After returning to the classroom, Nozomi greeted Miura Yumiko and the others before taking his seat. As usual, the class atmosphere was lively and full of energy.
Except for Hayama Hayato, who seemed a bit downcast.
Tobe Kakeru and the rest of their group were still noisily gathered around him, seemingly oblivious to his mood. Tobe, with his slightly flashy long hair and signature headband, gave off an air of someone who loved to show off. He frequently "borrowed" the latest manga from the otaku in class—without asking, of course—just so he could pass them to Hayato. Naturally, this made him pretty unpopular among the manga fans, but no one dared to call him out because of his close ties with Hayato.
Meanwhile, Hayato himself was lost in thought. The source of his gloom was none other than Miura Yumiko.
Though she still greeted him as usual today, her tone lacked the usual playful sweetness she always had when addressing him. Instead, her words carried a polite but distant formality.
Before, she used to call him simply "Hayato."
Now, she called him "Hayato-kun," adding that small but significant honorific that placed an invisible barrier between them.
Tobe, curious as always, had asked him if he had gotten into a fight with Yumiko.
Of course, he denied it. How could they have argued? As far as he knew, nothing had happened.
Yet, ever since the day Yumiko had returned to class with red eyes, things had changed. She had started keeping her distance from him, and no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what had caused it.
What Hayato didn't know was that Miura Yumiko had learned the truth.
She had realized that he had been using her as a shield all along, with no intention of ever reciprocating her feelings. To her, it wasn't just rejection—it was betrayal.
Miura Yumiko had always trusted her friends. She was the kind of person who wouldn't doubt the words of those she cared about. But now, she felt deceived, humiliated.
Why flirt if there was never any intention to commit?
If he never planned to be with her, then she didn't need his kindness.
That kind of empty gentleness was nothing but poison, and she wasn't about to let herself be poisoned any further.
If Hayato wanted them to remain "just friends," then fine. She would give him exactly that.
But nothing more.
Her heart had already turned cold.
Now, the one suffering was Hayato. He wanted to fix things, to bring things back to how they were before. But maintaining his polished image, keeping up appearances—it tied his hands. He couldn't break through the invisible wall between them.
And deep down, he was afraid.
Afraid that Miura Yumiko would walk away for good.
Because despite everything, she really was an important friend to him.
Yet, Hayato's dilemma was laughable.
Did he really think he could keep Yumiko by his side forever as just a "friend"?
Maybe such friendships could exist between men and women.
But not in Hayato Hayama's world.
While he brooded, Miura Yumiko had already moved on, animatedly discussing the plot of "Love Metronome" with her friends.
"The heroine is so frustrating! She keeps making the protagonist guess what she's thinking instead of just telling him!"
"She bottles everything up, then wallows in her own misery! It's so annoying!"
"If you ask me, Sayuka should just be honest and confess already!"
"How is the protagonist supposed to read her mind if she never says anything?"
"She just ends up making a mess of things. Ugh, I'm so angry! How can a girl like that be the heroine?"
"When I get the chance, I'm going to complain to Kasumi Utako-sensei about this! She needs to make Sayuka more straightforward!"
Nozomi chuckled.
Sayuka was obviously a self-insert character for Kasumigaoka Utaha. For someone who had never been in a real relationship, she sure had crafted a pretty complicated romance story. Still, considering how difficult it was for her to write the second volume, she was probably stuck in a creative slump.
Maybe he should give her a few suggestions when the time was right.
Watching Miura Yumiko vent her frustration, Nozomi couldn't help but think she was kind of cute.
The so-called "queen" of reality had been completely drawn into the world of light novels.
And it was all thanks to him.
From the side, Shiina Mahiru stole a glance at Nozomi and smiled softly.
Yumiko didn't seem heartbroken at all anymore.
As expected of my man. He even used light novels to distract her.
Nozomi quietly observed the scene, occasionally locking eyes with Yuigahama Yui, who had been secretly glancing at him. Each time their eyes met, she would quickly look away, her face turning red in an adorable panic.
And then, near the window, Hikigaya Hachiman sat watching them all, his dead fish eyes full of silent resentment.
Ahh, youth. What an annoying thing.
"Hikigaya-san…"
A soft voice suddenly called his name.
Looking up, he felt a jolt in his heart.
Totsuka Saika.
Why…? How could someone so cute… be a boy?!
Hikigaya Hachiman was conflicted.
Today, there was an outdoor P.E. class.
And the activity was tennis.
Nozomi was about to pull Mahiru to team up, but before he could, Miura Yumiko excitedly grabbed Yui and Hina to form a trio. Naturally, Tobe Sho inserted himself into their group, eager to join in on the fun.
In the end, Hayama Hayato and his usual circle also formed a team, rounding out the participants for the tennis match.
Miura Yumiko stood out immediately. With fluid movements and precise shots, she dominated the court effortlessly. She had been the ace of her junior high tennis team, even representing the school in competitions, where she had secured second place. It was clear that her skills hadn't dulled one bit.
On the court, her figure was dazzling, every swift motion radiating confidence and athleticism.
By the time the physical education class ended, Yumiko was in high spirits, looking even more radiant than usual. As she wiped the sweat from her brow, Nozomi flashed her a thumbs-up.
"Yumiko, that was amazing. Your tennis skills are top-tier."
Yumiko beamed at the praise. "Hehe, thanks! Nozomi, we should definitely play together again sometime."
He responded with a bright, easy-going smile. "Sounds good. Let me know when."
This entire exchange did not go unnoticed by Hayama Hayato, who, for the first time, felt a peculiar sense of distance growing between himself and Yumiko.
Just as he was about to chime in, Yumiko turned to him with a polite but distant smile. "Ah, Hayato-kun, you have your football club training, don't you? Looks like I'll have to play tennis with Nozomi instead."
Hayato put on his usual cheerful expression, but deep inside, he felt an uncomfortable weight settle in his chest.
'But I don't go to training every day... I'd still have time to play with her,' he thought bitterly.
Yet, before he could voice his thoughts, Yumiko had already turned away, happily chatting with Yui about their next tennis match.
Frustration simmered beneath Hayato's usual composed demeanor.
'This change in Yumiko... it has to be because of Nozomi.'
His fists clenched involuntarily. It wasn't just Yumiko. Even Yukinoshita Haruno, the woman he admired most, seemed to regard Nozomi differently.
Meanwhile, Nozomi remained completely indifferent to Hayato's turmoil. His mind was occupied with something far more interesting—his magical girl project.
Misaki Kamiigusa had nearly finished the preparations. This weekend, Eriri would be coming over to test out the manuscript.
Unfortunately, he had to take Sayu Ogiwara back to Hokkaido, meaning he might not get the chance to meet the tsundere twin-tailed beauty. But it wasn't a big deal. Once Eriri officially joined Misaki Kamiigusa and his game animation studio, they would naturally have plenty of opportunities to see each other.
Nozomi was always a man with grand ambitions. He wasn't just thinking about one or two people—he had plans for both the Shiina sisters and the Yukinoshita sisters. But things had to be taken step by step.
When he recalled his morning confrontation with Yukinoshita Yukino, he couldn't help but smirk.
'Just wait, Second Miss. You'll fall into my hands sooner or later.'
While Hayama Hayato was brooding, someone else in Class F was equally uneasy.
Kawasaki Saki, with her usual cool and composed expression, sat silently, but her mind was in complete turmoil.
She had always known that Nozomi was involved with Shiina Mahiru. She had also caught wind of his rooftop rendezvous with the librarian, Sanshokuin Sumireko.
But now, there was an even bigger problem.
Yumiko, who had once had eyes only for Hayato, was suddenly acting different.
Over the past few days, she no longer spoiled Hayato like before. Instead, she had started blushing whenever she looked at Nozomi. Even worse, she had deliberately sought out Shiina Mahiru to talk to her, clearly trying to get closer to Nozomi.
'This man is dangerous...'
Saki's eyes darkened slightly. Nozomi had already charmed so many girls, and now, Yumiko too?
And then there was her own situation.
She still owed Nozomi one million yen.
If Yumiko, who had once been devoted to Hayato, was already wavering, what about her?
'No... I, Kawasaki Saki, will never fall for a playboy like him! Never!'
But for some reason, the thought didn't sound as convincing as she wanted it to be.
—
After the third period ended, Nozomi was about to relax when Shizuka Hiratsuka assigned him an errand.
"Nozomi, take these homework books to my office."
He sighed internally. It was obvious that Shizuka-sensei was messing with him again.
'It's probably because she saw me and Mahiru getting all lovey-dovey earlier. The bitterness of a 30-year-old unmarried beauty must be truly profound...'
Still, he had no complaints. He grabbed the books and was about to head out when Hayato Hayama suddenly approached with a smile.
"I'll help with that," Hayato offered, grabbing half of the books before Nozomi could refuse.
Nozomi smirked knowingly. "You've got something to ask, don't you? Just say it. It's not like you to beat around the bush."
Hayato sighed. "You caught on fast."
"Of course," Nozomi chuckled. "When someone starts acting unusually helpful, they either want something or they're up to something. And you, Hayato, aren't exactly the type to volunteer for manual labor."
Hayama Hayato scratched the back of his head, looking slightly awkward.
"I was worried I'd be interrupting your time with Shiina-san."
Nozomi smirked. "You already have, so if you've got something to say, just spit it out. No need to be so reserved."
Hayama let out a defeated sigh. "I really envy how straightforward you are."
"That's because I don't see the point in lying. Honesty is the most important thing, don't you think, Hayama-san?"
Hayama nodded slightly, but deep down, he knew honesty wasn't always an option for him. He took a deep breath and finally asked what was on his mind.
"Nozomi… do you know what's been going on with Yumiko lately?"
"That day, she came back to the classroom with red eyes. Did something happen that I don't know about?"
"Oh, you mean that." Nozomi chuckled. "Yumiko thought you came to ask me about her."
Hayama tensed. "And… what did you tell her?"
"I told her you didn't mention her at all. Instead, I told her you said you had someone you liked—but it wasn't her."
Hayama's eyes widened. "!!!"
He was stunned.
"You—you told Yumiko that I… that I care about Haruno-san?"
This guy… was downright dangerous!
He took back what he said earlier—he didn't envy Nozomi's honesty at all.
Nozomi blinked. "I never mentioned Haruno-san's name. I just said you had someone you liked, but it wasn't her. Did I say something wrong?"
Hayama forced a smile, though his expression was slightly stiff. "No… you did the right thing. I was the one who messed up."
He let out a deep sigh, then said more seriously, "Yumiko is a very simple person. If you and Shiina-san are dating, I just hope you won't hurt her."
Nozomi rolled his eyes. "Who said anything about hurting her?"
Hayama knew better, but as Yumiko's friend, he had to say something. He fixed Nozomi with a serious gaze.
Nozomi sighed in exasperation. "Relax. Mahiru and I haven't even officially started dating. So, I won't hurt Yumiko. To be precise, I wouldn't hurt any cute girl I care about."
Hayama stared at him blankly before shaking his head. "Nozomi, sometimes I think you might be even greedier than me."
Nozomi grinned. "That's because I am."
As the two walked down the corridor, they suddenly stopped.
A girl with long, flowing black hair was approaching them. Her movements were elegant yet deliberate, exuding an aura of quiet confidence.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
Nozomi recalled their interaction that morning. He had no intention of greeting her, so he and Hayama simply passed by, heading toward the office.
"Wait."
Yukino's voice called out, a slight hint of redness on her face.
Nozomi raised an eyebrow, turning to face her. To his surprise, she quickly stuffed a folded note into his hand.
"Read it later," she said coolly before walking away, completely ignoring Hayama.
Hayama, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, staring after her in shock.
"Yukinoshita Yukino actually just gave you a note…?" he muttered in disbelief. "What is going on with this world?"
Curious, Nozomi unfolded the note and read its contents.
[Come to my club room after school. I have something to discuss with you.]
He glanced up, a smirk forming on his lips.
Hayama, looking both exasperated and resigned, sighed. "I really need to keep an eye on you. Maybe if I study you long enough, I can figure out a way to shift Haruno-san's attention back to me."
Nozomi wasn't even paying attention anymore. His mind was already elsewhere.
He hadn't even started using his secret weapon—his foolproof strategy to get on her good side involving a certain feline surprise—yet she had already reached out to him on her own.
For some reason, he found himself looking forward to this meeting.