Next Target, 400PS!
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"The girls?"
But quickly, Utaha Kasumigaoka realized the keyword in Kai's message. It was GIRLS. Plural. Not just one girl.
'He is as greedy as ever!'
Thinking this, Utaha Kasumigaoka couldn't help but mutter in annoyance.
Then again. If he were actually an honest, straight-laced guy, she probably wouldn't have stood a chance with him anyway.
At that thought, Utaha felt a twinge of melancholy. Why did it have to be this way? If only she had met Kai a little earlier. Just maybe, she could have made him settle down completely.
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"Kai!"
Meanwhile, on Kai's end. After waiting in line for quite a while, Yui and Yumiko Miura finally returned with their purchased books.
Holding the book, Yumiko couldn't resist complaining. "Seriously, I wanted to buy a few extra copies, but they said it was limited to one per customer! Do these people even know how to run a business?"
"It can't be helped! Kai's book is just selling way too well!"
Yui stood beside her, looking genuinely amazed. A quick look revealed a long line of people still waiting behind them. Given the situation, rationing was necessary. If those at the front bought everything, the others wouldn't get anything.
After all, this was just one bookstore. Kai's light novel wasn't exclusively sold here either. It would take time for the printing factories to churn out more copies.
"Tsk," It wasn't like Yumiko actually didn't understand how supply and demand worked—she was just venting. After clicking her tongue a few times, she dropped the subject.
Instead, she flipped open Kai's book and began to read. In the past, reading a light novel out in public was something Yumiko Miura would never be caught dead doing. She absolutely refused to let anyone mistake her for an otaku.
But, considering this was written by Kai... she was willing to make an exception.
"The way you write this... It's looking more and more like a harem novel!" Yumiko arched an eyebrow, shooting Kai a teasing look. "Is that intentional, or just a happy accident?"
To be fair, KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! did carry some strong harem undertones, in a certain sense.
"Can't it be an intentional accident?" Kai laughed right back. "Besides, what's wrong with a harem?"
"Oho? Yui is standing right here, you know. Aren't you worried she'll get mad?"
Yumiko honestly thought Yui might get a bit upset hearing him say that.
But the reality was quite different. Yui just stood next to Kai, smiling brightly.
"As long as it's Kai, it's completely fine!"
"???"
'Wait, what? Do you actually know something?'
Yumiko blinked in bewilderment. For a split second, she genuinely thought Yui might have already figured out Kai's true nature. 'Does this mean I can finally be open about my relationship with him?'
However, Yui continued with a look of pure innocence. "It's just a novel, after all! It's not like it's reality!"
The innocent girl really believed they were strictly talking about the book's plot.
That's why Yui didn't mind. Kai was just writing a harem novel, and there were plenty of those around. The fact that it sold so well just showed how talented he was.
On the flip side... what about her?
She didn't feel like she was anything special. She couldn't cook, she was terrible at chores, and Yui didn't even consider her own looks to be top-tier. For a moment, a wave of deep insecurity washed over her heart.
But the most crucial part was... even though she and Kai had been physically close and affectionate, they hadn't actually done anything yet.
That realization made Yui feel a creeping sense of anxiety. Was she not doing a good enough job as a girlfriend? Or worse, was there something about her that he was dissatisfied with, which was why he hadn't made a move?
Truth be told, Kai had severely underestimated the level of acceptance and openness among high school girls in Japan.
"Alright, alright! It's just a novel, we can analyze it later. It's getting late, let's grab some food!"
"Sure thing!" Kai waved his hand dismissively, perfectly fine with the change of plans.
Yumiko could only agree with a faintly bitter tone. She had originally thought Yui knew the truth, which would have meant she could stop sneaking around with Kai. But looking back, she was definitely overthinking things. Yui missed the underlying meaning of her initial comments.
'Forget it!' Yumiko hadn't really expected breaking the news to Yui to go that smoothly in the first place.
——————————
After dinner.
The date officially came to an end. Kai had originally planned to walk Yui home, but Yui suddenly announced that she wanted to walk back with Yumiko. After a moment of thought, Kai didn't object. It wasn't that far of a walk anyway.
"..."
But Yumiko was harboring quite a bit of resentment over it.
'If he walked you home first, I could have definitely sneaked off to do a little something with Kai afterward!'
Now, thanks to this, her window of opportunity was slammed shut. But what could she do? Yui was the official girlfriend, after all.
"Yumiko!"
On the train ride back, Yui suddenly looked at Yumiko with severe hesitation. Because she considered Yumiko her best friend, Yui finally decided to voice the thoughts weighing on her mind.
"Do you think... Kai doesn't actually like me?"
"Huh?"
Hearing that, Yumiko was visibly caught off guard for a second. "Why would you think that? Why wouldn't that guy like you?"
Are you kidding? If Kai didn't like Yui, would Yumiko currently be sneaking around like a thief in the night? If he wanted to dump Yui and be with someone else, he could have done it ages ago.
"But..." After a second of hesitation, Yui stammered out, "Then why... why hasn't he..."
"Hasn't he what?" Looking completely perplexed, Yumiko had to lean in close just to catch what Yui was whispering.
"..."
She was genuinely surprised. She never imagined that Kai and Yui hadn't actually gone all the way yet.
Realizing this, Yumiko felt a complex swirl of emotions. On one hand, she was thrilled—if that was true, she might just be able to beat Yui to the punch. But on the other hand, it made her feel like Kai was actively restraining himself because he cherished Yui so deeply.
'Wait a minute!'
Suddenly, realization hit Yumiko like a freight train. If Kai were an honest, wholesome guy, the "cherishing her" theory would make perfect sense. But evidently, Kai was anything but honest.
'That jerk... Don't tell me he hasn't made a move because he's burning all his energy on other girls!'
"..."
At that thought, Yumiko was rendered entirely speechless. Seeing Yui still looking so agonizingly insecure, Yumiko let out a helpless sigh and began to console her friend.
"You're just overthinking things. There's no way a guy like Kai doesn't like you."
"Then why?" Since it was Yumiko saying it, Yui chose to believe her.
"He probably just cherishes you too much. He's probably afraid of hurting you. After all, I've heard that your first time can be really painful!"
"I-Is that so?"
Yui was actually quite terrified of pain. But thinking that Kai was holding back specifically because he cherished her and didn't want to hurt her... she couldn't stop a warm, happy feeling from blooming in her chest.
"Probably!"
Yumiko was actually a bit unsure herself. After all, she hadn't done that kind of thing either. She had only heard rumors from the more 'experienced' girls at school.
However—
"Yui!" A sudden flash of inspiration struck her. Yumiko suddenly came up with an idea, her gaze turning dead serious as she looked at Yui.
"Y-Yumiko?"
Her solemn expression caught Yui off guard, making her instinctively straighten up and look back with equal seriousness.
"I think you need a little help!"
"Help?" Yui looked at Yumiko in confusion, failing to grasp the specific meaning behind her friend's words.
"Exactly. Some romantic help! Don't worry, leave it to me. I will make sure the bond between you and Kai becomes unbreakable!"
Although she had no idea what Yumiko actually planned to do... hearing that promise about her and Kai's bond made Yui's heart flutter in anticipation.
"A-Are you sure?"
"Of course! Would I ever lie to you?"
"N-No!"
"Then just trust me and leave it in my hands. Listen to me, and you can't go wrong!"
"A-Alright!"
After all, they were best friends, and given Yui's compliant personality, she really didn't know how to say no. Moreover, she implicitly trusted Yumiko. Very quickly, Yui's heart overflowed with bright expectations, excitedly anticipating her future with Kai.
"..."
Watching the pure-hearted Yui look so hopeful, Yumiko couldn't help but offer a quiet apology in her mind.
'It's that bastard's fault for not making any progress by now. I don't have a choice—I have to do it myself. For your happiness, and for my own, I have to speed things up.'
Otherwise, at the rate Kai was collecting girls, forget being the "other woman"—she wouldn't even make the cut for girl number four, five, or six!
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