Aonaka Saya was about to greet Asada Shino.
But when she saw the girls beside Asada, she immediately stopped. The morning light caught their hair—Mahiru's pale blonde, another's rich chestnut—and something tightened in Saya's chest. Every girl beside Asada Shino appeared so lovely, their laughter carrying across the courtyard like wind chimes.
A group of beauties created an attraction strong enough to make people stop and watch.
Who are they? Saya's fingers curled around the strap of her schoolbag, nails pressing crescents into her palm. They don't wear our uniform.
Only after Asada Shino parted ways with Mahiru and the others did Aonaka Saya approach, her eyes complex. The cherry blossoms overhead scattered petals across the walkway, their faint sweetness mixing with the distant smell of bread from the cafeteria.
"Good morning, Asada-san."
"En, good morning, Aonaka-san."
Asada Shino responded politely, her violet eyes steady behind thin-framed glasses. She tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear—a gesture that seemed almost defensive.
She's still guarded around me. Saya bit the inside of her cheek. I suppose I deserve that.
Although she didn't understand why Aonaka Saya now had no hostility towards her and instead wanted to be friends, Asada Shino wouldn't glare at her coldly. After all, she still had a few days of school left here, and it was best to avoid trouble if possible.
"Um, Asada-san, if you don't mind me asking, who were those girls in other school uniforms next to you just now?"
Aonaka Saya couldn't help but ask.
"They are my new friends."
Aonaka Saya's mood became complicated. She shifted her weight, fingers still worrying the bag strap.
"Your new friends are all very beautiful, Asada. Aren't you afraid your boyfriend will be taken by one of them?"
"No, they are all very easy to get along with."
Asada Shino replied with a smile, her lips curving in a way that held secrets. She said no more.
How could I be afraid of being taken away? Shino thought, warmth spreading through her stomach. They are all Nozomi's girlfriends, alright.
On the contrary, Asada Shino was the latecomer.
Nanami had even been jealous before.
Who knew what Hozuki Nozomi did, but after one night, Aoyama Nanami was not only no longer jealous but also became friendlier towards her. Shino's cheeks colored faintly at the memory of whispered explanations—Nanami's face had been so red, her voice so small when she'd admitted what Nozomi had done to change her mind.
Seeing that she didn't want to talk, Aonaka Saya didn't press further.
She wanted to be friends with Asada Shino mainly to thank Hozuki Nozomi. If she could get closer, that would be even better. That night, Hozuki Nozomi's heroic figure saving her still appeared in her dreams—broad shoulders, steady hands, the smell of clean cotton and something warmer beneath it.
Aonaka Saya actively changed the subject and brought up other things.
...
[Soubu High School, Tokyo — Monday, 8:17 AM]
Arriving at Soubu High School, the familiar cacophony of morning chatter filled the hallways—shoe lockers slamming, gossip exchanged in rapid bursts, the squeak of indoor shoes against polished floors.
As soon as Hozuki Nozomi entered the classroom, he saw Hayama Hayato looking at him with complex eyes. The golden boy of Class 2-F sat surrounded by his usual entourage, but his attention had locked onto Nozomi with an intensity that didn't match his pleasant smile.
Still bothered about something, Nozomi noted, but didn't pay attention.
He routinely passed by Hikigaya Hachiman's desk near the window and said to him:
"Hikigaya-san, please say hello to Komachi for me."
As expected, this remark was met with Hikigaya Hachiman's dead-fish-eyed glare. The loner straightened in his seat, dark circles prominent under eyes that had gone sharp with brotherly protectiveness.
"Don't even think about it! I won't let you see Komachi!"
This guy, Hachiman seethed internally, his knuckles whitening around his light novel. Every time. Every single time he walks past my desk, he has to mention my precious little sister.
Hozuki Nozomi shrugged and leisurely returned to his seat.
With the Game Life System's rules in place, it wasn't up to Hikigaya Hachiman whether Komachi could see him or not. One day, under certain coincidental circumstances, Komachi, this cute loli, would meet Hozuki Nozomi.
"Good morning, Megumi. Remember to come to my house this weekend to play."
Upon returning to his seat, Hozuki Nozomi immediately invited Kato Megumi. She sat with her chin propped on one hand, expression as placid as still water, brown hair falling straight past her shoulders.
Her exchange student period was ending, and she, Eriri Spencer Sawamura, and Kasumigaoka Utaha would be returning to Toyonosaki. It was rare to have the opportunity to attend the same school and class together, so Hozuki Nozomi felt he should cherish the time.
Kato Megumi rolled her eyes at Hozuki Nozomi—a subtle motion that most people would miss entirely.
Going to your house, she thought, am I playing games, or am I being played by you?
This was a very dangerous topic. If she asked, Hozuki Nozomi might become angry and transform into a wolf, devouring her. The memory of his hands sliding beneath her clothes last time—warm palms against her ribs, his breath hot against her neck—made heat pool low in her belly.
However, although she didn't answer, she still nodded gently.
Seeing this, Eriri Spencer Sawamura couldn't help but let out a tsundere "hmph." Her twin-tails swished with the motion, golden curls catching the fluorescent light. She crossed her arms beneath her chest, pushing her modest curves upward.
"Kato, I can't believe you actually agreed to go to his house to play!"
To Eriri Spencer Sawamura's words, Kato Megumi didn't change her expression and simply shot her a sideways glance, then replied with righteous indignation.
"If Sawamura-san can go, why can't I?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura immediately puffed out her chest, displaying a smug expression. Pink dusted her cheeks despite her bravado.
"I go for legitimate work! It's for my career, for my dreams!"
Liar, Megumi thought, her gaze drifting to the faint mark barely visible beneath Eriri's collar. You came back last time walking funny.
She was clearly just giving herself away, yet she claimed it was for dreams and career. Sawamura-san's skin had also gotten thicker. Did she learn it from Hozuki Nozomi? He really knew how to corrupt girls.
Thinking of Eriri Spencer Sawamura's identity as a doujinshi artist, Kato Megumi felt that Eriri Spencer Sawamura was actually the one who led Hozuki Nozomi astray.
Without exposing Eriri Spencer Sawamura, Kato Megumi calmly nodded and took out her textbook to preview.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura found it uninteresting, so she stopped arguing with Kato.
"Oh, by the way, Sawamura, I'm Kato Megumi, not Kano Megumi."
Kato Megumi suddenly emphasized again, making Eriri Spencer Sawamura's mouth twitch.
"Kato, your reaction time is too slow."
"And don't you think Kano is pretty good?"
"Not at all, please call me by my correct name, Sawamura," Kato Megumi said seriously.
"Hmm… I know, it just came out naturally. Kato, how about we go together this weekend?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura pouted, inviting her somewhat reluctantly. Her sapphire eyes darted away, unable to meet Megumi's steady gaze.
Kato Megumi was immediately puzzled.
"Um, Sawamura, you seemed very reluctant for me to go play with Hozuki Nozomi, why is that? And now you're inviting me?"
There's no conspiracy, is there?
Eriri Spencer Sawamura rolled her eyes, saying crossly:
"Isn't it because you have too few friends? I invited you because I was afraid you'd be lonely."
And because Nozomi is... a lot, Eriri admitted silently, her thighs pressing together at the memory of his hands pinning her wrists, his voice low in her ear. If Kato's there, maybe he won't be so... intense.
"You're that kind?" Kato Megumi tilted her head, looking innocent. But her eyes were somewhat suspicious.
"Huh? Do you think I'm bad? Kato, what misunderstanding do you have about me?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura was completely upset and started glaring at her fiercely.
Facing Eriri Spencer Sawamura's glare, Kato Megumi scratched her cheek and said calmly:
"I know now that Sawamura isn't bad by nature. It's mainly because you kept glaring at me before, and I was a little scared. Yes, the way you're looking at me now—it's very fierce."
Eriri Spencer Sawamura quickly averted her gaze, saying apologetically:
"Because I'm severely nearsighted, I do this to see your face clearly."
That excuse again, Megumi thought, suppressing a sigh.
She really wanted to say, you've used that excuse before. It had no persuasiveness at all.
However, Kato Megumi's personality was inherently good, so she didn't continue to tease Eriri Spencer Sawamura, but instead nodded with a smile.
"Alright, see you this weekend then."
"That's right, Kato, we must unite! With you here, a certain someone won't easily bully me."
Sawamura, where did you get that delusion? Megumi's expression remained neutral, but internally she was incredulous. Last time she was also playing games in the room, and Hozuki Nozomi still secretly ate the maid. The sounds from the other room had been... unmistakable. Eriri's muffled whimpers, the creak of bedsprings, Nozomi's low murmur of approval.
So, Eriri Spencer Sawamura, if you were looking for help, weren't you looking for the wrong person?
Kato Megumi suddenly regretted agreeing to Eriri Spencer Sawamura.
By then, if Eriri Spencer Sawamura angered Hozuki Nozomi... that guy wouldn't bully her too, would he?