As is well known, when a rumor passes from one person to the next, a few extra words always get added, or the original meaning gets slightly twisted.
Just like now.
"Hey, Yuki." Kyoko looked at her friend with a deeply complicated expression. "I'm pretty sure what I actually said was, 'Tooru caught Miyahito red-handed hitting on a girl from Class C,' right?"
"Um... yeah, that sounds about right."
"Then how exactly did you tell them?"
"..."
Faced with Kyoko's silent interrogation, Yuki blankly stared back for a moment before quietly averting her gaze.
"Sigh... I feel like something huge is about to blow up." Kyoko rubbed her temples, feeling a distinct throbbing headache.
Hearing her friend's ominous prediction, Yuki's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly tried to backtrack. "N-no, what could possibly go wrong? It's just... it's just... it's just..." Gradually, her voice shrank, her tone thick with guilt.
Standing side-by-side, Kyoko watched her stammer with a completely deadpan expression. As the unofficial "boss" of Class B, Kyoko's silent, lifeless gaze carried immense oppressive weight. Unable to bear it any longer, Yuki finally lowered her head and mumbled guiltily, "I'll figure something out."
"What kind of plan?"
"Um... well... I'll think of something..."
"Sigh." Kyoko sighed heavily, gently rapping Yuki's lowered head with her knuckles. "Forget it. Just go straight to them and admit you misheard."
"I-I got it."
Although Yuki knew her loose tongue had caused the rumor to spiral out of control, only a few minutes had passed since the original incident. Going back now to say "I misheard" would make her face burn with unbearable shame. But she had no choice. Against the authority of her best friend and class boss, Yuki truly had no room to resist.
Watching Yuki's wronged and reluctant expression, Kyoko shook her head helplessly. As a friend, Yuki was genuinely great. If only she could curb her explosively curious nature, everything would be perfect.
"However." Kyoko turned her gaze to the boys frolicking on the soccer field, particularly Miyahito, who was currently chasing Tooru in frantic circles. "I really hope this doesn't blow up... Yuki, honestly, how did your brain twist it into that?"
But thinking it over, Kyoko realized she couldn't entirely blame Yuki's initial reaction. After all, Kasumigaoka Utaha's reputation in Class C was hard to ignore—top entrance exam scores, outstanding looks, and an aura that set her apart from her peers. On top of that, Miyahito usually maintained a clear boundary with other girls, acting as if to say, "I have someone I like, so please don't get too close, we're not that familiar." Given that baseline, hearing he'd suddenly and proactively initiated a conversation with a girl from Class C would naturally make anyone's mind jump straight to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
But then, Kyoko remembered another detail. Kasumigaoka Utaha's reputation among the other girls wasn't exactly sterling; there was a subtle undercurrent of exclusion and quiet resentment toward her. Considering the sheer number of girls Miyahito had directly or indirectly rejected since enrollment...
"No, no, no. I'm overthinking this." Kyoko shook her head, gripping the handle of the equipment cart, and muttered softly. "As long as Yuki clarifies it now, it'll be fine."
The classic shoujo manga trope where a girl gets cornered and bullied behind the school building for rumors about a popular boy...
"Yeah, that kind of dramatic plot wouldn't happen in reality."
....
Night. Fresh out of the shower, Utaha sat at her desk in a camisole nightgown, idly towel-drying her hair. "Not yet. I'm still brainstorming the plot outline for Volume 4."
"Then you'd better hurry up, Utaha-chan." Machida Sonoko's voice chimed through the laptop speakers. "Even though Volume 3 just released, you have a solid window to prepare for Volume 4's planning."
On the video call, Machida, dressed in casual loungewear, lazily picked up a document and flashed the title on screen before continuing, "Based on the current sales momentum and public recognition, if Volume 4 maintains or slightly elevates the quality, Utaha-chan... Love's Metronome might very well kick off an anime adaptation project by early next year."
Hearing this, Utaha completely froze in place.
An anime adaptation? Love's Metronome is getting an anime?!
Noticing her author's stunned disbelief, Machida nodded, then—as if suddenly remembering something—cracked a slight smile and feigned a casual tone. "Well, an anime adaptation isn't that outlandish. After all, Love's Metronome received a massive endorsement from 'Miyani,' and its recognition and sales have been rocketing skyward. At this point, it'd be harder for you not to get noticed."
Catching the teasing undertone, Utaha snapped back to reality and shot back, "Machida-san! Please take your job seriously and stop messing with me!"
"Pity, but it's technically not my working hours right now, Utaha-chan." With a pleased smirk, Machida dropped the work talk and abruptly pivoted to a certain someone. "So, how's it going, Utaha-chan? Have you actually managed to become friends with Aragaki-kun yet?"
Utaha paused for a split second. Remembering how she'd spent every single lunch break with him lately, she shyly averted her gaze, her voice tinged with nervousness. "Y-yeah... we've been chatting a bit lately."
"Oh? And what exactly have you two been chatting about?"
150 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter
1 Review = 1 Bonus Chapter