Nozomi glanced at Shiina Mashiro, who sat obediently on the bed, her expression as blank as ever. She showed no signs of embarrassment about her bare skin, merely sitting still as if waiting for him to decide what panties she should wear for the day. A sigh escaped Nozomi's lips—this girl really had no sense of modesty.
Once she was dressed in her school uniform, he took her by the hand and led her to the bathroom. Mashiro didn't resist in the slightest. As usual, he washed her face for her, gently wiped off any lingering sleepiness, and even pinched her cheek before guiding her downstairs for breakfast.
After finishing their morning routine, Nozomi dropped Mashiro off at Suimei. With that done, he and Mahiru headed to the train station to catch their ride to Sobu High School.
However, today they had left slightly later than usual, meaning they missed their usual encounter with Sanshokuin Sumireko. Instead, someone else claimed the seat next to him.
Mai Sakurajima.
Nozomi wasn't sure if he was lucky or cursed, but no matter what, he always managed to find an open bench seat on the train. It was strangely convenient. After all, who would want to stand when they could sit comfortably?
"Look! Isn't that Mai Sakurajima? The famous actress?"
"It's really her! No way!"
"She's even cuter in person!"
"The blonde girl next to that guy is adorable too! Who are they?"
The murmuring of passengers filled the carriage, and Mai blinked in mild surprise.
Wait—people could see her again?
For so long, it was as if she didn't exist, her presence flickering in and out of people's perception. She hadn't expected that to change so suddenly. Had her condition finally stabilized?
"Senpai, you really are popular," Nozomi teased, hearing the whispers around them.
Mai Sakurajima smirked at his words. Her vanity swelled a little at the attention. Feeling mischievous, she casually lifted a hand to adjust her hair, intentionally letting the silky strands brush against Nozomi's cheek.
"That's natural," she said with playful arrogance. "But what about you, kouhai? Do you want to be famous too?"
"Nope. I think I'm already famous enough," Nozomi replied lazily.
"Hah, I don't think so."
With a devilish glint in her eye, Mai suddenly leaned in and pressed her soft lips against his cheek.
The train car exploded into a frenzy.
"Who the hell is this guy?!"
"Did Mai-chan just kiss him?!"
"Wait, are they dating?!"
Nozomi let out an exasperated sigh, already feeling the burning gazes drilling into him. He turned toward the smirking senpai beside him, his expression helpless.
Between Mai Sakurajima and Kasumigaoka Utaha, he really wasn't sure who was more dangerous. Maybe he should introduce them someday and let them battle it out.
"Senpai, aren't you an actress? Shouldn't you be more careful about scandals?" he asked dryly. "This might affect your career."
Mai shrugged, completely unconcerned. "That's fine. I don't want to be an actress anymore anyway."
Nozomi studied her face. Despite her nonchalant attitude, he could tell there was something deeper beneath her words. She wasn't just saying that on a whim. The strained relationship with her mother, the constant pressures of fame—he knew they weighed on her.
Before he could say anything more, her phone rang.
Her mother.
The moment Mai answered, the scolding began.
"Mai, where are you?! You have a full schedule today, and you just disappeared! Where is your luggage?! Do you even understand how irresponsible you're being?"
Her mother's sharp voice carried through the phone, causing Mai's expression to darken.
"And what's this nonsense about you kissing a boy on the train? Do you have any idea what kind of damage this could do to your image?! You're an actress, not some ordinary high school girl!"
A complicated expression flickered across Mai's face.
She had hoped, just for a second, that her mother might have called out of concern. But no—it was all about work. Always about work.
Still, she took a deep breath and replied calmly, "I moved out, Mom. I'm on my way to Sobu High School."
A pause. Then, her mother's clipped tone returned. "Fine. I'll meet you at school."
The call ended abruptly.
Mai turned toward Nozomi, looking almost sheepish. "Well, kouhai… looks like you're about to be really famous."
Nozomi rolled his eyes but smirked. "That's fine. I'll just make sure the reason I'm famous becomes a reality. That way, I won't lose anything."
Mai's face turned red as she crossed her arms. "Hah?! Don't get any ideas! I don't fall for womanizers like you."
Nozomi just chuckled.
As soon as they got off the train, Mai was immediately whisked away by her mother—a beautiful but stern-looking woman in a tailored suit. Just before disappearing, Mrs. Sakurajima shot Nozomi a cold glare.
Nozomi instantly knew what she was thinking. With Mahiru Shiina standing beside him, it must have looked like he was some kind of playboy, juggling multiple girls at once.
Women's intuition was terrifying.
By the time he arrived in class, Tobe Kakeru came running up to him, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Oi, Nozomi! What's your relationship with Mai Sakurajima?!"
"You're trending right now, dude! Look at this!"
Tobe shoved his phone in Nozomi's face, displaying an article with a headline that made his eye twitch.
"Shocking! Famous High School Actress Mai Sakurajima Spotted Kissing a Mystery Boy on the Train! Who Is This Handsome Stranger?"
Below that, the comments were even worse.
"My waifu is gone forever… T_T"
"WHO IS THIS BASTARD?! FIGHT ME IRL."
"I want to find this guy and sock him."
Nozomi sighed. Great. Just great.
He glanced around, noticing the entire class was staring at him, waiting for answers.
With a defeated expression, he muttered, "It's fake. I accidentally annoyed senpai, so she's getting revenge by making me famous."
Tobe Kakeru burst out laughing. "Ahahaha! Oh man, you're so doomed. Sakurajima-senpai has way too many fans. They could probably form a line from here to Kyoto."
Nozomi sighed again.
This was going to be a long day.
==============================
After returning to his seat, Miura Yumiko and a few others approached him with curiosity. He repeated the same explanation he had given to Tobe Kakeru earlier. Shiina Mahiru also chimed in, backing up his words with her usual calm demeanor.
With that, the entire class now understood the situation—he had somehow managed to offend Sakurajima Mai, and as a result, she had playfully gotten back at him in a very public way.
Still, despite knowing the context, the boys in class couldn't help but be envious.
After all, who wouldn't want to be kissed on the cheek by the famous Sakurajima Mai?
A divine punishment should befall Hozuki Nozomi!
Even after getting clarification, Miura Yumiko couldn't shake off a strange feeling. She wasn't exactly sure why, but she found herself unwilling to see Nozomi getting too close to other girls. It didn't bother her when it was Mahiru, but Mai-senpai was another matter entirely.
Meanwhile, Hayama Hayato remained silent, clearly troubled. He had finally realized why Miura Yumiko had been distant toward him lately. But now that he knew the reason, what was he supposed to do about it?
Should he confess to her and ask her to date him?
That wouldn't work.
If he did something like that, his entire image would crumble. He would completely lose his chance to pursue Yukinoshita Haruno.
After all, she was a refined ojou-sama, the kind who wouldn't associate with someone who had dated another girl before pursuing her. If he wanted a shot with her, he needed to remain untarnished, untouched—a man with pure, unclaimed love.
Hayato wanted to preserve his image. He believed that was the only way he could maintain his chances with Haruno.
What a ridiculous notion.
The truth was, Hayato had already lost the moment he allowed Yukinoshita Yukino to be isolated back in elementary school. That single event had permanently ruined his standing with Haruno, who was fiercely protective of her younger sister. Yet he remained oblivious to this fact, still trapped in his delusions.
So, all he could do now was maintain the usual façade, flashing his practiced smile while ensuring that his social circle remained intact. The only real change was that Miura Yumiko was no longer as close to him as before. Everything else stayed the same.
Their relationship had reverted back to what it was in the beginning—just classmates, maybe casual friends at best.
And honestly? That was fine with her.
Why should she stay close to someone who never truly valued her?
If it were Nozomi, he wouldn't just stand by and watch if she was upset. He'd actually do something. Even if his method was a bit reckless, he'd try to make her smile.
Hayato, on the other hand…
Tch.
The more Yumiko thought about his ever-present, picture-perfect smile, the more she grew to dislike it.
Maybe at first, she had still harbored a bit of hope. Maybe she had wished that one day, Hayato would finally break out of his mold and openly confess to her.
But he never did.
In the end, his focus was on maintaining his status, on playing the role of the perfect golden boy. He never once prioritized her.
Hayama had always belonged to everyone.
And she was not the girl in his heart.
So, why should she waste her time?
Meanwhile, Nozomi sat at his desk, about to take out materials for his light novel, when he received a notification on his phone.
Miura Yumiko: "Nozomi, are you free this afternoon? Yui wants to invite you to karaoke."
"We've been friends for a while, but we haven't really hung out together. Back then, Hayato-kun always brought Tobe along whenever we made plans."
Nozomi casually glanced up and met Yumiko's gaze. She blushed slightly and quickly looked away, trying to play it cool.
A small smirk formed on his lips as he typed his response.
Hozuki Nozomi: "Is it just Yui who wants to invite me? What about you, Yumiko?"
Miura Yumiko: "What do you think? We're friends. Yui's plans are my plans."
Nozomi chuckled to himself.
Hozuki Nozomi: "Since Yumiko says so, let's do it tomorrow. I can't today—I joined a club, and I have to take care of my eccentric senpai."
Miura Yumiko: "Tomorrow works too, but what kind of club did you join?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "It's a club Yukinoshita Yukino started. Since I have a good relationship with her older sister, Haruno-neesan asked me to keep an eye on her. So I joined."
"It's called the Service Club. Kinda catchy, don't you think? Right now, I'm the only member besides Yukino."
Miura Yumiko pouted slightly when she read that.
Miura Yumiko: "So, does that mean you're into Yukinoshita?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "She's cute, I won't lie. Any guy would think so. But more importantly, she doesn't seem to have many friends. From elementary to junior high, she was always isolated."
Miura Yumiko: "No way. She never had any friends? How is that even possible?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "That's just the kind of person she is. She speaks her mind bluntly and doesn't sugarcoat things. That makes her easy to dislike."
Miura Yumiko: "Then what do you think of my personality?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "Yumiko has a great personality. You're loyal to your friends, and I've always admired that about you."
Miura Yumiko: "Did you say that to Mahiru too?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "Nope. I only said that to Yumiko."
At that moment, the conversation abruptly ended.
Class was starting.
Miura Yumiko sat at her desk, her face slightly flushed. She couldn't stop herself from stealing occasional glances at Nozomi.
Her heart was pounding in her chest.
This guy really had a way with words.
But then her mind drifted back to the issue of the Service Club.
A club with just him and Yukinoshita Yukino? And it had a name like that?
That sounded way too suspicious.
The thought of them being alone together in a clubroom gave her an uneasy feeling. Wasn't that just setting the stage for something to happen?
Miura Yumiko suddenly felt a sense of urgency.
At the same time, she was curious about Yukinoshita Yukino.
What kind of person goes through their entire school life without making a single friend?
Just how difficult was her personality?
For some reason, Miura Yumiko felt a strange apprehension.
And rightfully so.
If Yukinoshita Yukino ever got serious, she could make Yumiko cry in mere minutes.