"Has it been long? Doesn't feel like it," Kasumigaoka Utaha said, glancing once at the joined hands of Shirai Mio and Eriri.
It was still early enough in the day that a slow walk back to class wouldn't be a problem. And neither Mio nor Eriri looked the slightest bit rushed.
Which meant the two of them were holding hands not because they were racing back to class—but for some other reason entirely.
Standing nearby, Aki Tomoya blinked, mildly confused. Why did even Kasumigaoka Utaha know Shirai Mio? Was there anyone in this school she didn't know?
As for Eriri—she and Utaha weren't strangers, but they weren't particularly close either. Running into Tomoya here was just an unexpected coincidence.
Something flickered briefly across Eriri's expression. A trace of shadow that vanished almost as quickly as it came.
"It's been quite a while for me," Mio said, smiling. "Unfortunately class is about to start, or I'd love to keep talking with you, senpai."
"No worries. Do you have time after school today?"
"Hm?"
Mio had only meant it as polite small talk. She hadn't expected Utaha to actually take her up on it—let alone actually want to meet.
She didn't hesitate for long. A quick check confirmed nothing was planned for the afternoon. "I'm free after school, actually. What's up?"
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"Sure—how about I wait for you at the school gates?"
"Works for me."
With that settled, Mio gave Eriri's hand a light tug and headed toward their classroom.
She was almost there before it occurred to her: the task had been completed ages ago. There was no reason to keep holding Eriri's hand.
Eriri, feeling her arm suddenly freed, turned with a mildly baffled look. "Weren't you going to walk me to class hand-in-hand?"
"Actually, if I do that, I'll probably start some weird rumors."
"You care about that?"
"I don't—but I don't want you dealing with the fallout."
At that, a faint flush crept across Eriri's cheeks. Feeling the warmth rising to her face, she quietly quickened her pace. "In that case, I'm heading back first."
Without waiting for a response, she was already gone.
Mio watched her retreating figure, genuinely puzzled. She hadn't done anything strange, had she? So why the sprint?
By the time Mio slid back into her seat, there was less than a minute before the bell. But even in that narrow window, Yuigahama Yui found an opening to ambush her with a full, enthusiastic hug.
The afternoon flew by. When the final bell rang and the teacher dismissed class, the room erupted in a scattered chorus of cheers.
Mio packed up her things and walked straight to the school gates.
She'd half-expected to wait around for a bit, but no sooner had she pulled out her phone than Kasumigaoka Utaha materialized in front of her.
"Do you walk without making any sound?"
"You were the one zoning out. Can you really blame me?" Utaha fired back without missing a beat, then: "Come on—there's a café nearby. I'll explain over drinks."
"Sure."
They settled into a café a short walk away. After ordering something at random, Mio fixed Utaha with a curious look, the question she'd been turning over during the walk finally ready to be asked.
"I'm writing a new novel," Utaha said, "and I want you to do the illustrations."
"How did you even know I could draw, senpai? I don't think I've ever drawn anything in front of you."
"Because I've seen your work."
"Which work?"
"The 18+ one."
Mio froze. Then a tide of red swept up her cheeks, fast and vivid.
How did Utaha know about that? If she'd bought it at Comiket, Mio would have recognized her on the spot.
Then a possibility clicked. Tomoya. He must have shown Utaha her work—and told her who the artist was.
That tracked.
Not that thinking about it now changed anything.
Mio swallowed her embarrassment and said, with admirable composure: "Senpai, wouldn't there be plenty of illustrators better than me? Why specifically me?"
"Because I like your style." Utaha gave her legs a faint, idle shake beneath the table. "So—what's your answer?"
Mio brought her coffee cup to her lips. Just as she was about to agree, the System chimed in her ear:
"It's rare for Kasumigaoka Utaha to invite the Host out like this. Surely the Host would regret it if nothing interesting happened~"
"Task: Before parting with Kasumigaoka Utaha, place your hand on her thigh and keep it there for no less than one minute. Any interruption resets the timer. Success may reward a Kasumigaoka Utaha series card or item. Failure draws from the punishment deck."
Mio nearly spat out her coffee.
She snuck a glance at Utaha's legs—those black-tights-clad legs. Gorgeous, undeniably. But if she actually put her hand there, she was going to get labeled a creep.
She thought it over carefully.
"Senpai," Mio said, "it's not impossible for me to do the illustrations. But I have one condition."
"What condition?"
"Let me touch your legs."
"...???"
Even Kasumigaoka Utaha's composure flickered. Just slightly, but noticeably.
"Please don't misunderstand," Mio said, with the most earnest expression she could manage. "I simply think your legs have a very nice shape. Excellent reference material for drawing."
It was, objectively speaking, absolute nonsense delivered with total sincerity. Fortunately, being a pretty girl made this significantly easier to pull off.
The dilemma had now migrated entirely to Utaha's side.
If the one asking were a boy, she would have refused without a second thought. But Shirai Mio was a girl—a remarkably pretty one—and it was genuinely difficult to imagine any ulterior motive.
"...Fine. Deal."
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