The reason for the tension was simple. As a rising star in the high school literary world, Kasumigaoka Utaha had carved out a name for herself using her real name as a pen name. Her breakout light novel, Love Metronome, had stirred the hearts of many and shot up the rankings of the light novel charts with surprising speed. Critics praised her emotional depth and devastating twists, while fans clung to every word she penned.
And the illustrations that brought her story to life? They came from the hands of none other than the elusive artist Kashiwagi Eri—a name that the general public revered, but few knew was actually Sawamura Spencer Eriri, the golden-haired ojou-sama of Toyonosaki Academy.
Naturally, as collaborators, Utaha knew Eriri's secret identity. Which is why, when Eriri kept missing her deadlines and ghosting manuscript submissions, Utaha didn't hesitate to use a little leverage. A friendly threat, of course.
"If this delay continues," she had said with that signature calm smile, "I might just leak to a few editors that the great Kashiwagi Eri is in fact the elegant school belle of Toyonosaki." Utaha's eyes glimmered with quiet menace as she sipped her iced coffee.
Now, with the sun high over the school rooftop and a thin breeze swaying her black hair, Utaha cast a glance at Eriri, who sat beside her, face puffed and clearly pouting.
"I've been busy lately!" Eriri said, arms crossed, her twin tails bouncing indignantly. "And weren't you the one who failed your second volume's editorial review? Why are you breathing down my neck for illustrations?"
"You're not suggesting that my rewrite got rejected because of your missing art, are you?" she added, glaring.
Utaha gave a small, amused shrug. "Now, now, that would be unreasonable of me." Her voice was silky, the kind that never let you tell if she was joking or not. "I'm simply here to ensure you're not… slacking off."
She smiled, and with a tilt of her head, added teasingly, "Unless your definition of 'busy' includes drawing risqué comics for a certain someone?"
"N-No! I've moved on from that kind of work!" Eriri shouted, her cheeks flaring pink. "I'm serious now!"
Utaha raised a brow, folding her arms beneath her chest—which, Eriri noted with annoyance, only served to further emphasize her already unfair bust size.
"Oh? Do tell."
Feeling backed into a corner, Eriri puffed up proudly. "I've joined a real club now. A serious one. Not some underground doujin circle. It's called the Meow Star Club."
"…Meow Star?" Utaha blinked.
"It's cooler than it sounds!" Eriri snapped, then quickly continued, "We're developing a game—'Magical Girl Misaki.' It's getting a full animation production if the game takes off."
"I'm the lead illustrator. Character design, concept art, everything! I don't need ero-comics to be relevant anymore."
Utaha leaned in slightly, genuinely intrigued. "I see. So your skills are finally getting some respectable recognition. What else does this club of yours have?"
With her pride rekindled, Eriri went into full info-dump mode. "We've got a genius writer—the story for Magical Girl Misaki? He wrote it. It's seriously impressive. Makes my heart hurt just reading it."
"There's also a senior who handles all animation planning. He's a monster. Like, one guy managing entire production pipelines."
"Oh, and our programmer? He might as well be an AI. Super efficient, never complains."
Listening intently, Utaha felt a prick of genuine curiosity. "So… this writer. He's the one behind that script?"
Eriri nodded. "Yeah. Want to read it?"
Utaha didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. And don't worry. I won't tell a soul."
"Alright. The game already launched, so I guess it's fine," Eriri replied, pulling up a digital copy from her phone. Moments later, Utaha's calm expression shifted.
Her eyes widened, flicking rapidly across the text. "Is this person a sadist… or a genius?" she muttered. "Such a sweet senpai character, and he just—just beheads her?! Is he serious?!"
"I know, right?" Eriri pouted. "I told him it was cruel! And he just smiled and said, 'Only pain leaves a lasting impression.'"
Utaha's expression turned thoughtful. "…He's got a point. Perhaps that's what Love Metronome is missing. A little more heartbreak…"
A subtle black aura began to form around her. Her eyes shimmered with inspiration—and mischief.
Eriri shrank back, goosebumps forming. "Wait… you're not actually going to turn evil and torture your readers, right?"
Utaha's lips curled into a devilish smile. "Is that such a bad thing?"
"W-Wait, hold on—!"
"I must meet this scriptwriter," Utaha declared, suddenly standing up like a general going to war. "Junior Sawamura, please introduce me."
"Eh? Uh, I guess I can… this weekend?" Eriri stammered. "After I finish the manuscript…"
"Perfect," Utaha said with a charming smile. "I'll bring cookies."
---
Meanwhile, Nozomi had no idea that the senior girl he'd quietly admired from the shadows was already plotting her own move to meet him face-to-face.
Meanwhile, the ever-shifting tides of high school drama carried him to a familiar retreat—the rooftop of Sobu High School.
The gentle breeze stirred his uniform as he stepped onto the concrete platform. Before him stood Kawasaki Saki, her signature silver ponytail glinting in the sunlight. She was dressed in the standard Sobu uniform, quietly enjoying her bento away from the chaos of the classroom. It was clear this was her private sanctuary.
"Yo, Kawasaki-san, how have you been lately?"
Nozomi greeted her with a casual smile, one hand raised in greeting.
Kawasaki turned at his voice, her expression softening into one of polite calm.
"Thanks to you, things have been going well," she replied gently. "I've been busy, but it's manageable. And… my mom's been discharged from the hospital. Thank you, Nozomi-san."
Nozomi smiled warmly and stepped a little closer, his presence easy and relaxed.
"I'm glad I could help. Really, it's nothing," he said. His voice was soothing, almost teasingly nonchalant.
Kawasaki Saki's heart skipped a beat.
She knew very well—he wasn't just some helpful guy. There were rumors swirling about Nozomi. Girls with starry eyes followed him around. Whispers of confessions, flirty banter, and romantic tension trailed him wherever he went.
And yet…
She didn't reject his kindness. When she'd been cornered by family debt and the looming cost of her mother's hospitalization, it was Nozomi who had stepped in without hesitation. He offered her financial support without expectation or judgment.
And now, even her future seemed brighter. Thanks to Yukinoshita Haruno's connections and Nozomi's subtle encouragement, Kawasaki had landed an opportunity that secured her post-graduation plans.
"Don't worry," Nozomi suddenly said, interrupting her thoughts as he looked directly into her eyes. "I'm not going to force you into anything."
Then, without warning, he gently pulled her into an embrace.
"I just wanted to give you a hug."
Kawasaki's eyes widened.
Her mind raced. Her body stiffened—then relaxed. A thousand questions danced behind her eyes, but she didn't resist.
"You've been working so hard," he murmured, his voice low and comforting. "And you're beautiful, Kawasaki-san. I just thought… you deserved some encouragement."
His hand lightly brushed the tip of her ponytail, sending a shiver down her spine.
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, spreading to her ears.
"W-what kind of excuse is that…" she muttered.
But she didn't push him away.
She wanted to. She really should've.
But instead, she allowed the moment to linger.
...
Meanwhile, inside the hallowed confines of the Service Club—
Yuki Suo burst in, having wrapped up her business with the student council.
She strolled in with confidence, her gaze fixed sharply on Yukinoshita Yukino, her trademark smug smile etched across her lips.
Yukino felt her composure crack slightly under that stare.
"Suo-san, could you stop looking at me like that?" she said calmly, though her tone was tinged with irritation. "If you have something to say, say it directly."
"Gladly," Yuki Suo grinned. "Is it true you don't let your precious onii-san touch you?"
Yukino twitched.
"Who told you that? That shameless flirt?"
She wanted to argue that Nozomi had touched her—he held her hand just yesterday!
But before she could respond, she noticed Yuki Suo's eyes shifting downward… toward her chest.
The realization hit instantly, and Yukino's pale cheeks turned pink.
"You… how could you let him touch you there?!"
Yuki Suo burst into laughter.
"President, you're so pure it hurts," she teased, puffing her chest with pride. "But being too pure makes you naïve. Don't you envy my pair of C-cups?"
Yukino's face burned.
"What's there to envy? Everyone's different… I-I don't care about stuff like that!" she huffed, looking away.
But she did care. Her eyes betrayed her as they drifted back to Yuki Suo's chest.
Yuki Suo leaned in, whispered something scandalous into Yukino's ear—and Yukino flinched as though electrocuted.
She spun and glared daggers at both Yuki Suo and Sanshokuin Sumireko, who was barely suppressing a laugh in the corner.
"What is wrong with you two?!" Yukino snapped.
Both of them had been whispering indecent encouragements lately.
Even Yuigahama Yui got caught in the line of fire—earning herself a cold glare from Yukino.
Why?
Because Yui's chest was far too… prominent.
It felt like she was being mocked just by existing.
This school was truly filled with demons.