As gossip enthusiasts, their favorite thing was always "watching the drama without caring if it escalates," preferably "a fight that takes everyone out at once."
But the thing they disliked most—or found most awkward—was undoubtedly getting caught by the people they were watching.
And right now, Ishikawa Tooru, Hori Kyoko, and Yoshikawa Yuki, the three gossipers who had sneaked away from the main group to catch Miyahito's romantic scoop, were experiencing exactly that peak awkwardness.
Looking at the three "curious babies" frozen like statues, Miyahito let out a deeply exhausted sigh.
"Sigh... you guys. What kind of mischief are you planning now?"
Kyoko: "Nothing at all."
Yuki: "We'd never do anything bad."
Tooru: "You have to trust us."
Listening to them fire off lines one after another, Miyahito rubbed his temples, a headache brewing.
"Then why were you all hiding here?"
To watch your romantic drama, obviously!!
The three chorused internally.
But that was a thought they'd only dare keep to themselves. They wouldn't say it to Miyahito's face even if you paid them.
"Um... don't tell me." Catching sight of Utaha standing not far away, arms crossed, head slightly down, casually drawing circles on the ground with her toe, Tooru's brain sparked. He quietly sidled up to his bro, slung an arm around his neck, and whispered,
"Did we interrupt your date with Kasumigaoka-san? Sorry, sorry. Our bad."
"Ah, I see. Sorry about that, Miyahito."
"We didn't think it through. Apologies, Miyahito."
"Kyoko, you're picking up bad habits hanging out with these two clowns." Miyahito shot a glance at Yuki, who was pointing at herself with wide eyes, mouthing "Clowns?!"
Then, giving Tooru a light elbow jab, he drawled lazily,
"You've changed, Kyoko."
"Well, well, I am a girl after all."
Kyoko waved her hand dismissively.
Right, right, you're a girl... So you're telling me you also love romance gossip?
Rolling his eyes at Kyoko, Miyahito was just about to shoo his goofy friends away when...
"Miyahito-kun, are these your friends?"
"Utaha."
Hearing the voice behind him, Miyahito naturally turned around, smiling as he replied simply.
"Yeah, they're all my friends. Like, bros."
He'd added that last part himself.
After all, Tooru was fine, but he really didn't want Yuki and Kyoko to give Utaha the wrong idea that he was some kind of playboy.
One misunderstanding like that was more than enough.
Hearing his addition, Tooru, Kyoko, and Yuki all exchanged complex, knowing glances.
Wait... is his survival instinct really this strong, Miyahito?
But on second thought...
There's no way Utaha, from the class right next door, wouldn't know who this trio was.
Not to mention, judging by the vibe between her and Miyahito earlier, they were absolutely sure she paid attention to him daily.
As expected of the grade's top scholar.
The three of them couldn't help but exchange a look.
With this level of attentiveness alone, our clueless kid Miyahito is already completely wrapped around her finger.
Watching the "Miyahito gets slowly hooked, quietly delisted from the public market, and smoothly goes private" storyline was definitely entertaining.
But as best friends to this "landlord's foolish heir," they felt a slight responsibility to vet Utaha.
(Honestly, Tooru and the others just thought: why watch the drama from the shore when you can stand right in the center of it?)
Reading that unspoken thought in their eyes, Kyoko, as the group's boss, stepped up first.
"Ahem, hello, Kasumigaoka-san."
She subtly stepped forward, half-shielding Miyahito behind her, and smiled as she extended her hand.
"I'm Miyahito's good... um, friend. Hori Kyoko. Nice to meet you."
"Yoshikawa Yuki desu!"
"Nice to meet you. Ishikawa Tooru. Pleasure."
Looking at the guy and two girls standing before her, posturing like "Miyahito's guardians" while their eyes clearly screamed "This is so fun," Utaha couldn't help but find it amusing.
Looks like Miyahito gets teased by them all the time.
Noticing his friends acting weird, Miyahito shot back with a sigh.
"Hey, hey, knock it off, you guys."
"What is this, meeting the parents?"
When he said it, he genuinely had no other thoughts. It just slipped out naturally.
However.
Hearing the joke, Utaha instantly blushed and looked away.
Tooru, Kyoko, and Yuki, however, turned back in perfect sync, their smiles identically shifting into something deeply knowing.
Kyoko: "Oho~ Meeting the parents, huh~"
Yuki: "Wow, Miyahito-kun, speak your truth."
"Miyahito." Scanning him up and down, Tooru nodded approvingly. "I'm so proud of you."
"You guys..."
With veins popping on his forehead, Miyahito waved his hands like swatting flies, shooing away his relentlessly teasing friends.
He quickly stepped up to Utaha and explained in a low voice.
"Sorry about that, Utaha. They're just messing around."
"Don't take it to heart."
Hearing his explanation, Utaha finally looked up, nodding with a faint blush.
"I'm not bothered by it."
"Good."
Relieved, Miyahito shot a glare back at the three friends snickering behind their hands.
Seeing that, Tooru and the others decided not to push their luck.
After the brief introductions, Utaha smoothly integrated into Miyahito's little circle.
"By the way, Miyahito."
Carrying his gym bag and walking ahead with Kyoko and Yuki, Tooru turned back to call out.
"Since we're letting out early later, wanna hang out somewhere?"
The moment he finished, Yuki and Kyoko instantly swiveled their heads to look at Miyahito... and Utaha walking behind him.
Miyahito paused for a few seconds, then turned to Utaha with completely natural ease.
"Wanna go, Utaha?"
"I'm fine with it, but I have to be somewhere else at five."
"Got it."
Getting her answer, Miyahito looked up at Tooru.
"We'll wrap up before five. No problem."
Tsk tsk.
Look at that. She just said she's busy at five, and he instantly moved the end time to before five without a second thought.
It's over. Miyahito is completely whipped now.
"What's wrong? Is there an issue?"
Sensing his friends' weird vibes, Miyahito instinctively looked up, tilting his head in confusion at the trio ahead.
Beside him, Utaha looked up at the exact same moment.
Watching their perfectly synced movements and identical confused expressions, Tooru, Yuki, and Kyoko answered in unison with a smile.
"Nothing at all."
300 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter
Every 5 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter.