The small apartment where Yukino was temporarily staying had a predominantly white, gray, and blue color scheme. There were very few decorations or unnecessary pieces of furniture—in short, it felt rather stark.
Everything was arranged neatly in its proper place, without the slightest mess.
Even at home, Yukino was so restrained, with everything neat and proper. Could someone like her really be so promiscuous and unfaithful?
What was she thinking right now?
When Kasumigaoka had left earlier, she'd been full of confidence, vowing to give Yukino a good going-over. For example, by adding chili water to her shampoo, or mustard to her toothpaste.
It was only right to do that to a hateful homewrecker who'd stolen the person she loved.
And Yukino was so completely off guard. Wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
Come on, Yukino. Let's tear each other apart!
That was what she'd thought before leaving.
But now, the chili water and mustard in her bag felt unbearably hot to the touch, and she had no desire to take them out at all.
She had absolutely no defenses against an enemy she'd had for... however many years.
Yukino, are you an idiot?
Leaning back against the sofa, Kasumigaoka let out a conflicted, complicated sigh.
As Kasumigaoka sat on the sofa, staring into space, her phone suddenly beeped twice. She took it out of her bag and saw that, sure enough, that girl Eriri had sent her a Line message.
"Ahhhhhhh, where are you?!! I'm going crazy trying to meet my deadline. Come over and model for me!!!!"
Kasumigaoka slowly typed a question mark. "What's that got to do with me? Get lost. Far, far away."
This was hilarious. Eriri, who always worked on her manuscript at a leisurely pace until right before the deadline, deserved to be hung from a streetlamp and whipped by her editor for rushing her.
All procrastinating dogs could just go die. Except Kasumigaoka.
Without Aki Tomoya as the spark between them, the relationship between Sawamura Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha—who should have been sworn rivals—had instead gradually started to thaw.
Yes, their relationship had already thawed from what it once was.
After thinking it over, Kasumigaoka offered a reasonable suggestion. "Didn't you used to make excuses like your phone got lost abroad or your computer broke?"
"I got caught playing computer games on my Alt Account the day before yesterday, so I can't use the excuses about going abroad or losing my phone anymore. Kasumigaoka, hurry over..."
Kasumigaoka immediately curled her lip. "Have you even thought about the kind of weird stuff you draw? Are you crazy if you think I'll model for you?"
"...The poseable mannequin can't manage the pose I want."
Poseable mannequins were essential little props for artists drawing erotic manga. They could be arranged into all kinds of poses, providing real-life models for manga artists who lacked experience.
"Get lost."
"I'll pin a recommendation for your New Book to the top of my Twitter feed. Deal? @_@"
"Deal. I'll come over after my tutoring gig."
Eriri practically shrieked into her face. "Waaah! Kasumigaoka, you're tutoring! Is the student a boy or a girl? Eee! Have you already dumped Tomo? You really are such a cold, heartless person!"
"Wait, you're not doing something really erotic while talking to me, are you?!!!"
Kasumigaoka gave a cold laugh. "Did drawing porn rot your brain? It's full of nothing but dirty thoughts!"
"The student's a girl. I'm learning about tutoring as a profession for research for my New Book." She brushed the subject aside with a casual explanation.
For some reason, Kasumigaoka didn't want to bring up Yukino in front of Eriri.
Maybe it was because back when Yukino had stolen the person she loved and relentlessly mocked her, Eriri had looked like someone whose life had gone so dark she'd either kill Yukino or kill herself.
She'd leave that awful business to herself.
But did she really have to do it?
While Kasumigaoka and Eriri traded barbs back and forth on Line, Yukino returned.
She held a convenience-store bag in one hand and talked on her phone with the other. From a little distance away, Kasumigaoka could only make out phrases like "Don't worry" and "I'm really sorry for the trouble."
After finishing the call briefly at the entrance, Yukino came over and neatly set out several cartons of milk. "I didn't know which kind you liked, so I bought a few brands, all strawberry flavored."
As Kasumigaoka stuck in a straw, she casually asked, "Was that a teacher from school?"
That stiff, respectful tone had to mean it was a teacher, right?
"It was my mother."
Yukino placed the rest of the milk in front of Kasumigaoka, her expression calm. "She asked about my changing classes. I explained it to her."
"Wait, didn't you change classes more than two weeks ago? Your mother only found out now?"
How little attention did your family pay to you...?
Yukino tilted her head at her. "You know when I changed classes?"
Kasumigaoka's smile stiffened.
After tutoring last weekend, she'd gone straight home and searched the Sobu High School Campus Forum for the latest news about Yukino. That made her look like either a stalker or a serial killer. Of course she couldn't tell Yukino that!
She absolutely couldn't let it slip. She'd die of Social Death!
Kasumigaoka gave a light cough. "I can't finish all this milk by myself. Should I put the rest in the fridge?"
Yukino shook her head. "I don't use the fridge or kitchen much. If we put these in the fridge, they'll just go bad. You should take them home with you later."
Everything about this person, from beginning to end, was stark and spotless, as if she hadn't been touched by even the slightest trace of worldly life.
And yet, behind her cool, detached expression, Yukino was quietly fretting.
After all that, she still hadn't triggered a quest!
Unbelievable. Kasumigaoka clearly hated her so much.
As the lesson was nearing its end, Kasumigaoka couldn't help asking something beyond her role as a tutor. "May I ask you a question, if you don't mind?"
Yukino replied, "If it's something you don't mind asking, then surely it's something I shouldn't answer."
Yukino didn't particularly want to discuss that messy year-plus. The fact that it was too painful to look back on was only one reason. More importantly...
She really had no idea what had happened during that year and more.
And Yukino could guess without even thinking that Kasumigaoka's question would definitely be about that so-called Aki Tomoya.
Aki Tomoya wasn't the person who triggered her quests. Who cared about him?
She was at risk of being possessed again at any moment. Worried she might open her eyes and find her life in a complete mess again, she hadn't even paid much attention to Hikigaya or Hayama. How could she spare time for some random extra from another school who hadn't triggered a quest?
On the surface, Aki Tomoya was a gaming nerd, but in reality, he was a Social Butterfly who could transform into a handsome guy simply by taking off his glasses. He'd once been the object of affection of the two Campus Belles at Toyogasaki Academy.
Yes, those two were Kasumigaoka Utaha and Sawamura Eriri.
Kasumigaoka lightly tapped her lips with the pen in her hand and smiled. "How about this? I'll ask you one question, and in exchange, you can ask me one. What do you say?"
Yukino, a realist, answered at once. "Fine."
Kasumigaoka smiled.
She had to admit, when this person smiled without any mockery or malice, she was truly beautiful.
"I've never seen Aki-kun so obsessed with someone before. It was like he was obsessed with a dating sim."
Kasumigaoka smiled faintly. "So why did you personally give him a bad ending? And not just any bad ending—a one-second bad ending."
In dating-game terminology, BE meant a tragic ending.
Yukino: "..."
Damn. This question was actually hard to answer.
Ask that despicable possessor.
How could I possibly understand the mind of a Scum King?
But even if I said that, she'd only think I was shirking responsibility.
Yukino considered Blonde Yukino's behavior, her expression serious as she condemned it in a solemn voice.
"Because Yukino was an idiot."
That's right. Blonde Yukino was a complete and utter idiot.
There was no doubt about that!
Yukino had never thought of Blonde Yukino as herself, so she had no reservations about cursing her out.
Kasumigaoka's eyes widened in shock.
Yukino had turned over a new leaf and reached this level of self-awareness?
Kasumigaoka opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. In the end, all she could stammer was, "There's no need... no need to put it like that..."
If the old Yukino had said something like that, Kasumigaoka would have scoffed at her.
But now, she was half convinced.
After all, Yukino had spent the past two weeks proving through her actions that she really did seem to be turning over a new leaf and seeing the error of her ways.
Compared to her, Kasumigaoka, who still couldn't escape the mire of the past and even had chili water and mustard in her bag right now, was downright awful.
Wait!
Even with rose-colored glasses on, Yukino's past words and actions had still been absolutely awful!
Kasumigaoka, you shallow girl who only cared about looks—get it together and start hating Yukino again!
Yukino was definitely trying to toy with her again. How could someone's awful nature change so easily?
Yukino was only holding back her claws for now because she had an even more terrible scheme in mind!
After a round of mental counseling, Kasumigaoka managed to pull herself together.
Yukino tilted her head at Kasumigaoka, noticing her rapidly changing expressions. In a calm voice, she asked, "Sawamura-sensei, you still hate me, don't you?"
Judging from Kasumigaoka-senpai's generous chest and beautiful face, she was very likely a High Popularity Character.
But if such a High Popularity Character hated her, there was no reason she shouldn't be able to trigger a quest from her.
Could it be that she didn't actually hate me?
Or that she didn't hate me enough?
Kasumigaoka, get it together and hate me even more!
Yukino had become a shape molded by choice-based quests. Her mind was full of ways to trigger a quest from someone on the list of potential victims, so she could avoid being possessed again.
What was Kasumigaoka's keyword? What did she like and dislike? If Yukino asked her directly, she'd either snap back at her or brush her off.
What was she supposed to do?
Kasumigaoka seemed to have heard a joke. She gave Yukino a sidelong glance. "I hate you. Isn't that only natural?"
There was no doubt about the genuine disgust in her voice.
Yukino finally let out a breath of relief. "That's great. Then tonight I can use the shampoo with chili water and mustard in it without worrying."
The atmosphere in the living room fell silent for a moment.
Yukino stared blankly ahead. "I'm deeply grateful you didn't think of putting depilatory cream or glue in it."
Kasumigaoka: "...You already knew?"
"Since elementary school, people have put all kinds of things in my water bottle, so my nose has always been very sensitive."
In the silence, Kasumigaoka said softly, "There's plenty of evidence. You can report me to the police, Yukino."
Saying it aloud somehow made her feel relieved.
She'd done something like this in a fit of anger. She hadn't gone through with it, but the truth was, she'd been vicious and stupid.
When she'd thought of retaliating against Yukino in such an awful way, she'd become an even worse person herself.
Doing something wrong came with a price. Yukino had experienced that before. Now it was her turn.
Yukino looked at her silently for a moment, then turned away and began leisurely organizing her notebook. "Forget it. You didn't go through with it... And anyway, I'm already used to being hated."
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