"Oh? Is that so?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha neither confirmed nor denied it, merely giving Sato a meaningful glance.
Sato: "..."
He stared directly at Kasumigaoka Utaha, practically wanting to ask outright, You can't seriously believe that, right?
Naturally, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't believe it.
But at this moment, she felt extremely irritated!
Who exactly was this woman? How could she act so arrogantly?!
Kasumigaoka Utaha's slightly narrowed eyes met Yukinoshita Haruno's smiling gaze.
Until a certain moment...
"...Nee-san?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's puzzled voice suddenly rang out.
Yukinoshita Haruno's body instantly stiffened, while Sato looked at the quietly muttering "What a miscalculation" Yukinoshita Haruno with a strange expression.
Noticing this scene, Kasumigaoka Utaha paused slightly, then the corners of her lips curled upward into a delighted smile as she turned toward Yukinoshita Yukino, who had somehow entered through the main entrance and come up behind them.
The cool and elegant girl was slightly frowning, her expression unpleasant as she looked at Yukinoshita Haruno hugging Sato.
What exactly was Nee-san doing?
"My, this must be Yukinoshita-san? So this young lady is your older sister. Earlier she said she was Nohara-kun's girlfriend, so I thought she must be quite young..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha covered her mouth with a smile and feigned surprise, looking exactly like a devil toying with people's hearts.
"Girlfriend?!"
Upon hearing that, Yukinoshita Yukino's puzzled expression instantly turned into shock.
These two had only known each other for a few days. How could things possibly have developed to this extent?!
Then she saw Sato turn toward her with a helpless expression.
Yukinoshita Yukino took a deep breath. Knowing her sister's personality well, she more or less understood what had happened.
Instantly, the surrounding temperature plummeted.
Ah, my adorable little imouto is angry.
Yukinoshita Haruno inwardly lamented how unfortunate it was. Why did little Yukino have to show up right now?
The beautiful college girl suddenly stood up and stretched lazily, immediately revealing her graceful figure and curves.
Before Sato could even appreciate it, he felt the piercing gaze beside him.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was looking at him with an amused smile.
He was certain that if he stared even one second longer, this scheming woman would hold it over him forever.
Seeing this, Yukinoshita Haruno giggled, then directly hugged the cold-faced Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Mmm, why is little Yukino so cold? Did you catch a cold? Big sis is so worried about you!"
Yukinoshita Haruno affectionately touched Yukinoshita Yukino's forehead, showing a heartbroken and caring expression, as though they were simply ordinary sisters. There was not the slightest trace of the elite upbringing from a political family.
"Nee-san!"
Clearly unused to this side of Yukinoshita Haruno, Yukinoshita Yukino blushed and tried to push her away in embarrassment, but Yukinoshita Haruno refused to let go so easily, sticking to her like glue.
This woman is absolutely a siscon, isn't she?!
Sato suddenly looked at Yukinoshita Haruno strangely, finally understanding her feelings toward Yukino a little better.
"What exactly were you doing just now?!"
Still trapped in Yukinoshita Haruno's embrace, Yukinoshita Yukino glared at her with difficulty and demanded an explanation.
"Big sis was only joking around with Nohara-kun. Surely Nohara-kun doesn't mind, right? Right~?"
Yukinoshita Haruno turned toward Sato and blinked playfully.
Even though he thought this woman was extremely calculating, Sato had to admit that Yukinoshita Haruno really was cute like this.
Thinking about it, she was only an upperclassman from the previous year. By normal standards, she was probably only nineteen or twenty years old.
At that age, she should still count as a girl.
But...
"No, I mind very much. You ruined my innocence."
Sato looked at Yukinoshita Haruno seriously as he said this.
"Huh?"
Yukinoshita Haruno widened her eyes at him, while even Yukinoshita Yukino in her arms momentarily forgot to struggle.
"My innocence?"
Yukinoshita Haruno murmured the words, then looked up with a radiant smile.
"Well, in that case, there's no helping it. Since things have come to this, big sis can only offer herself to you. From now on, I'll be your girlfriend. How about it?"
Swish!
Sato could feel Yukino's icy, bone-chilling gaze land on him.
If he agreed, even though this was obviously just a joke, he felt like he would probably, maybe, most likely get chopped into pieces.
"Uh... Senpai's a little too old for me, so let's just forget it."
"Hm? But I only just turned twenty!"
Yukinoshita Haruno's gaze instantly became dangerous.
Little underclassman, you shouldn't casually tell a lady that she's old...
...
Afternoon.
"Is everyone ready? You're up next!"
Yui's friend, Manabe Nodoka, walked over holding a report sheet and spoke to the members of the Light Music Club preparing backstage.
"Yeah! We're ready!"
"Everyone! Wearing the outfits I made will definitely bring you success!"
The Light Music Club's advisor, Sawa-chan-sensei, cheered everyone on from the side while giving them a thumbs-up.
"Do we really have to wear these outfits on stage?"
Mio looked at the clothes she was wearing and asked uncertainly.
"Of course! I specially customized them for all of you!"
"Next, let us welcome... the Light Music Club!"
Suddenly, the host's voice came from outside.
The group immediately quieted down to listen, and very quickly caught the words "Light Music Club."
"Everyone, it's our turn!"
...
On stage.
As the curtain before them slowly rose, the nervous members of the Light Music Club finally saw the audience packed below.
"S-So many people!"
Mio immediately became nervous.
"Relax."
Sato quietly said from beside her, then glanced downward.
Truthfully, he was nervous too. After all, from his previous life to this one, he had never experienced a scene like this before.
Below were many familiar faces.
Isshiki Iroha, Nishimiya Shouko, Kirigaya Kazuto...
Katou Megumi, Yuuki Asuna, Yukinoshita Yukino, Hikigaya...
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri...
Even Gabriel and Vignette had shown up at some point and were watching him with interest.
"Ready?"
"Yeah!"
The girls took deep breaths and quietly responded.
Sato turned and nodded toward Ritsu.
Understanding immediately, Ritsu began striking the drumsticks to give the count.
"One, two, three, four!"
"One, two, three!"
The moment Ritsu finished the final count, Sato and Yui simultaneously strummed their guitars.
"When I look at you, my heart always goes thump-thump..."
"This shaking feeling is fluffy-fluffy, like a marshmallow..."
"You're always so persistent, You don't even notice..."
"..."