Utaha Kasumigaoka: Could She Have a Crush on Kotomi?

Grateful and unable to resist the mouthwatering braised pork, Kotomi Izumi readily accepted Yui Hachiman's offer.

"Yui! Thank you so much—you're an angel! Time to dig in!"

"Eat slowly, okay?" Yui reminded her gently.

But reminding Kotomi about table manners was like telling a star not to shine—she devoured her food with gusto, completely unfazed.

Her appetite was nothing short of astonishing, especially considering she had polished off 20 large meat buns just that morning.

Watching Kotomi eat, Kato Megumi couldn't help but wonder, Where does all that food even go?

Even at school, Kotomi tried to keep her portions inconspicuous, careful not to let her classmates think she was some sort of insatiable glutton.

But once she started eating, that resolve quickly went out the window. By the time she remembered, her plate would be clean.

Whenever they ate together, Kotomi always picked out the fatty portions of the pork and passed them to Yui, who happily ate them all.

Yui had learned early on that Kotomi didn't like fatty meat—especially the glistening portions of braised pork belly.

The only exception was grilled pork belly, which Kotomi found tolerable. Otherwise, the fatty bits were always left untouched.

Not wanting to waste food, Yui made it her mission to finish whatever Kotomi left behind.

This dynamic made eating together especially enjoyable for Kotomi, as Yui willingly became her unofficial food recycler.

"So, Kotomi doesn't like fatty meat, huh?" Kato Megumi observed, filing the detail away for future reference.

Hearing this, Kotomi offered an embarrassed smile and explained, "It's actually kind of silly. When I was younger, I loved fatty meat—whether it was braised pork or preserved mustard greens with pork belly. I always picked the fattiest pieces.

"But one time, I ate too much and ended up completely overwhelmed by the grease. Ever since then, I've preferred lean meat. Just thinking about fatty pieces makes me feel queasy."

Too much of a good thing had backfired, leaving a lasting impression.

"That does sound like something Kotomi would do," Yukino Yukinoshita remarked dryly, barely concealing a smirk.

"Hey, Kotomi," Mashiro Shiina suddenly called out, poking Kotomi's cheek and pointing out the window. "There was a second-year upperclassman outside. I think she was watching you… but she's gone now."

"A second-year?"

Kotomi looked out the window in the direction Mashiro had indicated but saw no one.

The second-year classrooms weren't even on this floor, so if someone had been here, they'd have come intentionally to see her.

Who could it have been? Kotomi wondered.

Just as she was pondering, a commotion erupted at the classroom door. A figure with an alluring mix of maturity and innocence stepped in, immediately drawing all eyes in the room.

Kotomi recognized her at once—it was Utaha Kasumigaoka.

Utaha often joked about transferring to Kotomi's class just to be closer to her, claiming she couldn't bear not seeing her adorable underclassman every day.

While Kotomi always treated these remarks as playful banter, they carried a charm unique to Utaha, even if they were completely unrealistic.

Transferring between first-year classes, like from 1-D to 1-E, was straightforward and typically approved within three weeks. But for a second-year like Utaha to join the first-year classes? Impossible.

Despite her sporadic attendance and frequent absences, Utaha was one of the most famous students at Sobu High, known for her stunning beauty and as a talented light novel author. Even the newly admitted first-years were well aware of her.

Seeing Utaha walk into Class 1-F left many students too stunned to speak, let alone approach her.

After all, interacting with a senior—especially someone as dazzling as Utaha—required a level of courage few possessed.

Kotomi, however, was not like most people. When push came to shove, she could easily call out, "Hi, darling!" without batting an eye.

Utaha's combination of elegance and allure was overpowering. Even some of the girls in the classroom were mesmerized, their eyes practically turning into hearts. The sight of her black tights accentuating her flawless legs only added to the enchantment.

As Utaha scanned the room, her gaze finally landed on Kotomi, seated near the window.

With a subtle curve of her lips, she exuded a grace so mesmerizing it almost seemed to ripple through the air. Every time Kotomi saw Utaha, she couldn't help but marvel, Oh my God, I'm in the presence of a real-life fairy!

Utaha strolled over to Kotomi, placed her hands lightly on her shoulders, and leaned down slightly, her smile teasing.

"It's been so long, Kotomi. Why haven't you come to visit me?"

Her tone was casual, but the underlying charm was lethal. Even Kotomi, usually composed, found herself struggling to stay calm.

This senior's too much! I can't handle this level of flirting—I'm just a rookie! Kotomi thought, beads of sweat forming on her brow.

"We literally saw each other yesterday," she managed to reply.

And that was true. Kotomi ran into Utaha almost daily at school. Every encounter involved Utaha hugging her tightly, as if trying to absorb her scent.

According to Utaha, Kotomi smelled like rosemary—a soothing, delightful fragrance.

This left Kotomi baffled. No matter how often she sniffed her own clothes, she couldn't detect the rosemary scent Utaha claimed was there.

"I missed you today, so I decided to drop by. Is that not allowed?" Utaha's tone was playful yet sincere.

"Of course it's allowed! Have you eaten yet, Senpai?" Kotomi quickly asked, eager to redirect the conversation.

"Not yet. I thought I'd join you." Utaha held up a hamburger with a sly grin.

After grabbing a chair, Utaha sat down beside Kotomi. Finally noticing Kotomi's friends, she offered a warm greeting.

"Hello, everyone. Thank you for always looking after my dear Kotomi."

Utaha Kasumigaoka's comment left everyone momentarily stunned, including Kotomi herself. When did I become her "beloved" underclassman?

Utaha sat beside Kotomi, leisurely enjoying her hamburger, offering no further explanation for her statement.

"Kotomi..." Megumi put down her bento, directing a serene but oddly chilling smile toward Kotomi. Her voice was calm as she asked, "Could you please explain what Kasumigaoka-senpai meant by that?"

Her tone was gentle, her expression warm, but Kotomi felt a sudden chill creeping down her spine. She instinctively shrank back.

Why does it feel so cold in here all of a sudden?

Kotomi wasn't dense; she knew perfectly well how easily Utaha's words could be misinterpreted—especially by Megumi. The fact that Megumi wasn't outright angry spoke volumes about her patience.

"Ahaha… Senpai was just joking! It's just a joke!" Kotomi waved her hands frantically, attempting to clarify. "Utaha-senpai, please don't say things like that. People will misunderstand!"

"Sorry, sorry," Utaha said with a coy smile. "But every time I see you, Kotomi, I just can't resist the urge to tease you a little."

"I understand that feeling," Megumi interjected, picking up her chopsticks to continue eating.

Utaha raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Earlier, when she'd made her remark about Kotomi, she had distinctly felt the sharp, territorial gaze Megumi had directed her way. It was the kind of look a hunter might give a rival: a silent warning to back off.

Could it be that Megumi has feelings for Kotomi?

Her years of writing romance light novels hadn't gone to waste—Utaha could spot the signs from a mile away. Megumi's demeanor wasn't that of a mere friend; it was far more akin to a protective lover.

If that's the case, this just got a whole lot more interesting. Utaha mused, her inner excitement bubbling. Does Megumi have a crush on Kotomi? If so, maybe I should find a subtle way to nudge Kotomi in the right direction.

Utaha continued eating her hamburger, keeping her observations to herself for the moment.

Meanwhile, Mashiro Shiina, who had been quietly observing the interactions, felt a pang of jealousy. The scene she had accidentally witnessed the day before—the kiss between Kotomi and Megumi—flashed vividly in her mind.

Mashiro was still upset about being beaten to the punch. She also despised how, instead of intervening yesterday, she had hidden behind the door, secretly feeling a twisted excitement at the sight.

Her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms. Yet the pain didn't register—her heart was far more chaotic.

After lunch, Utaha gave Kotomi a subtle look, motioning for her to step outside.

"Help me wash the bento box," Kotomi called to her friends, seizing the chance to leave the classroom with Utaha.

She ignored the curious whispers of her classmates as they exited. Whatever they speculated about her relationship with Utaha didn't matter.

"Have you heard about the Dengeki Bunko Exhibition in October?" Utaha asked without preamble once they were alone.

Kotomi tilted her head slightly. "Oh, the event that showcases their new publications and hosts meet-and-greets? Yeah, I've read about it online. Why?"

The reason Utaha had called her out wasn't to address the potential tension between Kotomi and Megumi. While it was clear to Utaha that something was brewing, she wasn't one to jump to conclusions. Instead, she decided to watch and gather more information over time.

For now, her focus was on the Dengeki Bunko Exhibition.

This year's exhibition was set to feature a special signing event, and Utaha had assumed—reasonably so—that she would be the star. However, when she had reached out to her editor, Sonoko Machida, she was informed that the signing event might not be for her after all.

Instead, it was being tentatively planned for another author—a newcomer by the name of Izumi Ki.

This revelation had been a shock. It wasn't unheard of for a rising star to debut with a signing event, but it was exceedingly rare. Most such opportunities were reserved for established authors with proven sales records.

Still, Sonoko had explained the rationale: Sword Art Online's volume was scheduled to release in October, perfectly aligned with the exhibition. If sales met expectations, the event would double as a celebration of Izumi Ki's rapid rise—a showcase of Dengeki Bunko's latest success story.

If sales fell short, the event would simply pivot to another popular author.

The timing was strategic, and Utaha had to admit it was brilliant. It also underscored just how much faith Dengeki Bunko had in Izumi Ki.

"Sword Art Online," Utaha murmured, her tone laced with intrigue.

Izumi Ki wasn't just writing novels. He was also the creator of Chainsaw Man, currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.

As someone who rarely read shonen manga, Utaha had found herself unexpectedly captivated by Chainsaw Man's compelling storyline. She now visited the bookstore every Monday to pick up the latest issue of Jump, eager to follow the series.

The magazine had even teased a "new project" for Chainsaw Man, fueling speculation that a compiled volume was already in the works—a remarkable achievement for a debut manga.

For Dengeki Bunko and Shueisha, Izumi Ki was clearly a star in the making. Two mediums, two hits—it was a feat most creators could only dream of.

I'd like to meet this Izumi Ki, Utaha thought, her curiosity piqued.

However, Utaha wasn't particularly interested in the exhibition itself. Her previous experiences at similar events had left her underwhelmed.

Instead, she was motivated by a different thought: with Kotomi by her side, any event would be entertaining.

Even if the exhibition turned out to be dull, teasing Kotomi would more than make up for it.

As Utaha's mind wandered, she absentmindedly reached out and pinched Kotomi's nose.

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