When Haru saw Utaha calling, he initially thought she just wanted to chat or ask for advice about scriptwriting.
But as he glanced at Kato Megumi, signaling that he was taking the call, he was met with a deliberately lowered, almost seductive voice from the other end.
"Good afternoon, Amamiya-sensei."
Keeping a straight face, Haru was relieved that his phone wasn't on speaker—otherwise, this would have been quite the awkward situation.
He stole a glance at Kato Megumi, who was focused on her computer, then calmly responded.
"So, are you calling to ask for my advice?"
"That's right. Are you free right now? I'd like to come over and hang out." Utaha made no effort to conceal her intentions.
Whether her definition of "hanging out" was entirely innocent was up for debate.
"I'm outside right now, actually. I'm with some friends."
"Oh? With Furukawa and the others?"
Since they had all worked together on the film project, she was naturally familiar with his two classmates.
"Yeah, they invited me to the internet café to play some games. I had nothing else to do, so I came along."
"Just the two of them?"
"Kato's here too."
"Hmm?"
Utaha's voice suddenly lifted, a clear note of surprise in her tone.
Kato Megumi remained as quiet as ever, not looking up or interjecting.
"Which internet café are you at? I'm coming over."
She didn't even give him a chance to respond before stating her decision outright.
After Haru gave her the address and room number, the call ended abruptly.
"Is Utaha-senpai coming over?"
Kato Megumi finally spoke.
As Haru connected to the voice chat with Furukawa and the others, he replied casually,
"Yeah, she should be here soon."
Kato Megumi nodded. "Looks like Utaha-senpai has become more enthusiastic since you encouraged her."
Was that a subtle implication?
Haru couldn't tell.
But Kato Megumi remained as composed as ever, completely unreadable.
It was impossible to decipher her thoughts, and her expression gave away nothing.
As if she had merely made an offhand comment.
"Do you want to play too?"
Haru offered.
Kato Megumi declined. "I'll just watch. Besides, when Utaha-senpai arrives, someone will have to go meet her."
"I already gave her the room number. She'll find it on her own."
"If no one goes to greet her, she'll overthink it."
"Overthink?"
"Yes. But what exactly she'll think… well, you'd have to ask her yourself."
"…I don't recall saying I was curious."
"But you are curious about what I'm thinking."
The conversation hit a stalemate.
Haru was already queued up in the match with Furukawa and the others, yet most of his attention remained on the girl beside him.
Kato Megumi met his gaze directly.
"Did I guess wrong? If I did, I'll apologize."
A masterful use of sincerity as a trump card.
Haru felt a headache coming on.
She always spoke so honestly, so naturally, maintaining that plain and unremarkable demeanor. It was a conversation style he wasn't used to.
He couldn't help but recall his past observation—this girl was his natural counter.
When talking with Yukino, their discussions tended to be serious. As long as he acted playful, she would react with exasperation but ultimately follow his lead.
Utaha, on the other hand, never hid her feelings toward him and was more than willing to play along—sometimes even teasing him in her own way.
But Kato Megumi…
She always appeared calm and unaffected. If you asked, she answered. If you spoke, she listened.
Her approach was pure sincerity.
At least, on the surface.
"You're not saying anything… so that means I was right."
Kato Megumi reached her own conclusion.
Haru let out a helpless chuckle.
"If Utaha-senpai knew you had this side to you, she'd be really surprised."
"I think she'd just see me as a reliable companion."
"Huh?"
"Amamiya-kun, did you not know? Utaha-senpai and I are good friends. Every time she was upset because of you, she would come to me to talk."
Haru was silent for a moment before replying, "I just didn't expect your friendship to develop this fast."
"Relationships between girls are complicated." Kato Megumi spoke in a soft voice.
Despite being a girl herself, she delivered that statement without the slightest fluctuation in emotion—almost as if she were educating Haru on how to understand women better.
Sensing that the conversation was going off track, Haru decided to change the topic.
"I've been meaning to ask—what's in that bag you're carrying?"
"Oh, this? Cake and cookies."
Kato Megumi lifted the black bag beside her.
Haru had noticed it earlier, but he had assumed it contained something ordinary like a water bottle or a phone, so he hadn't given it much thought.
Now, she carefully placed two small cakes on the table, leaving the packaging intact, as if waiting for something. Then, with a hint of expectation in her voice, she asked,
"The cookies you made last time were delicious—the ones Yukinoshita-san brought to the club."
Haru blinked.
"Is this… a thank-you gift?"
"Yes."
Kato Megumi pushed the treats toward him.
"Thanks. I like snacking while I game, so this is perfect." Haru accepted without hesitation.
A subtle glimmer of anticipation flickered in Kato Megumi's eyes.
"So… would you be willing to bake cookies for everyone again?"
Haru paused mid-unwrapping.
Wait—was this her real reason for meeting me today?
He wasn't sure, but the request itself was reasonable.
She had said "everyone," not just herself.
Since he already saw the photography club members as friends, baking something for them wasn't a big deal.
As the game match began, Haru put on his headphones and focused.
It was then that he realized something—the headphones were faulty. Likely due to negligence from the internet café staff, the sound leakage was significant.
Not only could Kato Megumi hear the game's voice lines and sound effects, but she could also hear Furukawa and the others' excited chatter.
She didn't seem to mind, so Haru didn't bring it up and instead focused on the match.
Perhaps it was thanks to his [Steel Body] or maybe even his [Auto-Aim] ability, but his reaction speed and game sense had improved significantly.
With his accumulated experience, he carried Furukawa and the others to victory in the first round.
"Amamiya, how the hell are you so good? Don't tell me that whole thing about getting scouted by a pro gaming club wasn't just a joke?"
"Dude, keep it up! I've been on a losing streak lately. My win rate depends on you now."
Just as Haru was about to bask in their admiration, his phone vibrated.
It was a call from Utaha.
"She's probably here. I'll go get her."
Kato Megumi stood up and left the room.
A moment later, she returned with a familiar curvaceous figure.
"A two-person booth?"
The first thing Utaha noticed wasn't Haru , but rather the room setup.
"I originally wanted a four-person booth, but Furukawa and the others refused." Haru explained.
Without commenting further, Utaha adjusted her skirt and gracefully took a seat beside him.
Although the booth was meant for two, if they sat side by side, it could comfortably fit four people.
"Senpai, do you want to play?"
Kato Megumi asked, shifting slightly inward to accommodate the new arrival.
Utaha, sitting right next to Haru, seemed completely unfazed by their close proximity.
"I'll watch for now." she said with a smile, shaking her head.
Kato Megumi didn't push the matter. She casually opened a news website, checked for any new articles from Hooded Hero, and, finding none, closed the page.
Meanwhile, Haru started his second game.
That was when Furukawa's voice came through his faulty headphones.
"Haru, that girl just now wasn't Kato, right? Her voice sounds kinda familiar..."
Thanks to the sound leakage, both girls had clearly heard the question.
Before Haru could respond, the beautifully made-up girl beside him leaned toward the mic and spoke,
"Hello, I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha."
Silence.
Dead silence.
"What's wrong with you guys? She's just a senpai, not a teacher. Why so nervous?" Haru teased.
"We just didn't expect you to be able to invite Kasumigaoka-senpai! Damn it, how many secrets are you hiding from us?"
"You never asked, so I never told you."
"Bullshit. That's the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard. I dare you to swear on your grandfather's name!"
"I'm not Kindaichi. Why the hell would I swear like that?"
With Haru joking around, his teammates finally loosened up.
Still, they couldn't help but feel relieved—thank god they had chosen separate two-person booths. Otherwise, they might have had to fight Haru on the spot out of sheer jealousy.
After all, she was one of the two most popular girls in school.
The second match began, and since Furukawa and the others were in lower ranks and didn't encounter any high-level players, it was another easy win.
Seeing that neither of the girls beside him were interested in League of Legends, Haru shifted the conversation to stories from his past.
This time, both Utaha and Kato Megumi seemed intrigued.
Furukawa and the others, too, listened intently.
Haru mostly talked about trivial childhood experiences—like how the Yukinoshita sisters weren't always as composed as they were now, and how, as a child, he used to be the leader among them.
He and Yukino had met in elementary school, and they had truly become close through an incident involving school bullying.
Bullying was something he had always despised.
Even after all these years, his stance hadn't changed.
"Bullying can affect someone for their entire life, and most of the time, the perpetrators feel no remorse. Instead, they take pride in what they've done. That's why, at the beginning of the school year, I didn't hold back."
As she listened to his story, Utaha smiled softly—her expression filled with warmth.
It was a rare, tender look that completely contrasted her usual demeanor.
Megumi Kato sat properly beside them, quietly listening to the casual conversations about daily life.
After winning three consecutive rounds of the game, Haru looked at Utaha and the others, noticing they didn't seem to have much to do.
"Aren't you getting bored just sitting here?" he asked.
"As long as you keep talking, we won't be," Megumi replied honestly.
Utaha nodded in agreement but then added, "Actually, why don't you teach me how to play?"
Haru was momentarily taken aback.
This was the difference between her and Yukino.
Utaha was always the type to take the initiative.
"Sure. Megumi, do you want to join too? If you do, I'll go grab another controller from the front desk."
"No need," she declined.
With Utaha joining in, the fourth round of the game began. The atmosphere shifted slightly—Furukawa and the others were noticeably more polite in their conversations.
Haru had initially planned to keep the mood lively, but Utaha suddenly chuckled.
"By the way, his headset was malfunctioning. We could hear everything you guys were saying earlier."
The other side fell silent for a few seconds before Furukawa and his friend let out exaggerated groans.
"I knew something was off about the audio on your end! Why didn't you tell us sooner, Haru?"
When guys played games together, the conversation naturally tended to go off the rails sometimes.
Now that they realized they had embarrassed themselves in front of a school celebrity, their mortification was obvious.
"I forgot," Haru shrugged, refusing to take the blame.
As the fourth game progressed, Utaha showcased the results of her recent practice.
She didn't just compliment Haru when he played well—if Furukawa and the others did something impressive, she made sure to acknowledge them too.
And when someone made a mistake, she reassured them with an easygoing, "No worries," because she was still a beginner herself and had the lowest ranking among them.
By the end of the match, the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious—almost unnaturally so.
Haru and Megumi both had the same thought:
She's put in a lot of effort when it comes to social interactions.
And the reason? There was no need to guess—she was clearly trying to surpass Yukino in certain areas.
Furukawa and the others, on the other hand, had a much simpler thought:
What kind of god-tier teammate is this?
As evening approached, everyone headed home.
Megumi excused herself first, leaving just Haru and Utaha walking together.
"You were seriously impressive today," Haru remarked as he recalled the afternoon's events.
Utaha smirked. "Didn't you once say I was too eager to improve? I just happened to feel the same way about this, so I put in the effort."
"So, in a way, I'm like a walking encouragement buff?" Haru mused.
Suddenly, Utaha slipped her arm through his, the warmth of her touch spreading through the fabric of his sleeve.
"You owe me a lesson," she murmured.
Haru raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you heading home for dinner?"
"I am," she admitted, "but I want you to come with me."
"So… I'm going to your place for dinner again?"
"Not quite. My mom has been overthinking things lately, and I haven't fully convinced her yet."
Haru processed her words before suggesting, "Should I go talk to her?"
Utaha saw right through him—he wanted to share the burden she was carrying. Her expression softened.
"I can handle it," she said gently. "You just need to teach me."
"Wait… the way you said that—are you planning to sneak me in through the window?"
"No need for that," she replied with a teasing smile. "My dad isn't home yet, and my mom's out grocery shopping. We can just use the front door."
"…Should I be impressed by your strategic thinking?"
"Thank you for the compliment," she said with a smirk.
And so, they arrived at the Kasumigaoka residence.
Just as Utaha had predicted, no one was home.
Haru changed into indoor slippers, but before he could react, Utaha grabbed his shoes along with her own and carried them into her bedroom.
The whole thing felt sneaky—like they were up to no good. It almost made him laugh.
But the moment he stepped inside her room, all thoughts of laughing disappeared.
Utaha suddenly turned, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pushed him back against the door.
Her soft, fragrant body pressed against his.
Then, with a graceful movement, she lifted her long leg and nudged the door closed.
Every action was deliberate. Not a single move was unnecessary.
"…Kiss me."
Her eyes burned with a smoldering intensity.
It was only then that Haru realized—she had wanted to do this for a while.
She had simply held back because there were always other people around.
But now, she didn't need to suppress her feelings anymore.
Haru gazed at her flushed cheeks and asked teasingly, "So, the lesson starts now?"
She curled her lips into a playful smile, her tone sultry.
"I'm willing to learn anything, Amamiya-sensei."
"How diligent of you, Kasumigaoka-senpai."
Haru slid one arm around her slender waist while the other reached up, deliberately undoing the first button of her shirt.
Her long lashes trembled, but she didn't resist. Instead, she looked at him and asked, "Why do you keep calling me 'senpai'?"
"Because it makes things more exciting," Haru replied.
"Should I be calling you a pervert, then?"
"Thanks for the compliment."
This time, it was Haru's turn to thank her.
The roles had reversed.
As they spoke, his fingers continued their unhurried work.
The first button.
Then the second.
And the third.
No words were needed.
Time blurred until—
A door opened in the distance, followed by footsteps in the living room.
"Utaha, are you home?"
A woman's voice called out.
The footsteps stopped just outside the bedroom door.
Foreheads pressed together, Haru watched the deep flush on Utaha's face. He whispered, "Do you want to go out?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she glanced at the door before calling out, "I'm working on something!"
"Oh, okay. Take your time," her mother responded before walking away.
Utaha giggled, her flushed face brimming with amusement and mischief.
"Now… where were we?"
"…What?"
Haru could only stare in disbelief.
_ _ _ _
The first day of the new school term.
The classroom buzzed with energy—some students excitedly shared stories about their vacations, while others slumped in their seats, still reluctant to let go of their holiday mindset.
Haru exchanged a few casual words with classmates before settling in.
The lively atmosphere lasted until the teacher arrived.
Clearly used to this routine, the teacher chatted with the students about their holidays before eventually reminding them about the upcoming start-of-term exams.
As expected, groans of despair echoed through the classroom.
Haru, however, was lost in thought.
Utaha's "enthusiasm for learning" had been overwhelming.
If her parents hadn't returned last night, he probably wouldn't have had the chance to leave.
Then again, the outcome wouldn't have changed.
In the end, she would have been the one to lose.
At lunch, Amamiya sat with Yukino in the cafeteria as she casually mentioned a recent development at home.
"My mother started a film production company. Since you agreed to help, she's planning to have my sister gain some experience there."
"That was fast," Haru mused.
"My mother has always been like that," Yukino replied.
As they ate, Haru noticed she kept looking at him.
"Do I have something on my face?" he asked.
Yukino's tone was calm.
"I was just wondering… how many times did Kasumigaoka-senpai meet up with you over the break?"
Haru: "…"
P.S. Sorry, I messed up the chapter sequence in the previous uploaded chapter, that's why it might have felt odd. Fixed it now.