Following Tatsuya's advice, Kasumi had begun to ignore the gossips. She could feel the whispers dying down, but she was equally aware that they hadn't vanished entirely. Some people still harbored a lingering malice toward her, and it weighed on her mind.
"What do you think I should do?"
"I haven't the slightest clue," Izumi replied airily. "In the end, doesn't it simply come down to what you want to do, Kasumi-chan?"
"What I want?"
Kasumi blinked, feeling adrift. She had come to her sister for a solution precisely because she was confused, and Izumi's response only deepened her uncertainty.
"What kind of relationship do you want to have with Shiba-senpai?"
"I... with Shiba-senpai..."
She didn't need to consult anyone to know the answer to that. However, she was terrified of whether she was even permitted to voice such a desire.
"Regardless of what Onee-sama or the other seniors say... I want to be with him."
"Then shouldn't you simply tell him how you feel? No matter the outcome, I'll be on your side until the very end."
"Izumi..."
"After all," Izumi continued, a dreamy look entering her eyes, "if Shiba-senpai starts dating you, it's only natural that he'll spend less time with Miyuki-senpai. And if that happens, I might get even more time alone with her!"
"A-Ahaha... So that's your game. I didn't realize you had... those tastes, Izumi."
"Don't make it sound so scandalous! I simply adore Miyuki-senpai. That doesn't mean women are my romantic preference in general!"
Despite the questionable motivation, Kasumi found herself genuinely grateful to her sister. It was thanks to Izumi that she was finally able to summon the courage to stand tall.
Per their earlier promise, Tatsuya and Kasumi were alone in a tuning room. Tatsuya, of course, didn't have a single improper thought in his head; he was there for the sole, clinical purpose of hardware optimization.
Kasumi, on the other hand, had come prepared for more than just a CAD adjustment. She had made a silent resolve.
(His speed is still incredible... I totally get why Mayumi-nee was so obsessed with getting him to tune her gear. I'm starting to understand how he set an undefeated record at the Nine Schools Competition... I wonder what it felt like to actually go into battle with a CAD he tuned?)
The rumors were well-known: fighting someone with a Tatsuya-tuned CAD was like being two or three generations behind in software. When combined with talent and strategy, it was no wonder the First High team had been an unstoppable force.
"Finished. How many do you have left?"
"Let's see... about two or three more, I think."
"It would be more efficient to do them all at once," Tatsuya noted.
"But bringing that many CADs to school at the same time would look suspicious."
"Then we just need to do it somewhere else. Kasumi, are you free tonight?"
"Tonight?" Kasumi's heart skipped a beat. "I don't have any plans, but... why?"
"I want you to come to my house."
"HUH?!"
Kasumi only processed the surface of his words. The fact that Tatsuya had invited her to his home eclipsed the pragmatic reason behind it. Her imagination began to run wild, spiraling in a very convenient direction.
"I mean, I don't mind, but... we're still high schoolers, and..."
"What are you talking about? I'm saying it's more efficient to use the specialized adjustment machinery at my house rather than doing it bit by bit at school."
"Oh... Oh! Right! The adjustment machinery at your house...?"
Blushing at her own misunderstanding, Kasumi caught on to the strange part of his sentence. It was rare for a private residence to have such equipment—even the Saegusa estate didn't have high-grade military-spec tuning bays.
"There are... circumstances. We have some fairly professional-grade equipment at home."
"I see... Alright. I'll go home first and then head over to your place."
They parted ways, and the moment Kasumi reached home, she began a frantic search for her cutest outfit. Regardless of the reason, she was going to be inside Tatsuya's house. If luck was on her side, she might even meet his parents—it was hard to blame her for getting ahead of herself.
"Oh? Are you going out, Kasumi-chan?"
"Onee-sama. I'm going to Shiba-senpai's house."
"Tatsuya-kun's?! Why you?"
"He's been tuning my CAD, and he said it would be faster than doing it at school."
"Oh, is that all... Well, it is Tatsuya-kun, I suppose."
Kasumi couldn't quite read Mayumi's expression, but she knew one thing for certain: her older sister felt the same way about Tatsuya as she did.
A few hours later, following the map data Tatsuya had sent her, Kasumi arrived at the Shiba residence. She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart before pressing the chime.
『Yes, who is it?』
"Um, I'm Kasumi Saegusa. Is Tatsuya Shiba-san in?"
『We've been expecting you. Please, come in.』
Kasumi froze. She knew that voice.
"Sakurai-san?"
"I've been waiting for you, Saegusa-sama. I will escort you to Tatsuya-anisama's room."
Kasumi was floored to see her classmate, Mizunami Sakurai, greeting her at the door. She had heard they were cousins, but she hadn't realized Mizunami acted as a live-in housekeeper. Mizunami led her to the door, announced her arrival, and then stepped aside, remaining outside.
"You're early," Tatsuya said as she entered.
"Well, yeah... Uh, Senpai, this equipment is way beyond the level of a 'private home,' isn't it?"
"You could say that. Let's get started. Lie down there so I can take measurements."
"O-Okay... Wait, do I have to take off my top for this scan?"
It was a natural question, given the sensors, but the moment she saw Tatsuya's clinical, unblinking gaze, her shyness flickered into something else—a realization that she could use this to her advantage.
Once the measurements were done and she had pulled her clothes back on, Kasumi crept up behind Tatsuya. Her expression was now the spitting image of Mayumi's whenever she was about to pull a prank.
"Hey, Shiba-senpai... surely you don't think you can see a girl in her underwear and just act like nothing happened, right?"
"...What is your goal, Kasumi?"
"To kill those rumors for good—and to settle the 'restlessness' in my own heart."
In that moment, Kasumi's eyes sparkled with a light that was both dangerous and dazzling.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"