Heartbeats and Illusions

Kasumigaoka's memories were a weight she carried, an ever-present reminder of past regrets that cast shadows over her. Whenever she revisited them, a wave of melancholy threatened to pull her under.

"Senpai, should I start now?" Kato Megumi's voice, calm and unhurried, felt like a soft breeze in the stillness. It was the kind of tone that could gently bring one back from the depths of their own thoughts.

It was enough to ground Kasumigaoka. She blinked, nodding. "Yeah."

The past was over. She had made mistakes—significant ones—and perhaps she had even been a failure in some respects. But the future was still unwritten, and Kasumigaoka silently vowed to herself that she wouldn't stumble in the same way again.

"Natsukawa-kun's habits…" Kato tilted her head slightly, her expression contemplative, as though trying to pluck fragments of memory from the air.

"As for Natsukawa-kun," Kato began, "he's rather casual when it comes to food, but he seems particularly fond of coffee. He always holds the cup with his left hand and never adds sugar..."

"Wait a second, Kato," Kasumigaoka interjected quickly, waving her hand to cut her off.

The information Kato provided was, admittedly, quite specific—details Kasumigaoka hadn't known herself. Yet it didn't align with the purpose of today's discussion. And most importantly...

Kasumigaoka's gaze shifted subtly toward Eriri, whose interest was piqued. Seeing this only strengthened Kasumigaoka's resolve.

"If possible, could you share some of Natsukawa-kun's habits when he's around girls? Subtle movements, expressions, or anything like that."

Kato Megumi had a reputation for being exceptionally observant, a skill everyone in the club acknowledged. It was precisely this quality that made Kasumigaoka believe Kato might have insights no one else could offer.

Of course, even if Kato liked Natsukawa—though Kasumigaoka didn't think that was the case—it wouldn't matter. Natsukawa hadn't pursued Kato like he had pursued her or Eriri. His behavior toward girls he wasn't interested in was, frankly, dismissive.

In other words, Kato wasn't a threat.

The real challenges were the girl in the "Service Club" and anyone else in the future who might catch Natsukawa's eye.

But Kasumigaoka wasn't worried. The solution was simple: she just had to ensure Natsukawa's attention remained fixed on her. As long as she kept advancing, she believed she could secure her place in his heart.

Failure was an old acquaintance, but if she had won his heart once, she could do so again—and this time, she would hold onto it.

For this, information was critical.

Love was a battlefield, and victory demanded strategy, planning, and, most of all, intelligence.

However, while her plans sounded flawless in her head, reality had a way of complicating things.

"Subtle movements? Facial expressions?" Kato tilted her head again, her puzzlement evident. "I'm not sure I've noticed anything like that."

Kasumigaoka frowned. Could it be that even Kato couldn't see through Natsukawa's layers?

Or was it something else?

"It's fine, Kato. Just share anything you've noticed," Kasumigaoka prompted, trying to mask her growing impatience.

"Why are you putting so much pressure on Kato? She's not some superpowered observer," Eriri suddenly chimed in, crossing her arms. "And besides, it's hard to say if anything you've mentioned about Kanade—Natsukawa-san—is even accurate."

Kasumigaoka didn't respond, though her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.

Eriri's outburst betrayed her true intentions. It was painfully clear that her apparent "help" in gathering information had more to do with her personal curiosity than any altruistic motive.

What a fool.

"In that case, let me take the lead." Kasumigaoka's voice was calm, but there was a competitive edge to it.

"From what I've observed, when Natsukawa-kun is pursuing someone, he's completely indifferent to anyone else."

She paused, her words deliberate and pointed.

"It's not the kind of coldness born from fear of being misunderstood by the one he likes. No, it's pure indifference. His demeanor says, 'I know what you're thinking, but what does that have to do with me? Please don't disrupt my life.'"

Kasumigaoka's tone remained steady, but there was an undeniable intensity beneath her words.

"At first, I thought he acted that way because he was afraid of being misinterpreted. But later, I realized it didn't matter whether the girl he liked was present or not—his attitude never changed."

"To be honest, it hurt. It made me question if his feelings for me were real. How could someone so affectionate one moment become so unfeeling the next?"

"Later, by chance, I met Natsukawa-kun after he had broken up with someone. I couldn't stand seeing him like that, so I went to comfort him, only to realize he didn't need it," Kasumigaoka continued, her voice steady but laden with emotion.

Her tone softened, almost wistful. "He had already recovered—rational, courageous, gentle, humorous, and, most importantly, kind to me. The Natsukawa I knew and cherished had returned."

She paused, her gaze fixed somewhere distant as if replaying the memory in her mind.

"In that moment, I thought perhaps this was my chance—a gift from fate, a second chance to correct my past mistakes. I accepted it, naturally, as if it were meant to be."

Her voice dropped slightly, as though the weight of what came next still lingered.

"But the good times didn't last. Before long, he was drawn to another… vixen."

Kasumigaoka's lips curved into a bitter smile. "You all know what happened next. I hit a wall again. This time, however, I didn't let it consume me."

Her delivery was measured, her expression calm, almost detached. She recounted the events as if they belonged to someone else, her tone alternating between subdued and passionate, each word chosen with care.

"That's the extent of what I know," she concluded.

Then, as if crossing an invisible line, Kasumigaoka declared: "I love Natsukawa-kun. It's the kind of love where there's no one else for me but him."

Her expression remained composed, but the weight of her confession landed like a thunderclap.

"Sawamura Spencer Eriri," she continued, her gaze locking onto her rival, "I know you like him too. If possible, I'm willing to compete with you fairly. But I ask that you stop interfering with my relationship with him."

Kasumigaoka's voice didn't waver; she sounded resolute, even vulnerable. She had failed before—more times than she cared to admit—but only the first failure had been her fault. Now, she was determined to seize every opportunity she had.

Honesty was her strategy. Eriri was already part of the inner circle, and Kato likely understood her feelings as well. There was no point in hiding anymore. By revealing her true thoughts, Kasumigaoka hoped to lower their defenses, positioning herself to move closer to her goal.

Eriri stood frozen, wide-eyed.

Kasumigaoka's words struck her like lightning on a clear day. She felt as though her world had been turned upside down.

Why was she here? What was her purpose?

These questions swirled in Eriri's mind like an existential crisis, leaving her stunned and speechless. For the first time, she was forced to confront a truth she had tried to ignore.

Did she like Natsukawa Kanade?

It wasn't even a question anymore. Of course, she did.

At first, she'd refused to acknowledge it, clinging to the idea of her "childhood sweetheart." But now, faced with Kasumigaoka's unflinching confession, she could no longer deny what was in her heart.

With a sharp exhale, Eriri finally spoke.

"Hmph! I feel the same way! Don't think I'll back down!"

"Oh?" Kasumigaoka raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Not bad, Eriri. I didn't expect you to be so straightforward for once."

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you looking down on me?" Eriri snapped, her face flushing. "I'll bite you, you know!"

Kasumigaoka chuckled, her tone dripping with mockery. "Go ahead and try, golden-haired loser."

Eriri's cheeks puffed out in frustration. "Ugh! Damn you, fat woman in black stockings!"

"Trash-tier artist," Kasumigaoka retorted with a sly grin.

"Cow monster!"

Their exchange escalated quickly into a heated, albeit juvenile, argument.

Amidst the chaos, Kato Megumi observed the scene with her characteristic calm. She didn't intervene. Instead, she quietly pulled out her phone and began scrolling through it, tuning out the bickering duo.

This entire meeting felt unnecessary. Kato wasn't sure why she had even agreed to come. So far, her role had been limited to basking in the metaphorical sunlight of Kasumigaoka's emotional confessions.

Did she accomplish anything? Not really.

Was she entertained? Maybe.

With a quiet sigh, Kato glanced at her screen. I'll let them sort this out themselves, she thought. For now, I'll just check my notifications.