The princess walked in with her long golden hair flowing freely, each step of her slender legs light, graceful, and full of poise.
She was like a ray of sunlight spilling into the stadium.
The students, who had been sitting comfortably, immediately jumped to their feet, pressing themselves hard against the backs of their chairs to avoid even the slightest accidental contact with this perfect young lady in the narrow aisle.
Such contact would be the gravest kind of sacrilege!
To every greeting she received along the way, the golden-haired princess would stop, bring her legs together.
Those legs wrapped snugly in black over-the-knee socks with not a hint of space between them—wear a warm, approachable smile, and bow slightly with her hands folded neatly before her.
Her voice rang out crisp and lively, the very sound of pleasant perfection.
"She's so beautiful! Did you hear? Sawamura-san just said 'Good day' to me!"
A girl clasped her face, utterly lovestruck, eyes following Eriri as she walked past, her golden twin-tails swaying behind her in elegant arcs—like sunlight made tangible.
"Yeah, no surprise—she's British nobility! Even the way she speaks is elegant!" said a boy nearby.
"I mean, I'm a Kasumigaoka-senpai supporter, but… Sawamura-san really is flawless! Even to her rivals, she's so warm and approachable. What a generous heart!"
This came from a member of the drama club.
In fact, almost everyone seated here was a third-year and a staunch supporter of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
But with just a graceful walk and a few polite greetings, Eriri had already tempted some into wavering.
That was the magic of Toyogasaki's crown jewel—the most perfect young lady in the world!
And so, this young lady admired by the whole school walked the aisle without a flicker of emotion, settling into the seat beside the crimson-eyed enchantress.
The instant she turned her head, that friendly, down-to-earth smile morphed into a smug, high-and-mighty expression of total victory.
"Oh my~ Sorry, Kasumigaoka-senpai, but it seems that just by walking a few steps, I've managed to win over all your supporters."
Eriri might not excel at sports—or at hiding her talents but when it came to playing the refined lady, she was second to none.
Her head tilted at the perfect angle so that from the front, the side, or behind, all anyone could see was her beautiful profile.
Only Kasumigaoka, seated beside her, could see that infuriating, self-satisfied smirk.
Her voice was pitched perfectly—not too loud, not too soft—just enough to reach Kasumigaoka's ears.
When she finished speaking, Eriri let out a bell-like laugh, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.
Paired with that dazzling smile, to an outside observer it would look like these two Toyogasaki beauties were having the most delightful conversation.
Even though Kasumigaoka's expression stayed as frosty as ever, and Eriri's blue eyes held no real mirth, the scene could easily have been mistaken for a refined noblewomen's tea party—complete with glass table and porcelain cups.
"Why even bother…" Kasumigaoka muttered in quiet awe.
Even after seeing it so many times, Eriri's ability to change her face on a dime was still shocking.
Even if the surrounding students had clearly heard what Eriri was saying, they'd likely assume they were imagining it.
That's how convincing her performance was, and it even good enough to be used as a film school teaching example.
"Still," Kasumigaoka said, "to get so happy just because those people like you… Kawaguchi Eiri, you're as shallow as ever."
Astonished on the inside, Kasumigaoka never let her words soften.
Eriri's smile didn't falter.
Once she put on her lady mask, it was as if she matured by years in an instant.
Even if she was cursing on the inside, her outward demeanor stayed flawlessly calm.
"Being liked is better than being hated, don't you think… Toyogasaki's snow woman, who can freeze people solid with a single glance?"
She ended the line with another delicate laugh, as if sharing some amusing anecdote.
If she thought Kasumigaoka wouldn't get mad, she would've patted her on the shoulder to sell the act even further.
Watching the radiant girl beside her chatting and smiling, Kasumigaoka felt a strange dissonance.
On one hand, there was the Eriri at home—a total shut-in in a baggy T-shirt and shorts, sprawled on the couch with a huge bag of chips, one hand rubbing her stomach and the other holding a Coke.
One moment she was swearing about a dumb plotline, the next she was complaining about having to go to the bathroom, before calling Kyousuke to ask if there was a way to modify the couch.
On the other hand, there was the Eriri at school—wearing a standard school uniform tailored from the finest fabrics, radiating the grace of a perfect lady with every movement.
Despite her high status and unrivaled talent, she was approachable to all.
Even those rejected by her confessions didn't resent her; instead, they liked her even more.
"What's the matter? Have you finally surrendered to my unmatched brilliance? Admitting defeat this late is a bit shameful, but if you sincerely apologize and immediately move out of Ruyi Dorm, I might allow you to join my fan club."
Eriri smirked at the dazed Kasumigaoka.
…This was exactly the dissonance.
The two images kept flickering in her mind, and Kasumigaoka's head was starting to hurt.
"You're too loud," she said softly.
Damn—she'd gotten too carried away! Eriri's expression shifted, and she quickly turned her head to see if anyone had overheard, already preparing a hundred lies to talk her way out of it.
But when she looked, it was just some unfamiliar girl waving enthusiastically at her.
She'd been tricked—this lying fox!
Eriri turned back, glaring at the person beside her… though her pretty face still wore its sweet smile.
"Have you used up all your brain cells just to keep up your disguise?" Kasumigaoka said with pity.
"Besides, whether they like me or not means nothing to me. I won't waste even a fraction of my energy on them," she added.
Eriri bit her lip.
Kasumigaoka hadn't said it outright, but the meaning was clear—Eriri cared too much about others' opinions, wasting all her energy on pretending, and that's why she came across as an idiot.
Hmph.
Not everyone could be like her, able to ignore every gaze without a care.
Eriri's lips pouted slightly, but she didn't argue back.
At least on this one point, she admired Kasumigaoka Utaha—admired her shamelessness.
She could never pull it off herself.
"By the way, you really stole the spotlight on the slide today—Kasumigaoka-senpai, who got the fastest time thanks to her weight!"
Finally, she remembered her original mission here.
As Kyousuke once said: the outcome of a war is decided before it even begins. Whether it's strategy or psychological warfare, even if she couldn't match his genius, she still considered herself something of a tactician.
First, she had dazzled everyone with her flawless elegance, shaking the faith of Kasumigaoka's supporters.
Then, she used the favorable public opinion she'd carefully crafted to chip away at Kasumigaoka's confidence.
The debate hadn't even started, yet she'd already won two rounds in a row.
If that wasn't a win-win, what was?
Watching Eriri bask in her own triumph, Kasumigaoka rolled her eyes.
That idiot's nonsense was spreading fast.
In fact, Shirai Satomi—the girl in their class who proudly called herself the president of Kasumigaoka's fan club was already analyzing the situation, convinced it was all part of Eriri's cunning scheme.
She was sure Eriri had said those things on purpose, trying to attack Kasumigaoka from that angle.
For someone who knew a bit about the "official wife war," Shirai's suspicions were natural.
Girls understood just how vicious that kind of battle could be—flesh-and-blood confrontations were nothing compared to the mental warfare outside the battlefield.
In such wars, every available resource was mobilized, even the whole family if necessary.
To her, this was obviously a conspiracy.
But Kasumigaoka just smiled and stated firmly that it was impossible.
That blonde idiot Kawaguchi Eiri could never come up with a plan like that.
With that airheaded brain of hers, if she said such a thing, it would be because she honestly thought she slid down the slide faster.
Then childishly decided she had to beat Kasumigaoka's time… and finally strutted up to her, boasting: "Too slow, Kasumigaoka Utaha! If there was a real fire, I'd be the one to survive!"
Yes, the kind of duel Eriri cared about was exactly that level of pettiness.
As Kasumigaoka put it, while both she and Sakura did stupid things, their styles were worlds apart.
Yamauchi Sakura's brand of absurdity was so bizarre that it left you speechless, the kind that made you feel like you had to say something but couldn't find the words.
Eriri's, on the other hand, was pure childishness—so ridiculous you didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or just stare.
If there ever was some elaborate scheme involving manipulating public opinion, there would be no doubt.
"It would definitely be me," Kasumigaoka told three of her fans.
Yes—the black-haired, red-eyed girl was probably the only one in Ruyi Dorm capable of pulling such a stunt. It was exactly this quality that Hojou Mikiko praised about her.
Shouko, Yukino, and the others might sacrifice anything for Kyousuke—but Utaha was willing to stop at nothing for him.
"Before, I would've thought that line was stupid… but hearing it from you now, it feels perfectly natural," Kasumigaoka said, her tone sincere.
Eriri's delicate brows lifted slightly, her sapphire-blue eyes filled with suspicion.
What was this woman getting at? Was she praising her persuasiveness?
Or saying she normally didn't care about what others thought, but her words carried weight when Eriri said them?
"Even if you compliment me, I won't go easy on you," Eriri said, though her tone had noticeably softened.
Kasumigaoka gave her an odd look, feeling as if something was stuck in her throat.
Yes—when dealing with Eriri, you couldn't use too subtle a jab.
Otherwise, things ended up like this. If she actually explained herself seriously, she'd just look foolish.
Was this what they called an idiot's natural advantage over a genius?
Shaking her head, she let the thought go and turned her gaze forward.
In the center of the gym, two rows of tables faced each other.
The debaters were already in position.
True to Toyogasaki Academy's reputation for "free-spirited" traditions, even a debate with the absurd title "Should Justice Be Decided by Bust Size?!" was allowed to proceed.
Not only had the school approved Kasumigaoka's request to hire a video crew, they'd even invited some rather prominent figures to serve as judges.
The debate began, and the venue quieted down.
The affirmative side went first—represented by Shirai Satomi, Kasumigaoka's classmate and fan club president.
When she stood, she didn't greet the audience at all. Instead, she turned and bowed respectfully to her idol, Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"The first time a boy confessed to me was in fourth grade. Back then, I didn't even know what dating meant, or why I was getting so much attention.
It wasn't until I grew older that I understood—it was because I had developed earlier than the other girls. My body already set me apart from those still shaped like boys.
The boy who confessed wasn't thinking I was particularly pretty—he simply saw me as a real girl.
Thanks to having a bigger chest than other girls, my first romance began in fourth grade! This proves that even in the simple world of children, bust size determines justice!"
Satomi spoke with complete confidence, her delivery calm and well-structured, even adding details like how excellent that boy was, and how many girls in their class were prettier than she was.
Thunderous applause erupted.
The audience showered their cheers on this "hero," and Satomi graciously waved back—her heavy chest bouncing with the motion. Of course, her eyes never left her beloved senpai.
On stage, Eriri couldn't help but remember all the times she had faced off against Kasumigaoka.
She knew that standing tall with hands on hips and chest out was a great intimidation tactic… except when she did it, it somehow made her look less imposing, only boosting Kasumigaoka's smugness.
Even for a lady of her standing, it was infuriating.
Meanwhile, across from Satomi, the opposing team whose combined chests barely made a full B-cup were seething at the phrase "real girl." The third speaker, especially, lowered her head, tears threatening to spill.
She had grown up with a childhood friend, and when she finally confessed to him in middle school, he had looked surprised and said, "You're joking, right? I thought of you as a bro."
That wasn't just heartbreak—it was torture.
The first speaker of the negative side reached out and took the crying girl's hand, giving her a firm, reassuring look. Then she stood up proudly, thrusting out her very flat chest.
Seeing her vice president rise, Eriri looked on with expectation.
"Having to rely on physical features to show feminine charm… how sad," the girl said.
The first speaker of the negative side was a bespectacled girl with braids—the vice president of the art club.
She had always taken pride in her flat chest.
While bustier girls complained of back pain after sitting for a short while to draw, she could work for half a day without discomfort.
"Take Sawamura-san for example—that's the benefit of a small chest. A genius beautiful-girl artist—this kind of charm, born from talent and hard work, is something big breasts could never compete with! Don't underestimate Sawamura-san!"
She finished with a roar.
In the audience, the once-expectant Eriri had gone pale without even realizing it.
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