Time drifted lazily to the final day of summer tutoring. Today also happened to be the makeup exam day for all first-years who failed their finals.
"Ahh! Finally done."
Just as Miyahito set down his pen and was about to stretch, he heard Tooru's voice of relief from the next desk.
"Mmm... I can finally go out and play properly."
"Yeah, yeah." Nodding in agreement, Tooru glanced at the back door, then turned back to his bro with a puzzled look. "Wait, where's your girlfriend? In Class C?"
"No, Utaha didn't come today." Rubbing his shoulder, Miyahito replied, "She had something to attend to outside today. I'll go pick her up after the results are posted."
"Ugh, what kind of devoted boyfriend are you?" Tooru looked at him with mild disgust, teasing. "You guys are really something. It's nearly forty degrees outside, and you're still this clingy."
"Mind your own business." Miyahito shot back dryly. "If you're jealous, go get a girlfriend yourself. I didn't tie you up to stop you."
Left speechless, Tooru's expression stiffened. Then he suddenly slumped onto the desk in despair, groaning loudly.
"You think I don't want to? I've tried so hard! But but but..."
Hmm? Wait a sec... Wearing a curious expression, Miyahito leaned in toward Tooru, who was here for the math makeup exam, and asked quietly. "What happened? Did your confession get rejected? Which girl is so amazing she turned down Master Tooru?"
Tooru lifted his head, staring blankly at his gossip-hungry bro, saying nothing.
Feeling slightly creeped out by the stare, Miyahito's mouth twitched. He carefully backed away, grumbling reluctantly. "Tch. Fine, don't tell me."
"..."
After a moment of speechlessness, Tooru started packing his stationery and asked again. "Have you decided where to go for your first proper date?"
"Hmm?" Miyahito paused, thought for a moment, and answered honestly. "Haven't decided yet. Utaha's been busy the past few days, and she's heading back home in a few days anyway."
"No way." Tooru stuck out his tongue in surprise. "I remember you two haven't had a proper date since you got together. Don't tell me you've been counting this summer tutoring as your dates? If that's the case, Kasumigaoka-san really is pitiful. She finally gets a boyfriend, only to find out he's like this."
"Stop making things up." Miyahito scowled, crumpling a scrap of paper and tossing it at the bullshitting Tooru. "We eat dinner together every day."
"That's still not enough, right?" Tooru replied blankly, instinctively adding, "Wait, what do you mean dinner together every day... are you guys newlyweds or something?"
"Can't be helped." Miyahito spread his hands. "Utaha lives alone, isn't great at cooking, and has a bad habit of just grabbing bread or instant food when she's hungry. I can't just watch her ruin her health. I have to eat anyway, so either she comes to my place, or I go to hers to cook."
"You might as well just move in together." Tooru stared with dead-fish eyes and dropped the line straight on him. "Didn't you say your parents already know about Kasumigaoka-san? If you ask me, just go to her place with her, meet her parents, and then wait until you're of age to register the marriage."
Hearing his bro's "advice," Miyahito didn't speak, just giving him a flat look.
What nonsense. If he didn't feel that moving that fast was too rushed, and if his self-control wasn't so lacking when he was with Utaha lately... He would've already taken her to meet his parents and put engagement plans on the table.
Sigh, having a girlfriend with such an amazing figure is truly a mix of pain and pleasure... And Utaha keeps recklessly testing my limits every day...
Remembering that night, after he personally told her "I love you, more than anyone," Utaha had suddenly become incredibly proactive. More than once, if he hadn't slammed on the brakes while his rationality was still intact, things would've literally "escalated to life-altering consequences." Thinking of this, Miyahito couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.
Sliding his backpack over his shoulder, Miyahito stood up and turned to Tooru, who was still seated.
"It's about time I pick up Utaha. I'm heading out."
"Eh?" Tooru blinked, quickly calling after him as he headed for the door. "You're not waiting for Hina-sensei to announce the grades?"
"Nope." Leaning one hand on the doorframe, Miyahito glanced back at Tooru. "Either way, I've already passed. The rest is just seeing what score I got. Plus, Utaha's been tutoring me all this time. My grades are definitely fine."
With that, Miyahito turned and walked away without looking back.
Left alone in the classroom, Tooru's jaw dropped in shock and disbelief. Then, as if accepting his fate, he let his hands drop, muttering to himself in a small, envious voice.
"So nice~ Having a grade-first girlfriend... Damn it, why doesn't someone come and burn this good-for-nothing scumbag to the ground? Having a top-ranked girlfriend makes you so great?! Damn it, urusai! I want an amazing girlfriend like that too!!"
However, if Miyahito had heard Tooru's rant, he would definitely reply:
[Exactly! Having Utaha as my girlfriend is that amazing.]
.....
Just as Miyahito, backpack on, was preparing to pick up his girlfriend...
Inside the Shinobu Publishing building.
"Alright, alright." Looking thoroughly impatient, Machida Sonoko rested her chin on her hand, glaring at the love-struck light novel author sitting across from her. Her tone carried a hint of envy. "I get it, you got confessed to. Are we done?"
"Ahem." Realizing she'd spaced out again, Utaha coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment. Adjusting her demeanor, she said seriously. "So, is Volume 4 okay?"
"Ah, no problem at all." Machida waved her left hand dismissively. "It's twisted the entire fourth-floor editorial department into knots like earthworms. How could there be a problem? Thank you for your hard work, Kasumi Utako-sensei."
"...." Glancing with mild disgust at Machida's subtle expression—which looked suspiciously like the decadent bliss of someone thoroughly satisfied—Utaha took a breath and changed the subject. "In that case, may I ask why you ordered me to come to the office every day recently? Is there an issue?"
"Oh, that." Machida suddenly gave Utaha a sly, cunning smile, deliberately dragging out her words. "Let's put that aside for now. Utaha-chan, answer me one question first. Do you know about the recently airing hit Mechanical Crown? You know, the one where Miyani is handling the soundtrack?"
Frowning slightly, Utaha was confused by the sudden topic shift. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Hehe. As expected, Utaha-chan still doesn't know about Miyahito-kun's other identity. This won't do, Utaha-chan. You're already dating, yet you know nothing about him? Disqualified as a girlfriend, I say.