In the second semester of his first year of junior high, Kyousuke had only swapped bodies with Mitsuha three times.
Each time, Kyousuke happily dove into farm work.
Yukino's little garden, vegetable patch, and orchard were all coming along nicely under his care—though with winter approaching, they'd have to take a break soon.
The gazebo meant to become a café space would also have to wait until spring to be built.
The only problem was Mitsuha's father, Miyamizu Toshiki, who always saw through Kyousuke right away.
Every time, he would pull Kyousuke aside for a heart-to-heart, trying to learn more about him.
Whenever Kyousuke dodged questions or brought up anything vaguely related to girls, the old man would scowl, his mustache practically twitching with disapproval.
Luckily, Toshiki was still the same overworked town mayor, hell-bent on somehow destroying Itomori.
That gave Kyousuke the chance to escape and spend time with the gentle and kind Yukino Yukari instead.
Meanwhile, Mitsuha had widened her shopping radius even more—she even arranged a shopping date with Shouko in between.
Then came the third and final body swap.
On that evening, the shrine maiden lounged on the sofa with a giant bowl of beef fried rice—so much beef that you could barely see the rice.
Phone in hand, she was casually chatting in the "Boss Support Group" group chat when a new message popped up from "Naoto."
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"Sayuka, are you there?"
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Mitsuha instantly switched screens and left it on read.
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"Just having a late-night snack (photo)"
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Across the screen, Kasumigaoka Utaha stared blankly at her chat window after sending the message.
She was using the name of the male protagonist from her novel as her ID, while the person on the other end—Hojou-kun—was using her female protagonist's name.
Every time they talked, it gave her a strange, fluttery feeling.
Just like now her pale cheeks flushed with a faint, unhealthy blush. But just as quickly, her face darkened.
Utaha actually really liked this version of Hojou-kun the one who logged in under "Sayuka."
He was so much gentler than the person she saw in real life.
He even sent her snapshots of daily life or food, like tonight.
To Utaha, it felt like a sign that they were getting closer.
Otherwise, why would he casually share pictures of his meals with her?
Happily, she tapped the image open.
A bowl of beef fried rice.
She was pretty sure he always ate this when they chatted at least every time this semester.
Then again, it made sense.
Over the holidays, several people who'd visited Hojou-kun's hometown came back loaded with premium Shiraou beef.
But then…
What's with that glass!?
Utaha zoomed in, pinching the image like a swordsman about to strike.
At the bottom of the glass, just barely visible through the last bit of cola, was a black "3" printed on the base.
That's my cup's number!!
Suddenly, the girl who had been lounging sideways on her bed shot upright.
The left strap of her white nightgown slipped off her shoulder, but she didn't even notice.
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"That glass… where did you get it?" she asked, unable to hold back.
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"Oh, that? Nice, right? A friend gave it to me." – Sayuka
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A friend gave it to him? Wait, is she not talking to Hojou-kun right now?
Sitting cross-legged on her bed, smooth porcelain skin peeking out from beneath the hem of her nightgown, Utaha frowned in confusion.
No, that can't be right.
The background in Sayuka's photos was unmistakably Hojou-kun's house.
Utaha had seen pictures that Onizuka Eikichi posted on Twitter from their barbecue there.
He'd captioned one:
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"Took my girlfriend to eat barbecue at the boss's place."
"The meat was already delicious, but when she used her chopsticks on it, it was so good I nearly ate the chopsticks too!"
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It was obvious from the photo that Onizuka had clumsily tried to hide that the "girlfriend's hand" was actually his own, but no girl's hand would be that rough-looking anyway.
The table in the background of that photo matched the one in Sayuka's picture.
So why would she say the cup was a gift?
Did that mean Hojou didn't make it himself, but someone gave it to him and he regifted it to Kashiwagi Eiri?
It didn't make sense.
As she agonized over it, Hojou sent another message asking what was up.
Quickly brushing her black bangs aside, Utaha returned to the real topic.
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"Tomorrow's the reprint launch of Love Metronome Volume 2. Want to go together? They're giving out freebies, I heard."
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After sending the message, she anxiously awaited his reply.
With 100,000 copies printed and another 100,000 for the reprint, at this pace, Kasumi Utako was on track to become one of the year's bestselling light novel authors.
Surely that meant she was worthy of meeting Hojou-kun in person… even if only as an online friend.
For someone normally so proud and headstrong, Utaha found herself unable to hold her head high around Kyousuke.
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"Wow, it's already getting a reprint? Kasumi Utako-sensei is killing it."
"I'm down. Which bookstore is giving out the freebies?" – Sayuka
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YES!!!
Fist clenched, Utaha gave a silent cheer.
Her white nightgown fluttered as she pumped her arms—causing… a certain kind of bounce beneath it.
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"It's the Aomori Bookstore in front of Shinjuku Gyoen! The event starts at 10 a.m.!"
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She hurriedly sent the message, unable to contain her excitement.
Her publisher, Fushikawa Publishing, wasn't a retailer—just another one of those uniquely named Japanese companies that handle print but not sales.
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"OK! See you tomorrow then!" – Sayuka
"See you tomorrow!"
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Ahh! I'm going to see Hojou-kun tomorrow!
He's going to be so shocked when he realizes "Naoto" is actually a girl!
Rolling around on her bed, Utaha squealed in excitement, soft jiggly joy following every twist and turn.
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Meanwhile, Mitsuha, having just sent her last message, skimmed through her chat history with "Naoto."
She was also excited about their meetup.
Sure, Hojou would be the one going, but that was fine.
What was originally her friend had now become their friend—mission accomplished.
She'd successfully helped Kyousuke expand his social circle!
From the fridge, she grabbed another can of cola and poured it into her favorite glass.
Taking a big sip, she sighed in delight.
At home, she could never drink this freely—still growing, after all.
Carbonated drinks weren't good for her, and if Yotsuba saw, she'd want some too, which wasn't good for her development either.
But now that Dad was buying snacks for them all the time, just like Kyousuke, even his excuses were the same:
"What's wrong with kids eating snacks? You won't want them once you're older, so you better enjoy them now."
As if anyone would stop liking snacks when they grew up!
Ice cream at midnight was still delicious, no matter how old you got.
Grinning at the thought, Mitsuha took a huge spoonful of ice cream.
Using Kyousuke's body had its perks—no tummy aches no matter how much she ate.
It was like having a built-in food processor.
And then there was the glass.
She picked it up.
The black "3" printed on the bottom was only visible as the cola got lower. But that was okay.
As the drink disappeared, the number slowly emerged—her number—and even the bubbles seemed fizzier, the joy more sparkling.
Too bad she couldn't take it home.
Ever since she first saw that cup, she'd even wanted to drink miso soup from it.
After jotting down her promise with Naoto in her memo and begging Hojou to secure a limited-edition gift for her, the shrine maiden, feeling quite proud of her grand accomplishment, strolled into the bathroom.
It was time for the part of their exchanges she always looked forward to the most.
"Wait... what if Hojou-kun sees me as a compulsive liar?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha shot upright in the bathtub, her sheet mask peeling off and fluttering down onto her soft, bouncing chest.
But then again, who would really care about something like that when faced with a beauty like her?
No—wait, that's not right. Hojou-kun isn't that kind of guy.
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'Buzz buzz buzz—'
Kyousuke woke up instantly and shut off the alarm on his phone.
It's the weekend.
Why the hell did Mitsuha set an alarm?
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"As a devoted fan of Love Metronome, I have to support Kasumi Utako-sensei when her book gets a reprint!"
"Please buy me a copy, okay?"
"I promise I'll help you with the fields later! I'm begging you~!"
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Reading the note the shrine maiden had left behind, Kyousuke—who had still been grumbling from being woken up couldn't help but laugh.
In his mind, he pictured her in a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit, barefoot in a muddy rice paddy, planting seedlings.
…It actually sounded kinda fun.
He glanced at his phone—fully charged.
Come to think of it, it'd only been in the early days that she'd forget to plug it in.
Lately, she always made sure to charge it before going to sleep.
Pocketing the phone, he got up and pulled open the curtains.
A dull gray Tokyo morning greeted him.
The sun rose much later in winter.
After a quick wash-up, Kyousuke stepped out onto the balcony for his daily kendo practice.
Tokyo hadn't reached the bitter cold of January and February yet, but the December chill was enough to make his breath visible.
With every swing of his shinai, the white fog of his breath thickened, but even by the end of his routine, his T-shirt was barely damp.
Maybe I need to tie some weights to the shinai to feel the burn again.
Since the start of this semester, Kyousuke's strength and speed had plateaued.
Well, not completely—it just seemed slower compared to the rocket-speed gains he'd had before.
Compared to the rest of the kendo club, his progress was still unreal.
Whatever.
It's not like I'm out here fighting monsters. What's the point of getting even stronger?
He carefully wiped down his shinai, took a quick shower, and ate a simple breakfast of bread and milk before casually heading out.
Of course, he didn't bring the traditional oil-paper umbrella "Sakura Drop" that Sakura had given him.
It doesn't rain or snow in Tokyo in December—carrying an umbrella around would just make him look crazy.
Still, Kyousuke was kind of hoping for some snowy days in January so he'd get a chance to use it.
Sakura had great taste—the umbrella was huge and heavy, big enough to shield him and three girls at once.
They'd tested it back in October during a trip to Roppongi.
Sure, it was a little cramped, but he hadn't minded one bit.
He was already imagining taking the girls out during a snowfall, the black umbrella making for the perfect photo backdrop.
Maybe they could even bring Yuzuru to Tokyo for it.
Unfortunately, Tokyo winters lately rarely dipped below freezing.
The meteorological agency had already announced no snow this year.
A shame.
Kyousuke had no plans of heading back to snowy Hokkaido just for a view—no central heating meant it was hell on earth in winter!
Even with a body that didn't quite register as "human" anymore, Kyousuke—an eternal winter-hater—still rushed to buy coats for the girls the moment autumn deepened.
Pulling his coat tighter around his neck, he stepped outside.
In this weather, he had no interest in riding his motorcycle.
But he wasn't old enough for a car license either, so the subway it was.
He got off at Shinjuku Sanchome Station and exited through Exit E5.
From a distance, he could already see Shinjuku Gyoen.
In autumn, the garden was just as beautiful as it was in spring.
Maybe even more so by Japanese standards, the crimson leaves and fading chrysanthemums of late fall seemed to stir deeper emotions than lush greenery.
Outside Aomori Bookstore stood a ginkgo tree, its branches now stubbornly clinging to just thirteen remaining leaves.
How did he know the exact number? Simple—he'd been zoning out across the street, counting them.
He knew Kasumi Utako's sequel had received massive praise some said it even surpassed the original but he hadn't expected such a massive line just for a reprint release.
He checked his phone.
Just past nine.
The event didn't start until ten.
Why were people already queuing?
Kyousuke stared at the line in mild horror.
There was no way he was getting in there willingly.
Are there scalpers at events like this?
Clinging to a shred of hope, he began scanning the crowd from the back, looking for anyone who might be a reseller.
Then he saw them.
A pair of long, shapely legs in black stockings.
Wait, no. Not just the legs a girl with them.
No! It wasn't the legs that caught his eye! It was the icon floating above her head!
[How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend・Kasumigaoka Utaha (Main Heroine)]
Seriously, system—open your eyes.
In what universe is this girl a "boring side character"?
Even the people around her that keeping a respectful meter of distance were sneaking glances at her legs every few seconds.
Wait… does "boring heroine" mean someone so eye-catching she makes every random passerby look twice?
As Kyousuke continued to spiral into ridiculous thoughts, something else hit him.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha."
"Kasumi Utako."
"Kashiwagi Eiri."
"Eriri."
"Eiri."
…Is this how all the heroines in this series get their names?
And then it clicked.
Those black stockings—he recognized them.
They were the same ones he'd seen in a LINE photo on Mitsuha's phone.
The friend named "Naoto."
So the girl in front of him—Kasumigaoka Utaha—was Naoto.
The one who'd wanted to meet him. The one he'd coldly rejected.
And then Mitsuha, using his phone, ended up chatting with her online like they were best friends.
Kyousuke immediately wanted to turn around and leave.
Getting lost in life during winter felt like the most appropriate thing in the world.
But hey—Mitsuha was the one who'd chatted with her.
Maybe they could just pretend not to know each other?
Yeah, no.
That would only work if he didn't know her.
But she almost definitely knew him.
Thanks to Kisaki plastering his face all over the internet, anyone who wanted to could find out who he was.
And she'd contacted him through Onizuka—there's no way she didn't know.
Well… at least he wouldn't have to stand in line.
Surely the author could get in through the back door, right?
It didn't take long for Kyousuke to cheer himself up.
Honestly, it's no wonder Sakura turned out to be such a hopeless optimist—with him and Mikiko as role models, what chance did she have?
As for how Kasumigaoka Utaha managed to link that fool Mitsuha's new account to herself or why the author herself invited him to this book signing event.
He couldn't care less.
Asking about everything would just be exhausting. Besides, it wasn't like anything bad was happening.
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Early that morning, just as the bookstore opened, a restless and excited Kasumigaoka Utaha—who had tossed and turned all night—rushed through the doors.
The store owner was overjoyed, thinking the elusive author who always avoided signing events had finally changed her mind.
But to his disappointment, she simply explained she was meeting a friend to buy books together.
She spent her time either staring blankly at her phone or glancing constantly toward the door.
Now, standing in line on the sidewalk, Utaha had her chin buried in her black-and-white scarf.
Her misty, wine-colored eyes flicked now and then to the opposite side of the street.
'What is Hojou-kun doing over there?'
She'd noticed him the moment he appeared at the edge of the road—she'd been scanning the area anxiously.
The moment she recognized him, her body had tensed, and she began silently reciting all the lines she'd rehearsed overnight.
But something was off.
Even though he'd arrived, Hojou hadn't gotten in line.
Instead, he just stood there, staring at the bare ginkgo tree. Did he not see me?
A girl who'd been the center of attention since kindergarten was now experiencing being ignored for the second time.
The first time had been when she'd asked to meet Hojou and he turned her down.
Don't tell me… in Hojou-kun's eyes, I'm less captivating than a ginkgo tree?
The thought filled her with frustration.
Still, the sight of him standing in his black coat, quietly brooding in the cold, matched one of the countless scenarios she had dreamed up for how they might reunite.
Maybe not the most likely one—but certainly one of her favorites.
There were so many possibilities.
Maybe they'd see each other through a gap in the shelves at a bookstore, catching a glimpse as if fate itself had intervened.
Or they might reach for the same book at the library, their hands brushing.
Or maybe at one of Hojou's signings, she'd finally get to thank him for everything.
And then there was this version.
A boy with messy black hair in a black coat stands across a wintry road, immersed in the beauty of fleeting things.
His chiseled, emotionless face carries the weight of mourning for a fading world—solemn and still.
While on this side of the street, a girl in an ivory cardigan, black pleated skirt, and tights looks around restlessly.
The moment she spots him, her face lights up with pure joy.
She stretches her neck, rises onto her toes, waves her hand, and calls out loudly to the boy who seems to have become part of the winter scenery.
When he hears her voice, he's pulled from his silent reverie.
He turns—and at the sight of her, his expression melts like snow under spring sunlight.
A soft smile tugs at his lips, and the warmth in his dark eyes could melt even the snows of Hokkaido.
And her heart, too.
But of course… all of that was just a fantasy in the mind of the novelist Kasumi Utako.
In reality, when she glanced toward the road again, her wine-red eyes widened in shock.
Her mouth—hidden behind her scarf—let out a surprised squeak.
'He's coming! Hojou-kun is walking this way!'
Even though her legs were bare except for her tights, she felt no cold.
All she felt was panic.
Hojou Kyousuke was looking straight at her as he crossed the road.
She'd imagined this moment countless times throughout her sleepless night, rehearsing over and over what she would say.
But now that it was actually happening… she was scared.
'It's fine! He doesn't know I'm Kasumi Utako. This is just two online friends meeting in real life. That's all.'
'But… why is he walking over here without messaging first? He shouldn't know what I look like!'
She had been trying to observe him out of the corner of her eye, but when she realized he was making a beeline for her, she panicked and ducked her head.
Pulling out her phone, she pretended to check her messages.
It was the same kind of flustered reaction you'd expect from a kitten caught trying to steal food off the table—so adorable that anyone would want to scoop her up and see just what was hidden behind those dazzling red eyes.
'He's here! He's right in front of me!'
She could see his brown leather boots now.
Earlier, when he'd been staring at the ginkgo tree, she had taken the time to study his outfit—imagining, of course, how she would help him shop for clothes if she were his girlfriend.
"Naoto?"
That voice—clean and crisp, like the clear wind blowing across an icy plain—calmed her frantic heart just a little.
She lifted her head.
Utaha's expression was one of confused surprise.
"Sayuka?"
"That's me."
'Seriously, Kasumi Utako-sensei and the shrine maiden Sayuka… you two really know how to mess with people, huh?'
Hojou Kyousuke smiled politely, though inwardly he was exasperated.
"I never expected Sayuka to be you, Hojou-san." Her cool, gentle voice was laced with genuine surprise.
She even raised a delicate, pale hand to cover her rosy lips in astonishment.
Even though he knew she was just acting, Hojou couldn't help being impressed.
Is it true that the more beautiful a girl is, the better she is at lying?
He hadn't gotten a good look at her face from a distance—he'd been a little too distracted by those incredible legs in black stockings.
But now, standing face to face, even Kyousuke who was used to being surrounded by beautiful girls every day was caught off guard by how stunning she was.
Just a simple white headband turned her sleek black hair into something that looked like it had been styled by a top-tier professional.
Her wine-red eyes sparkled even in feigned surprise, filled with a kind of seductive charm that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
Just looking into them made him want to dive deeper, to see what kind of beauty might be hidden there in more intimate moments.
Her full, delicate face, her petite nose, those soft yet defined crimson lips, and the way her sweater stretched just slightly across her chest…
Looking at her, Kyousuke couldn't help but question whether Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend was ever meant to be a "normal" anime.
"Hojou-san?"
Utaha's face flushed pink under his unabashed stare.
Though flustered, she was secretly overjoyed that he'd finally noticed her charm.
Of course he'd see through me eventually, how could someone who understood my writing not notice the real me?
"Ah, sorry. I didn't expect you to be so beautiful. You caught me off guard." Kyousuke smiled sheepishly.
As someone fully aware of his own good looks, he knew full well—women never get mad when you compliment their beauty.
"Hehe… you flatter me."
Utaha's cheeks turned even redder.
She cupped them with her hands, clearly trying to cool the heat rising in her face.
"I mean it. I never lie."
Kyousuke, ever the charmer, knew that false modesty was just an invitation to be praised more and in this case, he was happy to oblige.
"So embarrassing… Hojou-san, are you really like this in real life?"
Though she claimed to be shy, Utaha Kasumigaoka tilted her head up slightly, gazing at the boy with sparkling eyes, the boy who had finally spoken to her.
It wasn't the encounter she had imagined, but their conversation flowed surprisingly smoothly.
It was the perfect beginning.
"Yeah, I've always been this way when something good is right in front of me. But… how do you know my name?" Kyousuke asked.
"Well then, Hojou-san, how did you know I was Naoto?" the girl shot back, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Why don't we head to that café over there and talk properly?" Kyousuke suggested, noticing the curious glances from the people still in line.
"Ah, sorry, I didn't even realize…"
Utaha glanced around.
She didn't particularly care about the stares, but she didn't want the crowd to interrupt her precious time with Hojou-kun.
That said, a quiet café was definitely a better setting than standing by the roadside, it matched her romantic expectations much more.
Even so, having their smooth conversation cut off like that irritated her.
She wanted to vent her annoyance at the atmosphere-ruining crowd, but then remembered: they were all readers here to support her.
So, with her flawless smile still intact, she followed Kyousuke across the street, pretending to be shy, her delicate face full of gentle charm.
Honestly, if she had her way, Utaha would've asked the bookstore owner to just skip to the event already—or better yet, cancel it and hand out the books for free.
She'd cover the cost herself.
Because no café could ever top a bookstore as the perfect setting for a first date with Hojou-kun.
Inside the café, they sat opposite each other at a booth by the window.
Kyousuke ordered a cappuccino—without the coffee and Utaha Kasumigaoka chose rose tea.
"You posted a picture of your legs last time, right? That's how I recognized you," Kyousuke said casually.
"…Excuse me?" Utaha had imagined all sorts of ways he might have figured it out.
But she hadn't expected him to say something like that so bluntly.
"You recognized me just from a picture of my legs?" she asked in disbelief. Sure, she was proud of her legs, but it wasn't like she thought they were that distinctive.
"Yeah. The lines and the shape were just too perfect—they left a strong impression. But don't get the wrong idea, I'm not a pervert."
"I just have a good memory and a sensitivity to form."
"So you're saying… even without the stockings, you would've still recognized me?"
It was phrased as a question, but she already believed him.
Of course Hojou-kun wasn't some creep.
A genius like him was bound to have unique talents, wasn't he?
"I'm sorry if that came off the wrong way," Kyousuke said with an apologetic smile, then gently extended his hand toward her.