Tsukinomori Girls' Academy, a prestigious girls' school with a century of history, is well known throughout Tokyo.
The girls who can enroll in this academy are either daughters of wealthy families or come from stable middle-class households. Calling it a true aristocratic school is no exaggeration.
In the small garden on campus, Mutsumi, dressed in a neat JK uniform and holding a watering can, was carefully watering her cucumbers.
Fine droplets fell onto the cucumber blossoms, soaking the lush green leaves.
But today, Mutsumi seemed different from usual. She looked distracted. Instead of focusing on the flowers she was tending, she was listening to the conversation of the students behind her.
"Did you see the news?"
"What news?"
"What else? The front-page headlines on every major TV channel today, and the top trending topics on X."
"You mean Fujiwara-sama?"
"Yes, Fujiwara-sama. He's seriously too handsome. At the crime scene, he just took a few glances and found the culprit in minutes. He's even more amazing than that high school detective Kudo Shinichi."
"Yeah, he even caught Kaitou Kid. If it weren't for protecting that Black Star, Kaitou Kid would've been sent to prison by Fujiwara-sama long ago."
"Fujiwara-sama is my idol."
"And he's from the Fujiwara family too. Handsome, powerful background, and so capable. He's like a prince straight out of a dream."
"I'm applying to the Faculty of Politics and International Studies at Tokyo University next year. Maybe I can even become Fujiwara-sama's kohai."
"With your grades, you'll be lucky to get into any university, let alone Tokyo University."
"..."
The girls chatted excitedly about yesterday's news. Photos of Toru had flooded the internet and television.
No matter which app you opened or which platform you browsed, you would see news about him immediately.
Without anyone noticing, Toru had become an object of admiration for countless women in Japan, even the ideal boyfriend in their minds.
All idol stars seemed pale in comparison.
"You know what? A relative of mine also attended the Suzuki Group's celebration party. The internet says Fujiwara-sama saved a girl too, but it's pretty vague."
"My relative said the girl he saved was Mutsumi, the daughter of the Wakaba family. She was shot several times by the criminal."
"Oh my god, is Fujiwara-sama okay?"
"He said he was wearing a bulletproof vest, so he wasn't hurt."
"That's a relief. But Wakaba Mutsumi? Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Isn't she that strange girl in our school who waters cucumbers every day after class? Look, she's right there."
"Did she save the galaxy in her past life? To have Fujiwara-sama block bullets for her."
"Exactly. So what if she's pretty? She never talks and is so annoying. Fujiwara-sama is truly amazing. That's what a real man is."
"..."
Mutsumi listened quietly as her classmates and senpai discussed her. Even though she was the topic, she did not react. She continued watering absentmindedly, her thoughts blank, except for one lingering name.
Fujiwara Toru.
"Mutsumi, if you keep watering like that, the cucumber flowers will drown."
A sweet voice sounded beside her, pulling her back to reality.
She hurriedly put down the watering can, looking at the nearly submerged flowers with distress.
"Mutsumi, what were you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Soyo, is something wrong?"
"Um, I told you before, I formed a new band with a few friends, right?"
"Yes. I haven't congratulated you on finding a new band yet, Soyo."
Mutsumi's calm tone made Soyo frown slightly. She felt a trace of irritation, as if Mutsumi were mocking her for abandoning their old band.
But everything I did was to get our band back together.
Suppressing her emotions, Soyo asked, "Mutsumi, is what those girls said true? Did Mr. Fujiwara really save you?"
"Yes, it's true. The criminal tried to hijack me. Fujiwara-kun blocked the bullet and saved me."
Mutsumi nodded gently.
"You scared me to death. I'm glad you're okay. No wonder so many girls like him."
"Do you like him too, Soyo?"
Soyo froze, clearly not expecting the question.
"...It would be a lie to say I wasn't moved at all. Anyone would like such an outstanding man, right?"
"But there are too many girls who like him. I don't think I have any advantage. Maybe the only advantage I have is that I have his Line contact?"
Even though countless women would chase a man like him, what Soyo cared about most right now was getting Sakiko back and reforming their band.
Everything else could wait.
Mutsumi nodded blankly. "Yeah, you don't really have an advantage."
Soyo nearly choked.
I was just being modest. Did you really have to repeat it and make it worse?
She took a deep breath to calm herself and changed the subject.
"My new band is holding a Live show in a few days. Mutsumi, will you come watch?"
Mutsumi paused. "At Ring.Live?"
"Where else? Ring.Live is in Ikebukuro. It's convenient, and it's the live house with the best facilities and largest venue in Tokyo. There's nowhere better."
"I'll go."
Mutsumi agreed without hesitation.
Because Ring.Live belongs to Toru.
However, when he goes there, he usually stays at the café on the second floor and rarely manages the live house on the first floor.
Soyo did not expect her to agree so quickly. The excuses she had prepared were now useless.
Trying to sound casual, she added, "Mutsumi, bring Sakiko too. The past is the past. I have a new band now, and I hope she can come see it."
Mutsumi had already seen through Soyo's real intention, but she did not refuse.
"Okay. I'll go with Sakiko."
Now that Sakiko had a new job and less financial pressure, maybe she also wanted to properly say goodbye to the past.
And Sakiko works at the Western-style mansion where Toru lives.
Could she use the excuse of visiting Sakiko to go there?
Soyo had no idea she was being used as well. Hearing Mutsumi, who had always refused to let her see Sakiko, suddenly agree, she was overjoyed.
"I'll tell you the exact Live time in advance. Don't forget."
"I won't."
Soyo silently decided to practice seriously. She could not afford to embarrass herself at the Live.
...
Advanced Nurturing High School.
"Did you all see the news? Fujiwara-sama is unbelievably handsome."
"Compared to him, the boys in our school are nothing."
"Exactly. Even Manabu-senpai, the former student council president, would only be a kohai in front of Fujiwara-sama."
"I remember the first-years went to Sobu High School in Chiba and even met Fujiwara-sama."
"Yabai, why wasn't it us? Why did it have to be those first-years?"
"Right. Next time there's a chance like that, we have to fight for it."
"..."
During PE class, the second-year girls were excitedly discussing Toru's recent fame.
Suzune felt slightly irritated hearing them reduce her brother to a comparison.
But she also had to admit that compared to Toru, her brother Manabu did seem to pale.
Solving cases, capturing Kaitou Kid, shielding a fragile girl from bullets.
When all those actions were put together, even her brother seemed lacking.
At the very least, Manabu did not possess the reckless courage to risk his life to save someone.
Without realizing it, in her heart, the once familiar yet distant name Fujiwara Toru quietly began to replace her brother as her object of admiration.
Suzune herself would never easily admit it.
Because of physical reasons, Arisu could not participate in PE and was sitting on a bench at the edge of the field.
Listening to the conversations, she sighed softly.
That man truly is remarkable.
Even someone as proud as her, who considered herself a genius, felt a faint sense of admiration.
As the Sakanayagi family reconciled with the major financial groups, Advanced Nurturing High School was no longer facing closure, and funding resumed.
Arisu realized her earlier understanding of the school's crisis had been naive. Having never stepped into society, she did not understand the true adult world.
It was that man who brought her into this world of intertwined interests and power, allowing her to see reality more clearly.
"Fujiwara Toru is truly an incredible person."
She murmured softly.
...
"Toru, why did you save Mutsumi? Do you know how dangerous that was? He had a gun."
At the Western-style mansion, Haibara stood with her arms crossed, lecturing him like a little adult. Her tone was full of concern and lingering fear.
Toru, however, was looking at his phone.
A message on the screen forced him to focus.
A monk from Thailand has arrived and is monitoring Kayako's house.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)