My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As Expected

You've really thrown all shame out the window, haven't you!

Her private messages on the forum were already overflowing, all from that [What To Do If She Likes Me Too Much].

[How can you say that about Yukino Yukinoshita?]

[Yukino Yukinoshita isn't someone who would do that! Even if she did, there must be some misunderstanding!]

[You don't understand her at all!]

She stubbornly wanted to continue arguing, but the next second, she found she couldn't even reply!

[Your account has been banned for 99999 days due to violating operations by the forum administrator.]

Eriri: "..."

"Yukino Yukinoshita, what good fortune has befallen you?"

Kasumigaoka looked over with a smile, resting her chin on her hand, a pen twirling between her fingers.

Her eyes were Burgundy, and when she smiled, they resembled two pools of gently swirling Wine Spring, giving Yukinoshita the illusion of smelling a faint, crisp wine aroma when she got close.

Yukino Yukinoshita composed herself and put down her phone. "Nothing."

Just now, Miura had sent her some screenshots of her arguing online. On the Sobu High School internal forum, she had arrogantly and domineeringly, without using a single vulgar word, pushed that alt account to the brink of going completely gray and lifeless.

Yukino Yukinoshita felt it was pointless to discuss these things with her. Scolding one person would only make more people dislike her, and she was already accustomed to this kind of thing.

Besides, if that person was a victim of a "Blonde Yukinoshita Harem King," then from her perspective, scolding her was perfectly reasonable.

But Miura had said, [I don't believe Yukinoshita is the kind of person she describes.]

Yukino Yukinoshita was silent for a moment, [What if it was me?]

[Then Yukinoshita must have had some unavoidable difficulties.]

Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't say another word.

She had never experienced this feeling of being unconditionally trusted and unconditionally understood.

The "Blonde Yukinoshita" was indeed not her, but she was undeniably Yukinoshita. Yukinoshita had never considered refuting or explaining this somewhat paradoxical matter.

She was accustomed to silence, accustomed to being misunderstood.

Her Older Sister, Haruno Yukinoshita, had also mocked her younger sister before, saying that Yukinoshita, despite being unwilling to be treated as Haruno's eternal backup in the family, subconsciously mimicked her Older Sister's every move.

In the past, Yukinoshita would always become incredibly enraged and powerless at these words, but now she had to admit that Haruno Yukinoshita was right.

When she was young, she thought that being excellent enough would earn her parents' approving gaze, but in reality, no matter how hard she tried, she could only see her Older Sister's back.

Occasionally, her mother would look back at her and say that Yukino, as the second daughter of the family, was already excellent enough.

Unable to find anything to rely on or a sense of security, Yukino could only learn from her elder sister, who was so outstanding and dazzling, to gain a sliver of confidence in walking the right path.

But there was one thing about Haruno that Yukino could never learn.

Haruno dared to subtly refute and advise their mother, and she could act spoiled and cajoling with their mother so naturally. But Yukino never dared to.

A child who is not valued or expected to achieve anything doesn't dare to demand the privilege of acting spoiled and cajoling.

Kasumigaoka propped her chin on her hand, idly writing formulas on a white sheet of paper. "But your entire demeanor is completely different from last week--"

On the outside, the current Yukino seemed no different from last week. She still had that expressionless, icy face, and those lips that never seemed to utter anything pleasant.

Yet, it gave people a feeling that there was an unusually gentle aura about her, like finely melted snow.

Kasumigaoka remained curious. "Did you win the lottery?"

Yukino: "..."

"Or are you in love? Otherwise, why would you look so foolish, which is a rare sight?"

Yukino finally sighed. "It's class time now, please don't whisper. Sawamura."

"Alright, alright."

The lecture was still highly efficient but offered no sense of accomplishment. No matter the moment or the new subject, as long as she explained it once, Yukino would declare [Understood].

Hey, hey, hey, are you the King of Understanding?!

During the break, Yukino took out her notebook and appeared to be calculating something.

Kasumigaoka, who was contemplating her new book ideas, was also curious. "What are you doing?"

"Calculating the money I have left and the expenses I can save next month."

Kasumigaoka teased, "Even a Rich Young Lady has to worry about money?"

Yukino, however, calmly replied, "My card might be suspended by my family next weekend, so it's better to prepare in advance."

"This can also be predicted?"

She then smiled and casually added, "If you really anger your parents, you can just act spoiled when you get home, Yukino."

Yukino looked up at Kasumigaoka. "...You, a Terrible Woman, really seem accustomed to acting spoiled."

Kasumigaoka was about to retort but suddenly paused.

To what extent had she been ignored by her family, that she never even considered the shortcut of acting spoiled?

After a moment, she let out a snort, crossing her arms with a smug look. "Too bad, I'm such a terrible person, but I'm Utako Kasumi's... lifelong best friend."

Teacher Utako Kasumi, the author of the light novel Love Metronome.

"You're bragging again."

"When am I bragging? Think about it. My name and Teacher Utako Kasumi's name have quite a few similarities. That's because I'm Teacher Utako Kasumi's muse and best friend."

"Really..."

Yukino Yukinoshita said this, but she was already half-believing it.

Kasumigaoka let out a smug little hum. "Think about it. After volumes 1-3 of Love Metronome, Utako Kasumi never had another book signing. If I didn't know Teacher Utako Kasumi, how could I have gotten you the autographed first five volumes?"

Yukino Yukinoshita propped up her head. "Maybe you just copied Teacher Utako Kasumi's signature. You're exactly the kind of person who would do something like that."

"Hey, Yukino Yukinoshita!"

When speaking to her, Yukino Yukinoshita's voice, which was usually sharp and sarcastic, softened. "Alright, I was just kidding."

She propped up her chin and looked over, her gaze like soft, flowing water. "Since you're her best friend, do you know what the theme of Teacher Utako Kasumi's new book is?"

Teacher Utako Kasumi's new book announcement had already been posted on her Twitter. Yukino Yukinoshita, who followed her Twitter, naturally knew.

She genuinely liked light novels, had many bunkobon at home, and often carried one in her schoolbag.

For some reason, Kasumigaoka, who was being treated with such rare gentleness by Yukino Yukinoshita, felt an inexplicable blockage and stuffiness in her heart.

Did she get happy after looking at her phone?

Who made her so happy?

A new boyfriend?

But on the surface, she smiled sweetly and said, "It seems to be a school-themed story."

Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes lit up as expected. "A school-themed story..."

Kasumigaoka liked it when Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes sparkled because of her.

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Yukino Yukinoshita ask curiously again.

"Is Teacher Utako Kasumi really a graceful and intellectual lady of thirty-five?"

"Uh, this..."

"When will the manga version of Teacher Utako Kasumi's Love Metronome be released?"

"Uh, this..."

"Teacher Utako Kasumi, when will your new book be updated and released?"

"Uh, this..."

Unbelievable, there are even people rushing for updates here!

"It seems you really like Teacher Utako Kasumi..." Kasumigaoka paused, drawing out the end of her sentence with an ambiguous tone before softly chuckling, "...and her book, Love Metronome."

Yukinoshita truly loved this book. After Kasumigaoka gave her a signed copy, she bought another one, claiming one set was for collection and the other for reading.

Yukinoshita coughed lightly, her expression serious and proper, "Teacher Sawamura, isn't it time for class?"

When this person gets shy, she always pretends to be serious. After these few weeks of tutoring, Kasumigaoka had already figured this out about her.

Kasumigaoka smiled playfully, "All the subjects are almost finished, let's just rest a bit longer. Besides, aren't you curious how I know Teacher Utako Kasumi?"

The drawn-out ending and the slight curve of her lips carried her unique, ill-intentioned charm. The first time Yukinoshita met her, she felt this person was a bad woman.

As it turned out, her sixth sense was always so accurate.

But, she was still super curious!

Yukinoshita Meow Meow's tail was already perked up with curiosity, yet she pretended to be calm, "If you absolutely have to tell me."

So annoying, when did I pick up this Tsundere Ghost habit from Miura!

Fortunately, Kasumigaoka seemed to be in a good mood today and didn't argue further, "Ah, let me think..."

She seemed to recall something from a long time ago, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze drifting as she tilted her head slightly.

"Back then, it was the first book signing event for Teacher Utako Kasumi's Love Metronome. I was the first fan to arrive at the venue, so Teacher Utako Kasumi considered me her first reader..."

This event had indeed happened, but the protagonist in the story had been switched around in her telling.

Back then, when she was awkward and dejected at the sparsely attended signing event, Aki had appeared as a fan and showered her with praise, which had indeed made her happy at the time.

Yukinoshita pouted unhappily, "I was abroad at the time..."

Kasumigaoka laughed gleefully, "You're not jealous, are you?"

"...A foolish statement."

"Haha, alright, I'll continue then."

Kasumigaoka seemed genuinely happy now.

When they first met, even with a smile on her face, that woman's eyes were as numb and dark as if they were submerged in a Rotten Swamp.

Yukinoshita decided to be magnanimous and continue listening to her story.

"Because as an ardent fan, I said many, many beautiful words of praise to Teacher Utako Kasumi, and at that time, Teacher Utako Kasumi developed a good impression of me."

Yukino Yukinoshita expressed doubt, "Teacher Utako Kasumi, a person so gentle, firm, and strong in her heart, how could she develop a good impression from just a few insincere words from you?"

Kasumigaoka: ...I didn't realize you saw me this way.

"Don't look at Love Metronome now being the dazzling Rookie King, but in reality, when the first volume was just released, its performance was very ordinary, and the Editor even told Teacher Utako Kasumi to cut it after three volumes."

When talking about these past events that even felt heavy to recall, Kasumigaoka felt an unusual calm in her heart, and even her tone carried a lighthearted teasing.

"However, when the second volume was released, because of An... because of my strong recommendation on Twitter, the book's sales and reputation gradually increased, and then Love Metronome gradually became a popular work."

Kasumigaoka indeed has a Twitter alt account with quite a few fans, and even if Yukino Yukinoshita wanted to see "proof," she could continue to brag.

Whether it was out of a mischievous pleasure or some inner impulse, she just liked seeing Yukino Yukinoshita fawn over [Teacher Utako Kasumi].

Yukino Yukinoshita pursed her lips slightly, "...So, Kasumigaoka, you completely took advantage of Teacher Utako Kasumi's low point and seized the opportunity."

"You don't have to put it so harshly... After that, Teacher Utako Kasumi and I also had many discussions about the plot development of the work."

"And then, Teacher Utako Kasumi treated me as a close friend~"

Yukino Yukinoshita held her pen, unconsciously pressing it lightly against her chin, her thin lips pursed slightly, "Oh..."

She, who was so good at controlling her emotions, now showed a rare, childlike displeasure.

Kasumigaoka found it amusing, "Yukino Yukinoshita, why do you like the book Love Metronome so much?"

"...There's no particularly strange reason."