With five minutes left until class, Kasumigaoka Touji casually logged into Toyosaki Private Academy's forum. Just killing time, really.
The moment the page loaded, he blinked.
The top posts were all... about him. And Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai.
Apparently, someone had secretly snapped a photo of the two of them that morning and uploaded it.
Touji clicked the top thread, which already had over 90 replies.
[Tragic news! Kasumigaoka Utaha might have a boyfriend — a dark day for all of Toyosaki!]
"Calling it 'tragic' is a bit much, isn't it?" he muttered under his breath.
The original poster had written:
"I came to school excited, full of hope... only to witness that heartbreaking scene. My soul has left my body!"
Below was a blurry but unmistakable photo of Touji being hugged by Utaha-senpai as they walked through the school gates, surrounded by students.
It was taken from the side, but anyone could tell what was going on.
First floor: "No! This can't be happening! My Kasumigaoka-senpai!!"
Second floor: "My heart... it hurts so bad."
Third floor: "Waking up to this pain... life is unfair."
Fourth floor: "I'll pay 10,000 yen for Kasumigaoka-senpai's used stockings!"
Fifth floor: "Go die, perv above!"
Sixth floor: "WHO IS THIS GUY?! I SWEAR—"
Seventh floor: "Looks like... a first-year?"
Eighth floor: "Baka! A freshman dares to touch a senpai like her?!"
Ninth floor: "Get the rope!"
Tenth floor: "I'm so damn jealous..."
Eleventh floor: "I just don't get it... where did I go wrong?"
Twelfth floor: "Tch... good for him."
Thirteenth floor: "Damn life winner..."
Fourteenth floor: "This is the worst news of 2025! (╥╯^╰╥)"
Fifteenth floor: "Wait... have they already done it?"
Sixteenth floor: "Of course they have! If I had a girlfriend like her, I wouldn't leave my room all weekend!"
Seventeenth floor: "Preach!"
Eighteenth floor: "AHHHH! I'm losing my mind over this!"
"..."
Twenty-first floor: "Brothers, confirmed news! That guy is Kasumigaoka Utaha's childhood fiancé!"
Touji's eyes narrowed at the bear-avatar accompanying the post and the username 'Know-It-All'.
Yamanoto Kuma-ji...
It had to be you!
He checked the timestamp—8:40 AM.
Undoubtedly that loudmouth Yamanoto Kuma-ji!
The replies continued. 'Know-It-All' insisted his source was reliable and even claimed Touji himself had told him.
Thankfully, the guy didn't reveal Touji's class or full name.
But it was too late.
Someone else exposed it in the replies. Probably students who saw the first-year G Class that morning.
A fellow G Class student even commented, confirming Touji's identity as Utaha-senpai's child groom.
The rest of the thread spiraled into chaos. Envy, rage, despair, and more than a few tasteless jokes.
Touji sighed and exited the forum.
He opened LINE and sent a message to Utaha-senpai.
[Touji]: "Looks like I'm famous now."
[Kasumi Utako]: "And how does our little celebrity feel about that?"
Her reply came quickly, as expected.
Touji responded without hesitation:
[Touji]: "Not much, really."
...
Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't surprised. Fame wasn't unfamiliar to either of them, and this wasn't the type that could ruin reputations.
Campus celebrities like them were used to a little extra attention.
[Kasumi Utako]: "Shall I add some gasoline to the fire? ≡ ω ≡"
A mischievous hum escaped her lips as her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
With a faint, almost imperceptible chuckle, Utaha-senpai smiled. Her expression brightened the entire classroom.
The boys who were secretly watching her were struck speechless.
That smile...!
It had to be him she was texting.
Damn it!
So. Damn. Envious!
"So unfair!"
"Why not me, Kami-sama?!"
Their hearts shattered like fragile glass, the silent cries of the jealous echoing within the walls of 2-A.
Meanwhile, in Class 1-G— [Touji.]: "Please, absolutely do NOT do that, Onee-san!!" A sense of desperation laced every letter.
Kasumigaoka Utaha giggled softly to herself, her eyes glinting like a cat toying with its prey. Her fingers danced across the screen: [Kasumi Utako]: "I want to hear you say it to me in a voice message."
"Oi oi… are you serious!?"
Touji's brow twitched. His whole aura screamed "I'm done with this woman!" He sent her an emoji of a palm slapping a character out of frame.
Then he decisively switched chats. Kani Nayuta's window—open.
[Touji.]: "Your school must've started too, right? How's it feel?"
He wasn't worried about Utaha going overboard. She might be a teasing demon, but she knew her limits. Kasumigaoka Touji trusted her.
[Kani Nayuta]: "The Shut-in High School is peaceful and comfy as ever! (゜▽^)~"* [Touji.]: "...You didn't even go, did you!?"
In response, she sent a screenshot of her game—still mid-dungeon.
[Kani Nayuta]: "Well~ without games, life would be soooo boring. There's really not much else to do..." [Kani Nayuta]: "School… well, y'know, I've got deep psychological scars..." [Kani Nayuta]: "But I'm not some useless NEET!" [Kani Nayuta]: "I've mastered housewife-level skills, and my novel's selling well! I even earn pretty decently now~"
Touji stared at the screen, his fingers pausing over the keys. For a moment, his chest felt heavier.
She says it so casually… but the pain behind those words is real.
Ding-a-ling—! The class bell rang.
A girl with bubblegum-pink hair in a skirt layered over her gym uniform scurried in through the back door like a startled rabbit, plopping into her seat with a sigh of relief.
Touji blinked, then returned to his chat.
[Touji.]: "Kani Nayuta-sensei is NOT a good-for-nothing. She's an incredible light novel author." [Touji.]: "I really admire your work!"
And I hope one day… you can walk forward without fear.
He added that last bit in his heart. Putting his phone away, he pulled out his English textbook.
The first class of the afternoon had begun.