By turning school gossip on its head and officially starting a relationship with Tatsuya, Kasumi had hoped for clarity. However, life was rarely smooth sailing. Since they had essentially used pre-existing rumors as a foundation for their romance, taking those dying embers and fueling them into a confirmed truth had—predictably—caused a massive stir.
"They're here again today," Minami noted. "Tatsuya-niisama's 'secret' fan club."
"They just don't know when to quit, do they?" Kasumi sighed, looking frustrated. "I'm sorry, Sakurai-san. I'm dragging you into this mess."
"Please, don't give it a second thought. This was Tatsuya-niisama's choice. I intend to support you with everything I have, Saegusa-san."
As a classmate who was privy to the internal circumstances of the Shiba household, Minami was prepared to be Kasumi's ally even without Tatsuya's request. Of course, Tatsuya had asked her, which was why she was currently helping Kasumi fend off the crowd of "fans"—including several upperclassmen—who swarmed them daily.
"You're all making quite a scene," Minami said, her voice cool and sharp. "If you have a grievance, perhaps you should take it up with Tatsuya-niisama directly? Though, I suppose if any of you actually had the courage to speak to him, you wouldn't be here taking your frustrations out on Saegusa-san for dating him."
"Minami, are you trying to start a riot?"
"Tatsuya-niisama... what brings you to the first-year floor? If you had business here, you only had to call; I would have come to you."
"I was just passing by. Then I saw this crowd and heard Minami making some rather... provocative remarks. So, what is this gathering about?"
It was highly unnatural for Tatsuya, an upperclassman, to "just be passing by" the freshman wing, but Minami wisely chose to play along. It was the only way to de-escalate the situation.
"These people are unhappy about the fact that you and Kasumi Saegusa-san are dating," Minami explained. "They've gathered here to voice their complaints to her."
"Complaints? Isn't who I choose to date a matter of personal freedom?" Tatsuya asked, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Kasumi is a member of the Saegusa family, but she is neither the heir nor the eldest daughter. She is perfectly entitled to a degree of romantic autonomy."
"It's not a matter of logic, Tatsuya-niisama," Minami added with a biting edge. "While these ladies were busy hesitating over how to even say hello to you, Kasumi-san, a mere freshman, swooped in and won your heart. They're simply jealous."
Minami's surgical precision in identifying the truth sent a ripple of awkward silence through the gathered girls. Her words hit home so accurately that there was simply no room for a rebuttal.
"People would gather in such numbers just for that?" Tatsuya mused. "Even after school, I would think they had better things to do with their time... Ah, Minami."
"Yes, Tatsuya-niisama?"
"Something urgent has come up. Please head home with Miyuki today."
"Understood. If you'll excuse me then, Tatsuya-niisama."
Minami, immediately grasping the nature of Tatsuya's "urgent business," gave Kasumi a knowing, meaningful look before bowing and departing. Left without an opponent to argue against, the remnants of the fan club lost their momentum and sheepishly began to disperse.
Having successfully extracted Kasumi from the crowd under the guise of "urgent business," Tatsuya led her out into the city without a specific destination in mind. Since they hadn't done anything particularly "couply" since they started dating, he likely figured this was as good a time as any. Kasumi, however, was in a state of total panic, caught completely off-guard by this sudden, spontaneous date.
(What do I do, what do I do?! This is a date, right? Is it normal for them to just happen like this? I should have asked Onee-sama what people actually do on dates!)
Kasumi's inner turmoil was based on a false premise—Mayumi would have been the last person able to give her advice. Kasumi simply assumed that because her sister was the eldest and had been pressured into a potential engagement with the Itsuwa family's eldest son, she must have had at least some romantic experience. In reality, Mayumi was just as green as she was.
"You're awfully quiet, Kasumi."
"HYAH?! I-it's nothing! Nothing at all!"
"...I haven't even asked you anything yet."
Realizing she had just walked right into her own trap, Kasumi's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. Unable to bear the embarrassment, she hung her head. To the passersby, it didn't look like she was being scolded; it looked like a young girl so overcome with bashful affection that she couldn't look her boyfriend in the eye. They watched the pair with warm, indulgent smiles.
"Too many eyes on us here," Tatsuya noted. "Let's step inside somewhere."
"Right... okay..."
As Tatsuya took her hand and led her toward a nearby shop, Kasumi felt—and looked—remarkably like a shy, protected younger sister.
"Want something to drink, Kasumi?"
"A milk tea, please."
"One coffee and one milk tea."
"Right away, sir."
Tatsuya placed the order with his usual efficiency and didn't say another word until the drinks arrived. Kasumi sensed he didn't want their conversation to be interrupted by the waiter, so she stayed quiet as well, her heart racing. Once the drinks were set down and the staff had retreated, Tatsuya finally spoke.
"Did you dislike me pulling you away so forcefully?"
"N-no! Not at all! I just... I wasn't mentally prepared. I'm actually really happy to be out with you."
"I see... To be honest, this is a first for me as well. I apologize if I was a bit too pushy."
"No, really! It's my first time, too... I just didn't know how I was supposed to act. I'm sorry if my nerves made things difficult for you, Shiba-senpai. I'm okay now!"
Realizing her stiff attitude was making Tatsuya worry, Kasumi resolved to act her usual cheerful self, even if she had to force it a little. Tatsuya, of course, saw right through her "brave face."
"Next time, let's set a proper time and place," Tatsuya said. "I'll give you plenty of time to prepare yourself mentally."
"It's a promise, then! But... keep it a secret from Onee-sama and Izumi-chan."
"Oh? I don't mind, but why?"
If her sisters found out, she'd never hear the end of it; they'd tease her mercilessly. Even as she worried about that, Kasumi found herself already looking forward to their next meeting. Watching her, Tatsuya took a sip of his coffee with a look of quiet fondness.
"So, what's the plan for the rest of the day?"
"Let's see... how about we just wander around for a bit?"
"I'd love that! Let's go, Shiba-senpai!"
"You can just call me 'Tatsuya'."
"...Tatsuya-senpai."
As she whispered the name, Kasumi's face turned the deepest red it had been all day. Looking at her, Tatsuya thought that despite her boyish charm, she had a truly feminine, lovely expression when she blushed.
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