At first glance, she might have passed as just another background character. But a second look revealed her quiet beauty—the kind that didn't scream for attention yet somehow refused to be ignored.
Who else could it be but Kato Megumi?
"Kato?"
Kasumigaoka Touji blinked in surprise as he called out her name.
"You know her?"
Eriri Spencer Sawamura's expression went pale. Her tightly held little secret was now exposed to yet another person. Just how unlucky could one girl be in a single day?
"Mm, she's a friend from a club," Touji replied casually, labeling their relationship with the simplest of terms.
Kato Megumi glanced at him. She didn't deny it, nor did she offer any further clarification. That calm, unreadable aura of hers remained intact.
Touji, noticing the sour look on Eriri's face, quickly added, "Don't worry. Kato said she'd keep your secret. She definitely won't tell anyone."
Eriri clenched her fists.
How could he say that so confidently? They'd only known each other a few days, and just because it wasn't his secret, he could act so carefree?!
She was so frustrated her liver—yes, her liver!—hurt!
"I always keep my promises," Kato said in that same soft, monotone voice, her tone unwavering, her delivery as neutral as ever.
Yet somehow, it felt utterly convincing.
"See? Kato said so." Touji smiled and pointed a thumb at her, as if that settled everything.
Bam!
Touji received a well-aimed punch to the arm from Eriri.
He didn't seem to mind. Instead, he turned toward Kato, genuinely curious. "By the way, Kato, when did you get here? I swear I didn't notice at all."
He had been paying attention to his surroundings—or so he thought.
"Hmm... I think it was around, 'However, Eriri Spencer Sawamura, you also don't want the fact that you are Kashiwagi Eri-sensei to be exposed, do you?'—right about there."
She stated it flatly, as though she were reporting the weather.
Touji's face twitched. "That's some ninja-level timing..."
Eriri's jaw dropped. "Y-You were there the whole time!?"
She glared at Kato in disbelief, her face flushed. Then she suddenly stomped her foot in frustration. "Shut up! Don't say that name again! Forget it! Just forget it!"
"Mm."
Even as Eriri flailed and snapped at her, Kato Megumi remained placid, her expression unreadable and her tone unchanged. Nothing seemed to faze her.
Touji stepped in between them, raising a hand as if calming two stray cats.
"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on that, okay? Let's all move on."
Kato gave a noncommittal nod.
Eriri huffed and crossed her arms, clearly still annoyed by Kato's stealthy eavesdropping.
"Kato, are you heading to the club now?" Touji asked, steering the topic elsewhere.
"Yes~."
"I was just passing by when I noticed Kasumigaoka-san doing something suspicious."
Her voice was as light as ever.
"For a second, I almost called the police, you know."
"Ehh!?"
Touji stiffened, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. "You mean I almost got arrested today!?"
"Hmm, not quite. If it turned out to be a misunderstanding, I'd just call the officer to explain and apologize."
"That doesn't make me feel better at all!!"
Their back-and-forth made Eriri pause.
Had she… misunderstood Kato earlier?
A tiny pang of guilt stirred in her chest. Maybe... she'd been too harsh with Kato Megumi.
She opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something—an apology, perhaps.
But as expected from a proud tsundere, she tried twice and couldn't get the words out.
"Ugh, whatever... I'll just ask Touji for his LINE later and apologize through chat... That way, it won't be as embarrassing," she muttered under her breath, cheeks puffed up slightly.
With a soft huff, she turned on her heel, golden twin-tails swaying dramatically behind her, and marched off toward the First Year G Class classroom. Her movements were sharp, deliberate—as if she were trying to assert dominance over her own flustered heart.
Touji, watching the scene unfold, gave a small chuckle and said in a laid-back tone, "She's totally a tsundere. I bet she was just trying to apologize but couldn't get the words out."
His words cut through the air like a hot knife.
Eriri, who hadn't walked very far, nearly tripped when she heard his blatant remark. She stumbled forward, flailing slightly before stiffly resuming her stride, entering the classroom like nothing happened. Her ears, however, were tinted red.
"I don't mind it now~" Kato Megumi chimed in from behind, her usual air of calmness returning. Her hands were clasped behind her back, school bag swaying gently.
Touji raised an eyebrow. "So you did mind it earlier, huh?"
She simply smiled.
Well, she was human after all. Even ordinary girls like her had emotions. He found that rather endearing.
"Alright then, wait for me. I'll grab my bag and we'll go to the clubroom together," Touji said casually.
"Okay~" Megumi replied with a melodic hum.
He strolled toward the classroom where he spotted Eriri picking up her bag. She gave him a sharp glare, said nothing, and briskly walked past him with her nose in the air.
Touji sighed dramatically, "Man, I really poked the hornet's nest."
Grabbing his own bag, he followed behind.
...
On the Way to the Clubroom
As the three walked side by side under the orange-tinged sky, Kato Megumi suddenly tilted her head and asked, "By the way... what exactly does 'doujin artist' mean? I didn't quite get what you guys were talking about earlier."
Touji blinked.
Why does she ask questions like that with such an innocent face?
He coughed lightly and tried to phrase his answer carefully, "Uhm, well... it usually refers to artists who create self-published works. But in this case... it means someone who draws, uh... adult manga."
Megumi blinked twice, still smiling.
Then, in the same calm tone, she asked, "I see~. Does Kasumigaoka-san have any recommendations? For adult manga, I mean."
Touji almost choked on air.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had just caught up to them, narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…"
Was this girl being genuinely curious... or was this the infamous dark side of Kato Megumi everyone always underestimated?
After a long pause, Utaha replied coolly, "I'm not really sure. I'm still new to the scene. Just a few days ago, a friend recommended one to me... 'Overpowering Silver-Haired Fans ~ Humiliation!! The Degradation of That Slave~'."
She added nonchalantly, "It arrived this afternoon. I haven't picked it up yet."
The silence that followed was deafening.
So blunt!
There was no shame, no hesitation, no blushing maiden act.
Utaha was the type to go all in with unwavering composure.
And yet—
Touji and Utaha both turned to look at Megumi, only to find a rare sight:
Her usually expressionless face now had a soft pink blush, gently spreading across her cheeks.
Was it embarrassment?
Was she flustered?
Utaha raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.
Touji, however, couldn't help but smirk.
"Kato-san... you're blushing~," he teased.
Megumi quickly turned away, trying to hide her face behind her bangs.
"...I'm not," she murmured.
She totally was.
And that small moment—so subtle and fleeting—felt oddly precious.
As the three walked on, the air between them carried a strange, sweet tension. The kind that could only happen in a high school rom-com.
…