Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

The next day,

At Shuchiin Academy,

After school.

In Class 3-B, at the last row by the window, a sultry girl in black tights lay slumped over her desk, panting lightly.

Utaha Kasumigaoka, better known by her pen name Kasumi Utako, was a best-selling light novel author praised in literary circles as someone with the talent to excel in contemporary traditional literature—though, for reasons unknown, she had "lost her way."

And her response to such praise?

"What does that have to do with me?"

Dull, boring… The world was filled with shallow, trivial people and things. For Utaha, accepting society's constraints was out of the question. She had ideals, ambition, and an unyielding determination to be herself, no matter what.

"Kasumigaoka-san, someone's here to see you."

"…" Utaha rubbed her sleepy eyes, stifling a yawn.

After an exhilarating night out two days ago with her "junior," she had been struck by a torrent of inspiration, which kept her up until the wee hours as she poured her thoughts into her manuscript. Now, she was thoroughly exhausted.

Whoever dared disturb her rest would have to pay dearly…

"Yukinoshita… Yukino?" Utaha blinked, momentarily stunned.

She had expected some desperate, lust-filled beast spouting obscene nonsense, only to be greeted by a black-haired girl who looked like just another background character.

"Yes, it's me, Senpai."

"What do you want?" Utaha asked indifferently.

She wasn't about to put on a smile. The girl before her wasn't just interrupting her nap—she was also one of those who had once "taken something precious" from her.

"It's about… Natsukawa-kun. I wanted to talk with you about him."

"About my junior? …Come with me."

The two found a secluded spot before beginning their conversation.

"Make it quick. I'm busy."

"I won't take much of your time." Yukino shook her head. "I want to know what kind of person Natsukawa-kun really is."

"What kind of person?" Utaha was surprised at first, then let out a faint chuckle, her tone pointed. "Surely you already know what kind of person my junior is, don't you?"

"…" Yukino remained silent. If she truly knew, she wouldn't have come to Utaha.

"Do you still remember deceiving me back then? How about we use that as a trade?"

"Deceiving you?"

Utaha paused briefly before recalling what Yukino meant.

"I didn't deceive you. I simply said, 'My junior made an inappropriate request, and after being rejected, he never bothered me again.' Perhaps you misunderstood back then, but surely you can understand my words better now?"

As proud as Utaha was, she wouldn't stoop to outright deception to sabotage someone else's romance. At most, she'd engage in a little verbal manipulation. If Yukino had been influenced, it was likely due to her own lack of trust in Natsukawa—something Utaha had seen in Eriri, Yukino, and even herself.

"Are you trying to shirk responsibility, Senpai?"

"…" Utaha frowned, tempted to walk away and end the conversation.

"Fine, I'll indulge you this once. Ask what you want to know."

"Alright." Yukino nodded and decided to reframe her question in a way Utaha might find more palatable.

Instead of asking for simple information, she would appeal to Utaha's tendency to brag.

"When Natsukawa-kun was pursuing you, did he ever do anything memorable? Just one thing that stood out will do."

"How is that relevant to what you're trying to figure out?"

"Is it difficult to answer?"

"...You're annoyingly persistent." Utaha sighed.

Still, it wasn't a big deal to tell her. After all, it was something Utaha took pride in.

As she recalled the past, her gaze softened, filled with subtle emotion.

"If I had to pick one thing… it would be how he debated countless people for my sake."

Utaha had always known that Natsukawa's initial enthusiasm for her light novel Love Metronome wasn't as deep as it seemed. What drove him was his affection for her—he had taken up her cause simply because he liked her.

And for Utaha, that was enough.

How many people, after all, would spend day and night on the internet, arguing with strangers without rest, just to defend someone they cared about?

Even if his intentions weren't entirely selfless, she had been deeply moved.

"…" Yukino nodded thoughtfully.

Utaha's expression left no room for doubt, making the situation clear: back then, Utaha had misled her because of her own feelings for Natsukawa—perhaps out of jealousy or resentment.

When Yukino had approached her, Utaha had made her believe Natsukawa was an irredeemable flirt, someone who couldn't be trusted.

But that wasn't what truly concerned Yukino.

If Natsukawa was simply a flirt, she wouldn't have cared. She believed she could change him. What she wanted to know was whether his feelings for her were genuine…

Yukinoshita Yukino had never experienced love before.

Though she could glimpse fragments of it through literature, she lacked personal understanding. To truly discern her feelings, she needed to look inward.

She could sense Natsukawa's special treatment of her but couldn't be sure if it meant he liked her.

Admiration? Shared ideals? Their camaraderie often felt more like an alliance than anything romantic.

And if he trusted her, why did he seem to place more faith in Hachiman Hikigaya?

Natsukawa's behavior baffled her, as if he were seeking validation, approval, or perhaps simply… the feeling of being needed.

And in turn, Yukino couldn't determine if her feelings for him were sympathy, kinship, or something deeper.

That was why she had rejected his confession:

"I'm sorry… I'm not ready to date yet."

She hadn't been prepared, so she couldn't make a decision.

But afterward, Natsukawa had left the club.

While she wanted to blame him for his abrupt departure and cowardice, she realized she was no better. Hadn't she also run away when she couldn't gain her mother's approval, choosing to move out alone?

These unresolved feelings had led her to pour all her energy into club activities, as if it would help her untangle her emotions. But instead, she had only burdened her clubmates.

Returning to the present…

"Second question. Did Natsukawa-kun ever date you, Senpai?"

"That depends on your definition of dating…"

"So, he didn't." Yukino bowed slightly. "Thank you, Senpai. That's all I wanted to know. Sorry for bothering you."

"…"

As Yukino's figure disappeared down the staircase, Utaha remained silent.

The way her legs bounced up and down betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Damn flirtatious junior… How many girls have you charmed?"

Previously, she had comforted herself by thinking Eriri wasn't a real threat. But now, there was this black-haired girl with a completely opposing aura, not to mention who knew how many other secret admirers lurking in the shadows.

The competition was too much.

Still, Utaha consoled herself with one thing: none of them, not even the black-haired girl, seemed like they could surpass her in charm.

Placing a hand over her chest, she felt a flicker of relief.