Arthur felt Kasumigaoka Utaha tighten her grip on his arm, and he could clearly feel that soft, springy sensation pressing against him.
He couldn't help but curl his lips.
As expected of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Once she'd confirmed her own feelings, she immediately became proactive.
She'd already hinted several times before.
Back then, though, he hadn't had the power he has now — not enough to give all his girls a stable home — so just like with Yukinoshita Haruno, he'd dodged, played dumb, shifted the topic, and kept things in that deliciously ambiguous stage.
He'd also, bit by bit, let her know: "I'm not exactly a one-woman man."
A little psychological vaccination.
So when the day finally came for him to lay everything on the table, she'd be able to accept it more easily.
Now, the seeds he'd sown back then had sprouted, grown, and today… were blooming.
The timing was perfect.
Arthur tilted his head to look at her and asked with a smile, "We've got about forty minutes before 11:30. Anywhere you wanna go, Utaha?"
"Hm… Akihabara," Utaha said after thinking for a moment. She smiled. "Let's go see how well your new volume is selling, kouhai-kun."
"Sure. I'll go wherever you go."
So the two of them talked as they walked, heading straight for otaku holy ground — Akihabara.
On the way they passed a mid-sized bookstore.
A long line immediately came into view.
Unless he was very wrong…
They were all here for Gods' Game, Vol. 11.
Half the front posters were the new volume's launch promo. The other half was for everyone else.
The store owner clearly knew where the money was.
They wandered Akihabara for a bit, and when it was almost time, they headed to the restaurant Utaha had booked.
They arrived at 11:20.
After Utaha gave the reservation number, the staff led them to a private room.
She'd actually planned to book seats outside.
But later she'd thought about it again.
Better to get a private room.
Easier to talk.
And… easier to have alone time.
After they ordered food and drinks, Utaha's eyes slid back to Arthur's face — more precisely, to the mask.
Her eyes rippled with amusement. She pursed her lips in a smile.
"Ara, kouhai-kun still won't take it off? Don't tell me something happened to your face? Like an allergy or something?"
Arthur blinked lazily. "Actually, I wanted you to take it off."
"Have me take it off…?"
Utaha froze for a second.
Then she stood up and walked toward him, smiling. "Since kouhai-kun said so, as your loving senpai I'll just have to fulfill this tiny little wish of yours."
The private room was about eight square meters.
Round table in the middle. Two chairs facing each other.
She walked to his side.
Arthur lifted his chin slightly.
Utaha's slender, fair fingers reached to his ears and gently took off the mask.
"—!"
The moment the mask came off, Utaha's eyes trembled. Her eyes slowly widened.
For a second, even her heartbeat seemed to stop.
She held her breath and just stared.
Without the mask, facing Arthur's flawless, no-dead-angle handsome face, and those deep starry eyes…
She went a little blank.
Just like the other girls who'd seen Arthur after his transformation.
If you'd never met him before, it was already eye-catching.
But if you had met him before — if you'd already formed an image of him in your heart — the impact was even stronger.
It was like he'd become someone else entirely.
Even though Arthur had already suppressed all his strange, divine, and powerful auras…
He still felt extraordinary.
Seeing Utaha staring straight at him, a little dazed, Arthur raised a brow and teased:
"Fell for me?"
Utaha's eyes flickered and she came back to herself.
Seeing Arthur smiling like that, she couldn't help the blush that rushed to her face.
A faint shyness flashed in her eyes.
But she still forced herself to act composed, arms crossing in front of her chest, chin lifting a little as she said:
"Of course not. Kouhai-kun, you're way too full of yourself."
Arthur's smile deepened. "But being a tsundere isn't really your character setting, Utaha. Just admit it."
"What do you mean 'tsundere isn't my setting'? Do you think I'm one of those stock heroines from light novels and anime who come with fixed attributes?"
Utaha gave him a graceful, slightly condescending glance.
Arthur chuckled. "So you really don't like me?"
"I…" Utaha's gaze wavered.
Before she could finish, Arthur stood up.
He reached out, took her by the shoulders, and pulled her straight into his arms. His left hand slid down and circled her waist.
"Ah—"
Startled by the sudden move, Utaha's body instantly tensed and she let out a soft cry.
She could feel the big hand on her waist, and Arthur was right there, so close…
She couldn't help widening her eyes, gaze flickering.
The blush on her lightly made-up, delicate face bloomed like two little flames.
"What are you doing…?" she asked, fingers clutching his jacket, head tilted up, a little nervous.
She didn't hate it.
On the contrary… she was expecting it.
Even if she was a little shy and a little flustered.
Meeting her eyes, Arthur smiled. "You look beautiful today. That outfit really suits you."
"Thank you. But…" Utaha blinked, forcing herself to stay calm as she quipped, "you should've said that when we met. Saying it now feels a bit late, doesn't it?"
"Okay, okay, I was slow," Arthur laughed. Then he winked. "In that case… I'll make it up to you."
"Make it up to me? How?" Utaha's big, pretty eyes fluttered. She was curious.
"Like this…"
Arthur didn't finish the sentence.
He just lowered his head.
"Mm—!"
Utaha's eyes flew wide open.
Her soft, rosy lips were captured, and… just like that, her first kiss was gone.
Under Arthur's gentle but unquestionable advance…
Her hands, which had been clutching his jacket, slid around and hugged his waist instead.
She closed her eyes.
And sank into it.
When she felt him pry her lips open, she couldn't help opening her eyes again for a second.
Shyness shimmered in those red irises like water.
Then she closed them once more.
About three minutes later, Arthur finally let go of Utaha's reddened lips.
Outside, sunlight poured in, spilling a thin golden edge around the two of them.
Looking at Utaha — eyes still closed, face flushed, breathing just a little uneven — Arthur smiled softly.
"How's that for compensation?"
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