"Huh? Are you crazy?"
Facing Utaha's confession, Eri Sawamura looked as if Utaha had lost her mind. Despite having just been treated so harshly, under the guise of "research," she actually confessed now?
Meow meow meow??? Has her mind really broken? Did he break it? Even if she genuinely liked him, she wouldn't confess at a time like this, would she?
Besides Eri Sawamura, Megumi Katou's eyes were also wide open, and Suzu, on the side, had apparently turned on her phone and was recording.
As for Rin Ito... facing the confession, Rin Ito showed no signs of panic or confusion. Instead, he smiled.
"I'm sorry, you're a good person, but I already have a girlfriend."
"That's a shame."
Although she said this, Utaha's face showed no expression of regret as she sat down on a nearby chair, as if she wasn't the one who had been put in the "friend zone."
But the feeling was quite strange... Both in middle and high school, many people confessed to her at the beginning of the semester, and only after her mean and cold personality spread did the confessions decrease. Of course, there were still masochists who simply wanted to be insulted, and others who confessed as a penalty after losing a bet with friends. Utaha, who was used to rejecting others, was rejected for the first time... the feeling was quite peculiar. Although she had already known Rin Ito's answer, being rejected after actively confessing for the first time still made her heart unhappy, and she felt a strange irritability.
"Since Utaha-senpai has been rejected, it has to be me. Although it's a pity that Utaha-senpai, as the lead writer, can't experience it firsthand, I will try my best to convey my feelings to Utaha-senpai!"
"Then, Katou-san, please be sure to describe your feelings in detail." Utaha nodded, watching Megumi Katou's excitement, but the unexplained annoyance in her heart wouldn't dissipate.
Eri Sawamura discreetly observed Utaha... It seems this girl really has lost her mind; she actually likes him! Eri Sawamura had suspected before that Utaha liked him but just hadn't realized it herself. Now, it was absolutely confirmed. Since sitting down, she had been shaking her leg, something she only did when she was stressed or annoyed.
If the confession was meant to be a strategic advance, she should have a look of 'just as planned' on her face, not this annoyed expression. But if she tried to stop Megumi Katou from giving herself away now, wouldn't it look like she also wanted to give herself away?
She's broken, her mind is definitely broken! Even if she looked down on her peers, she shouldn't like this man who had just used her mouth as a "cup" and squirted directly down her throat. Could it be that just like the S-type Ojou-sama in manga is a latent M, she is actually a masochist like me?
Utaha Kasumigaoka wasn't a tsundere (proud and reluctant to admit feelings), but she was currently unaware of her own feelings. Once she realizes it, she'll probably be even quicker to give herself away than Megumi. Since that's the case... Heh heh, then I'll find an opportunity to help her out~
Eri Sawamura gently kicked Rin Ito. "Come with me for a moment."
"Is there something you can't say in front of us?" Utaha, who was already somewhat impatient, frowned and said unhappily.
"This is so we can observe your spontaneous reactions later. Saying it beforehand ruins the surprise." Eri Sawamura gave a random excuse and led Rin Ito upstairs.
"Hmm? What do you want to talk about?"
Eri Sawamura looked downstairs furtively and cautiously. After confirming that Utaha hadn't followed them up, Eri Sawamura lowered her voice. "Utaha Kasumigaoka, she seems to like you?"
"It's possible Utaha is trying to provoke me, but it's unlikely Utaha genuinely likes me."
".... What nonsense are you talking about? Has your mind broken too?"
To be honest, Rin Ito was more inclined to believe that Utaha was used to the parties and trying to save face in front of Eri Sawamura than that she genuinely liked him.
"Even if it was meant to be a strategic advance, Utaha Kasumigaoka wouldn't confess to you, and she even gave you her first kiss earlier, hmph... When Megumi was trying to give herself away just now, her legs were shaking so much they were about to fly off." Seeing that Rin Ito still didn't quite believe her, Eri Sawamura pouted. "If you still don't believe me... when you hold Megumi later, pay attention. She'll definitely be shaking her leg restlessly the entire time. She's just jealous."
Utaha would shake her leg when she was impatient or unhappy. She never showed this behavior during the previous few parties; in fact, she was very happy playing with Eri Sawamura at Elf's house. And... Rin Ito had seen plenty of girls' jealous expressions. Kaede used to be jealous often, and only after getting the system did she gradually become the way she is now, even cheering him on when he was with other girls.
Rin Ito was not the obtuse type; under normal circumstances, he could sense a girl's feelings. But... this wasn't a normal situation. Utaha had participated in so many parties that Rin Ito honestly couldn't quite tell. And just as Eri Sawamura said downstairs, unless she was a masochist, no one would confess after being treated so harshly, even if they liked him. Although immediate corruption was common in the Ura Sekai (Underworld/Hentai world), Utaha belonged to the Omote Sekai (Surface/Normal world), and... immediate corruption was usually triggered by penetration. It wasn't about penetration by mouth; how could she be immediately corrupted when the main action hadn't even begun?
But Eri Sawamura also had a point. Utaha wasn't a tsundere and could be honest about her feelings; she only acted tsundere-like in front of Eri Sawamura because she was competitive.
"Okay, I'll pay a little attention later." Rin Ito wasn't a pure love enthusiast who would only devour her if she liked him. Whether it was because of her competitiveness or because she liked him, he would find an opportunity to devour her first.
However... simply devouring her might be a little boring. One tsun and one who talks tough... Heh heh heh.
Rin Ito looked at Eri Sawamura. "You said Utaha likes me... What about you?"
"Huh? Are you really crazy? How could I possibly like you?"
Facing Rin Ito's gaze, Eri Sawamura instinctively looked away. "Don't misunderstand, I... I just see you as research material, a human vibrator."
"I see." Rin Ito looked at Eri Sawamura with a half-smile. "I see. It seems I misunderstood."
"Of course you misunderstood! Why are you smiling!? Do you think I would like you like the crazy Utaha Kasumigaoka? Hmph... I can't be bothered with you!"
Eri Sawamura turned and walked downstairs. Watching her retreating figure, Rin Ito looked thoughtful. Utaha was only talking tough in front of Eri Sawamura, but Eri Sawamura was a genuine tsundere, a textbook example. Tsundere is already outdated, and pure tsundere only leads to the fate of a defeated dog.
However... he wouldn't allow the existence of a defeated dog.
Everyone here should be sisters in suffering!