" she murmured. "You can't fake that kind of success."
Tatsuki shook his head, chuckling bitterly. "Those aren't really mine. I just used them to make money—shamelessly changed the protagonists to resemble myself."
Anohana, Heaven's Lost Property… all of them were merely "borrowed."
He didn't see himself as virtuous, nor brilliant—just opportunistic. He wasn't proud of it, but he wasn't going to lie either.
"…"
Utaha was stunned. Not his own works? He plagiarized someone else's stories?
Her thoughts tangled. The man she'd admired so much—a fraud?
She couldn't accept it.
The wind brushed through her hair as she stood there, silent and conflicted.
Tatsuki saw it all. He didn't try to explain. What could he say—that he came from another world? That those stories weren't born here?
Pointless. Let her think what she would.
He left her standing there in confusion, walking off quietly.
…
Later, in the Occult Research Club room.
Tatsuki gathered everyone together.
"Tatsuki, is there something important today?" Yukino asked.
He looked around the group. "I want to know if you're willing to join my Clan."
"Clan?"
The word carried an ambiguous tone, making Yumiko Miura blush slightly. "W-wait, shouldn't you be asking Yui, Yukino, Megumi, or Eriri that? Maybe Marin too!"
She hurried over to the drowsy Miko Yotsuya. "What's this got to do with us?"
Having spent enough time in the club, she already understood the social dynamics. Yui, Yukino, Megumi, and Eriri were all Tatsuki's girlfriends; Marin was in a flirty gray zone.
But her and Miko? Totally innocent! No dating, no confessions—joining some 'Clan' now felt way too fast!
Yui gasped. "Eh? You're letting Yumiko join too? Aww, yay! Then we'll be best friends forever!"
Yumiko's mouth twitched. "That's not the issue here!"
The misunderstanding deepened.
"Ahem."
Tatsuki quickly clarified, "You're misunderstanding. 'Clan' here means my command group—my subordinates."
"My power, the King Authority, specifically the Chrono King, allows me to form a Clan. By making someone part of it, I can grant them abilities."
His tone grew serious. "With Ghouls starting to appear, I can tell this world's getting dangerous for you all. Joining my Clan will give you protection."
In truth, he was mainly speaking to Yumiko and Miko. The rest didn't worry him.
Even Yui—he already had plans for her. As his women, none of them would be left behind.
"I see…"
Yumiko exhaled in relief—though for some reason, a faint, inexplicable disappointment lingered in her chest.
"I'll do it!" Miko volunteered immediately. After being tormented by evil spirits for so long, getting powers sounded like the best deal ever.
Yukino and the others agreed one after another. Of course, none of them would refuse.
Especially Eriri and Megumi—if Tatsuki told them to wear collars, they might even agree.
As for Yukino, maybe she'd protest a little—but he knew she'd yield eventually.
Not that he'd go that far… at least not outside their private moments.
...
For every 50 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code SANTA for 50% OFF!