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After rereading the message from "Twilight Sky" a few more times, Utaha Kasumigaoka suddenly felt a flood of inspiration.
Without a second thought, she opened her laptop and started typing away.
Deep down, she couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and admiration for this mysterious teacher.
After all, while her editor Machida Sonoko was competent at pointing out issues in her writing, she wasn't someone who could spark this kind of creative fire. If anything, Sonoko often urged her to just drop the project midway, or even stop writing for a while to "experience romance" with some guy as material.
Seriously, how could Kasumigaoka Utaha ever treat relationships so casually?
To her, dating was the first step toward marriage with someone she truly loved. She wasn't about to go out with just anyone. Her ideal partner had to be handsome, talented, someone who understood her, spoiled her, and would protect her.
Being a stunning beauty by nature, she was destined to stand out. If her boyfriend was weak, he'd probably give up on her not long after they started dating. Utaha had zero interest in weak men.
Her novel Love Metronome said it all—her heroine, "the Lonely Queen Sayuka," longed for someone who could warm her heart and shield her from loneliness. The male lead won her over not by words, but by helping her again and again, until affection naturally blossomed.
Thinking of Machida Sonoko made Utaha sigh. That editor could really crush a person's spirit. Still, she had to thank her—for it was Sonoko who introduced her to Twilight Sky in the first place.
And his advice… was unbelievably useful. It was like having fog lifted from her mind.
—
Meanwhile, Andrew had just finished lunch and decided to stroll around Seijo high Academy.
Come to think of it, he hadn't really explored the place since arriving. Knowing the terrain was important, after all. As a self-proclaimed master of time management, he had to be prepared. When multiple girls showed up together someday, things could easily spiral into full-blown chaos.
Seijo high Academy, being the most prestigious high school in Japan, was massive. The path Andrew walked was lined with meticulously trimmed flowerbeds and trees.
Even more surprising was the forest tucked away behind the campus, giving the school an extra air of grandeur and mystery.
As he took in the scenery, his eyes landed on a girl with long pink hair standing anxiously beneath a tree. Her worried gaze was fixed upward, as if something very important was stuck there.
She was gorgeous. The standard Seijo high uniform hugged her figure, and her silky pink hair swayed gently with the breeze. A yellow hair clip pinned her bangs neatly to one side, giving her delicate features a sense of quiet strength.
Her yellow-green eyes shone brightly, brimming with determination.
Naturally, Andrew wasn't about to pass up the chance to talk to a pretty girl.
"Hey, what are you looking at?" he called out.
Startled, the girl turned toward him, her eyes lighting up in relief. At the same time, Andrew heard a faint "meow" from above.
He glanced up and blinked. "Wait—there's a kitten?"
"You're worried it might fall?" he asked.
She nodded firmly, gaze pleading. Clearly, she wanted to save it but couldn't.
Andrew quickly understood. She probably had a fear of heights, which made climbing impossible for her. Honestly, the kitten had climbed up, so it could probably climb down too… but this was the perfect chance to score some goodwill points.
"Leave it to me," he said with a confident smile.
Before she could respond, he dashed forward, springing off the trunk with quick, light steps. In no time, he'd reached the branch and scooped the kitten into his hand, dropping back down gracefully.
"Here you go." He passed the little furball into her arms. "But… school rules don't allow pets. You should either take it to the student council, or sneak it out after classes."
"Thank you, I will." The girl beamed at him, cradling the tiny kitten like a treasure. The kitten, sensing her warmth, mewed happily and rubbed its cheek against her hand.
"No problem, just doing my part." Andrew waved it off casually, pretending to leave.
In his head, he counted down. Three… two… one—
"Wait!" Sure enough, the girl called after him. "I'm Hina Sato, second year. Can I know your name?"
Andrew flashed a bright smile. "I'm Andrew, first year. So you're my senior, huh? Nice to meet you, Hina."
She giggled and gave him a polite bow. "The pleasure's mine. I look forward to getting along."
"Same here. Anyway, I've got to run. See you later, my dear."
"Go ahead, I still need to take the kitten to the student council."
Andrew walked off, leaving behind a good impression. Outwardly, he looked calm—but inside, his thoughts were a bit restless.
Hina Sato… wasn't she the student council president from Hayate the Combat Butler? And if he remembered right, she was also the kendo club's captain.
Funny enough, he even had an old classmate back in grade school named Katsura Kotonoha. Could they be related somehow?
Still, he didn't dwell on it. Meeting Hina Sato was probably just coincidence. Unlike Mahiru Shiina, Asada Shino, or Yukino Yukinoshita, Hina wasn't the type of girl you could get close to right away.
With Shino, his shamelessness and a few timely rescues had done the trick. With Mahiru, he'd offered a shoulder to a lonely angel, and things had fallen into place naturally. With Yukino, even though he hadn't sealed the deal yet, meeting her was thanks to her older sister, Haruno.
But Hina Sato? That wasn't going to be so easy.
...
Aside from being the president of the Kendo Club and the student council president, Katsura Hinagiku's combat ability was practically unmatched.
Sure, she hadn't yet inherited the Shinomiya family's legendary sword or awakened her ultimate technique. But even without those, she was already a kendo prodigy brimming with potential.
Wait a sec—wasn't Shinka Nibutani's goal to become the student council president?
So how the heck was she supposed to compete with someone like Hinagiku?
Maybe if she just held out until third year, after Hinagiku graduated, she'd finally have a chance.
Which basically meant Nibutani still had a long wait ahead of her.
Andrew was mulling over these thoughts as he wandered over to a vending machine. That's when he spotted a familiar, elegant figure standing there, staring blankly at the machine like it had personally offended her.
She seemed troubled, unsure how to get her drink out.
Andrew's lips curved in amusement. Without saying anything, he fished out a coin and slipped it into the slot under Yukino Yukinoshita's wary gaze.
The machine lit up with a soft hum, and he pressed the MAX Coffee button twice. With two clunks, the cans dropped into the dispenser.
"Here," he said casually, handing one over. "What's wrong, don't want it?"
Yukino's eyes flicked to his, complicated and unreadable. For a moment, she didn't take it.
"Hmph. Why wouldn't I?" she snapped, bristling at the teasing look in his eyes. Just because he'd bullied her a few times before, did he think she couldn't accept a single drink from him?
She snatched the can, cheeks faintly pink.
Andrew cracked open his own coffee and took a long sip before speaking again. "You know, these machines take bills too. There's a slot right under the coin insert. But I wouldn't recommend it. This one's a bit outdated—doesn't give change. Stick a thousand yen in there and congratulations, you've just treated everyone else to free drinks."
Yukino shot him a sidelong glare, but didn't reply. Instead, she quietly sat down on a nearby bench, staring at the unopened can in her hands.
Andrew sighed and went over to sit beside her. "So, what's wrong? Seeing our little Miss Yukinoshita with such a lonely expression—makes my heart ache, you know."
"I'm not lonely," she said sharply, scooting a little farther away. "And could you please not sit so close?"
She glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed, even shifting her hips as if to escape his presence.
Andrew only leaned in, eyes glinting with amusement. "Doesn't matter how much you pout, I'm not leaving. You know me—I'm shameless, clingy, and stubborn. If you don't tell me what's bothering you, I'll just keep pestering you."
His voice dropped a little, playful but with a hint of heat. "And if someone happens to see us, well… I can't be held responsible for what they think."
The intensity in his gaze made Yukino flush instantly. Memories of him hugging her—too close, too bold—flashed through her mind. Her cheeks burned scarlet.
"D-Don't you dare try anything!"
"Then tell me your worries, and I won't."
She hesitated, then turned her face away, voice barely above a whisper. "I don't have any. I just had lunch and came to buy a drink, that's all."
"Really? Funny, because I do have a worry." Andrew smirked, eyes fixed on her. "I'm worried about how to convince our princess here to let me kiss her."
Her eyes went ice-cold in an instant. She glared at him so fiercely it was like she was trying to kill him with a stare.
Then she calmly pulled out her phone, pressed it to her ear, and said, "Hello, police? Yes, there's a pervert here. At Seihakuin Academy. Please come quickly."
Andrew just watched her with interest, as if waiting for the rest of her performance.
Of course, Yukino wasn't actually going to call the cops. She had pride, after all. Rumors about being harassed? That would be humiliating for her too.
And besides… she knew. He wasn't just some shameless boy—he was dangerous, powerful in ways the police couldn't even begin to deal with.
Couldn't fight him, couldn't report him… maybe the only option left was to run.
Yukino stood up, ready to leave. But before she could take a step, Andrew grabbed her wrist and pulled her straight down onto his lap.
She yelped in shock. "Kyaa! What are you doing?! This is school!"
She squirmed, trying to escape, but his arms only tightened around her.
"School's what makes it exciting. Don't move. Be good."
Yukino trembled, cheeks blazing, glaring up at him with a mix of fury and embarrassment. "You just want to bully me again, don't you? I already apologized!"
"I know," Andrew said smoothly. "That's why I only want to hold you. Nothing more."
She almost laughed in disbelief. Hold her? And he dared call that "nothing"?
Her thoughts were a flustered mess, but one thing was clear—this shameless devil wasn't letting go anytime soon.
"..."
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