No chapter's skipped, I'm fetching the from a different source hence the discrepancy.
***
Kasumigaoka Utaha had not anticipated his boldness.
A faint, rosy hue bloomed across her delicate features, yet she offered no objection. Thus, Hozuki Nozomi began to gently trace the lines of her snow-white, impossibly soft hand with his own, his touch thoughtful and deliberate. Kasumigaoka Utaha observed his actions, her emotions a complex, swirling tapestry. This boy was, without a doubt, taking advantage of the situation. Yet, to her own quiet astonishment, she found she did not dislike it.
He already has a girlfriend. More than one, in fact, she reminded herself. The rational part of her mind had concluded that once their "research" concluded, parting ways would carry no psychological burden—a clean, clinical end to an experiment. So why, then, did she have this distinct, unsettling sensation of having stepped aboard a pirate ship, with the gangplank drawn up and the shore receding into the distance?
…
After spending a considerable while in the maid café, Hozuki Nozomi had collected a small treasury of envious, jealous, and outright hostile glances from the other male patrons. They had all been drawn by Kasumigaoka Utaha's arresting beauty, lingering near their table under thin pretenses. What they witnessed was a pretty-boy stranger not only seated beside the stunning girl but also holding her hand with casual intimacy. The collective discontent in the air was almost palpable.
Hozuki Nozomi, of course, remained utterly indifferent to their glares. With Utaha-senpai's hand still securely in his, he led her out of the café and, following the pivotal scenes from the first volume of Love Metronome, guided her toward the city park.
The park was a renowned sanctuary for couples. That one particular long bench, its wood worn smooth by time and touch, was a silent testament to countless whispered confessions and shared moments. The Ferris wheel that graced the skyline was similarly synonymous with romance, its slow, graceful ascent promising a world apart.
For now, Hozuki Nozomi did nothing more. He simply walked with Kasumigaoka Utaha to every location the heroine, Sayuri, had visited in that first, fateful volume. With her small hand enveloped in his warmth, Utaha began to experience a strange, pervasive illusion. It was as if the male protagonist she had painstakingly crafted had breathed life, stepping off the page to walk beside her. She had become Sayuri, retracing the dreamlike path of her own story with the boy who held her heart.
Time slipped by unnoticed. So immersed was Kasumigaoka Utaha in this layered reality that she failed to notice the girl with strikingly vacant, yet somehow profound, eyes who had passed by them several times. Hozuki Nozomi, however, had noted her presence.
Isn't that Kato Megumi? The one they call 'Saint Megumi'?
He felt a flicker of recognition but made no move to engage. His focus, as he had firmly decided, remained entirely on Kasumigaoka Utaha. Though, he conceded inwardly, maintaining that focus was a challenge in itself. Utaha-senpai was particularly captivating today. Her white camisole dress was both elegant and simple, accentuated by a blue belt that cinched her waist perfectly. Beneath the hem of the pure white fabric, a pair of long, breathtakingly beautiful legs were sheathed in sheer black stockings, every line and curve a deliberate distraction. He found his gaze continually drawn to them.
Hozuki Nozomi had a deep appreciation for lovely legs—Yukino Yukinoshita's poised elegance, Mahiru's athletic grace, Sumireko's refined slenderness. The reason was simple: they were beautiful, tempting in a way that stirred a pure, almost aesthetic desire to appreciate them more closely.
A gentle breeze swept through the park, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant blossoms. They had reached a small hillock, a vantage point overlooking a serene pond. Kasumigaoka Utaha stepped forward, closed her eyes, and spread her arms slightly, allowing the wind to play with her hair and the edges of her dress.
Inspired, Hozuki Nozomi's eyes gleamed. He stepped close behind her, spread his own arms, and gently encircled her slender waist, his palms settling against the soft fabric over her lower abdomen. It was a faithful recreation of a famous scene from a beloved film, a moment she herself had referenced and adapted for a key scene in Love Metronome.
Holding her this way, he could fully appreciate the delicate slenderness of her waist. It was different from Yukinoshita's almost ethereal fragility, yet not as overtly curvaceous as some. It reminded him more of Mahiru's—slender but with a gentle, yielding softness, a perfect balance that was profoundly comfortable to hold.
A slight tremor ran through Kasumigaoka Utaha's delicate frame, and the blush on her cheeks deepened. She knew, of course, that Hozuki Nozomi was merely cooperating, paying homage to the iconic moment from her novel. Yet, knowledge did little to dampen the sensation. In this suspended instant, the illusion solidified. She was Sayuri, held securely by her boyfriend, enveloped in a warmth that spoke of protection and unspoken affection.
A deep-seated sense of security, something Kasumigaoka Utaha secretly craved but rarely acknowledged, began to seep into her bones. Her usual cool demeanor, her sharp-tongued rebuttals to would-be suitors—they were all armor, carefully constructed to conceal this vulnerability, to keep the world at a safe distance. But beside Hozuki Nozomi, she discovered to her surprise that even as he boldly 'took advantage,' that familiar, prickling insecurity did not arise. Instead, it was replaced by a strange, pervasive warmth that seemed to lull her defenses into quiet submission.
So, he really is a kind of succubus, isn't he? she thought with a hint of panic. Have I already been enchanted without realizing it?
The thought shattered the illusion. Sayuri's feelings receded, leaving only Kasumigaoka Utaha's heightened awareness. Her heart raced. Would he now attempt something even more outrageous, emboldened by her compliance?
However, Hozuki Nozomi merely imitated the next action of the male protagonist in her novel. He raised his hand, gently stroking her hair in a gesture that was both fond and final, then turned and walked away without a word, descending the small hill.
A long moment passed before Kasumigaoka Utaha finally reacted. A pout formed on her lips. "Kohai-kun," she called out, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and reproach, "are you really going to leave your beautiful girlfriend all alone here? Aren't you afraid of inviting the 'netorare' plot from that doujinshi your twintailed friend draws?"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Hozuki Nozomi came jogging back, a playful smile on his face as he reclaimed her hand. "How could I? I'm simply cooperating with your research, Utaha-senpai. So, how was my performance just now? Did I capture the essence of the protagonist?" He winked. "Don't look so surprised. I actually received some personal coaching from a renowned actress."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyebrow arched elegantly. "This 'renowned actress'… it wouldn't happen to be Sakurajima Mai, the one you're constantly linked with in rumors, would it?"
"The very same."
"Tch, I knew it." She shot him a look of exaggerated dissatisfaction. "You're not the male protagonist. You're a fraud, a confidence trickster!"
Hozuki Nozomi shrugged, releasing her hand with deliberate slowness. "And you're not Sayuri either, Utaha-senpai. You are Kasumigaoka Utaha."
The words hung in the air for a second. Then, Utaha's lips quivered before she brought a hand to her mouth, releasing a soft, genuine laugh. "Pfft… You really are a cunning one, Kohai-kun. Yes, you're absolutely right. I am not Sayuri. I am Kasumigaoka Utaha." Her gaze turned thoughtful, then resolute. "And you are not the protagonist who will gradually drift apart from Sayuri, engaging in that slow, painful mutual torment that gives readers ulcers."
Hozuki Nozomi looked at the beautiful senior before him, her smile now sweet and unguarded, and found himself smiling in return. "Exactly."
He took a half-step closer, his voice dropping to a low, sincere murmur. "Utaha-senpai, please remember this: I am Hozuki Nozomi. I am Hozuki Nozomi, who already has a girlfriend yet remains an unrepentant playboy, and who will not hesitate to 'take advantage' of other beautiful young women."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes widened in feigned shock. She pulled out her phone with a theatrical flourish, pretending to dial. "Hello, Police? Yes, there's a dangerous pervert here in the park…"
"..."
Hozuki Nozomi fixed her with a look of profound betrayal. "Utaha-senpai, that's not funny."
"Pfft! Your face is so cute when you're being teased." She giggled, waving her still-dark phone screen at him. "Relax, I didn't actually call." With that, she spun on her heel, presenting him with a stunning view of her retreating figure. "Alright, enough dilly-dallying. It's time to check in at the next location. Since you're so popular, Kohai-kun, I need to make efficient use of this rare research opportunity."
"And where is this next location?" he asked, catching up to walk beside her.
"Do you even need to ask?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips curved into a knowing, anticipatory smile. "It's the legendary Ferris wheel, of course. The one where riding together is said to guarantee happiness."
A short while later, they disembarked from the gently rocking gondola. The city lights had begun to twinkle in the dusky evening.
"I'm thoroughly satisfied with today's research," Kasumigaoka Utaha announced, her expression warm. "Thank you for humoring me, Kohai-kun." As she spoke, she leaned in, hooking her arm around his neck and pulling him close for a quick selfie, their cheeks almost touching.
"As a reward for your excellent service as my research partner," she continued, stepping back and regarding him with a regal air, "I shall grant you one wish. What is it you desire?"
Upon hearing this, Hozuki Nozomi's gaze, warm and unmistakably fervent, drifted down to settle upon her long, elegant legs, beautifully accentuated by the sheer black stockings.
"I wish for Utaha-senpai's lap pillow."
He had calculated this request carefully. Something overly forward would certainly be rejected and risk altering her perception of him. A lap pillow, however, resided in that ambiguous, intimate space between platonic and romantic. It would allow him to experience the closeness he sought—and the tactile pleasure of those legendary legs—while still framing it as a permissible indulgence within their 'research.'
Kasumigaoka Utaha followed his gaze to her own legs, feeling a fresh wave of heat rise to her cheeks. "My, my, Kohai-kun… you really are something else. Do you have such a particular fascination with my legs?"
"I believe any man with functioning eyesight would find it difficult to refuse the allure of Utaha-senpai's legs."
"Flatterer…" she muttered, but there was no real sting in the word. "So… you're not going to rescind the request?" Hozuki Nozomi asked, adopting a dejected puppy-dog expression.
In response, Kasumigaoka Utaha simply turned and walked toward a secluded, clean-looking bench under a willow tree. She sat down with practiced grace, smoothed her dress, and then patted the space across her lap, the black-stockinged thighs that had been the subject of such attention. "Well?" she said, her voice suddenly shy, her eyes darting away slightly. "What are you waiting for? Didn't you say you wanted a lap pillow?"
Hozuki Nozomi's eyes lit up with genuine delight. He didn't need to be told twice. Quickly, he walked over and, with a contented sigh, lowered his head to rest upon the soft, warm pillow of her thighs.
"You are not allowed to look up," she instructed, immediately placing a gentle hand over his eyes.
"Why not?" he protested, his voice muffled slightly.
"Because… from this angle, the view would be far too indecent," she stated matter-of-factly, though the slight tremor in her hand betrayed her.
Hozuki Nozomi wisely chose not to point out that the alleged 'indecency' was likely due to her own generous proportions affecting the sightlines. He remained silent.
A comfortable quiet descended upon them, broken only by the distant sounds of the park and the whisper of the willow branches. They simply existed in the warmth of the moment, the weight of his head on her legs, the protective shield of her hand over his eyes.
It was a profoundly intimate scene, one starkly at odds with the fact they had only properly met that day. He's already receiving a lap pillow from me… Kasumigaoka Utaha marveled internally. The absurdity of it was not lost on her.
Yet, the thought brought no regret. A decisive fire burned within her. She had made a choice—to step into this experiment, to understand romance through direct, shared experience. Kasumigaoka Utaha was not one to retreat from a decision once it was made. Furthermore, as she analyzed the situation coolly, she found she was not at a disadvantage. Hozuki Nozomi was undeniably handsome, intellectually stimulating as a fellow light novel author, and possessed an uncanny ability to provide insightful advice and spark her creativity. In many ways, he was the ideal partner for Kasumi Utako, the novelist.
As for Hozuki Nozomi, the playboy with the girlfriend(s)? That was a complication to be examined later. For now, in the quiet twilight, with the scent of her perfume faint in the air and the softness of her lap beneath him, he was simply Hozuki Nozomi, enjoying a granted wish from a beautiful and fascinating senior who had decided, for reasons of her own, not to back down.