After deciding to give up, I became popular

The day after the confession incident, Kanade Natsukawa submitted her resignation from the club and also left the LINE group used for contacting everyone. As for more private contact information... Ha, it was gone as soon as he changed his mind.

But it doesn't matter, if online contact fails, then let's meet in reality!

Speaking of which, it's embarrassing that even though my junior knows so much about her, she doesn't even know which class he's in.

This also led to the waste of the entire vacation. She couldn't manage to meet him at all—not even for a short while.

She finally made it to the start of the school year, and with her social skills... Heaven knows how much effort she put in to find out his class.

But it doesn't matter, this is a frustration that must be tasted in order to achieve victory! It's like an adventure; if a hero levels up too easily while fighting monsters, they'll suspect it's a trap set by the Demon King, right?

After finding his class and asking someone to arrange a meeting, she received the news that her junior had gone to participate in club activities.

So she followed his trail again.

She arrived at a place called the 'Service Club'.

What a strange name, and it also has a strange feeling... Utaha Kasumigaoka immediately felt impatient, as if opening the door would lead her to a scene that she was very concerned about.

But the arrow was already on the string, and she wasn't one to hesitate.

"Hello, sorry to bother you..."

The moment she opened the door, she saw the boy she had been longing for day and night.

He wore his handsome smile as always, but that smile wasn't for her.

"..."

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

It was a very beautiful girl. Even Utaha Kasumigaoka had to admit that she had a beauty almost comparable to her own, but her chest was very regrettable, probably not even able to beat Eri Ri.

She didn't answer her, just stared blankly at her junior, but Kanade Natsukawa didn't intend to greet her.

"I, I... I might have come to the wrong place." She tried to appear calm, but the moisture in her eyes couldn't be concealed.

"Sorry, I'm bothering you."

She fled, because she understood that she had lost him again, as simply as if she had never possessed him.

Originally, I wanted to write this in the author's afterword so it wouldn't take up space in the main text, but because I wrote more and more, there wasn't enough space, so I simply wrote a separate chapter to explain it.

The following is the main text:

How should I put it? I had very complicated feelings when writing the previous chapter, but not because of the plot, but because of everyone's comments.

Honestly, I didn't expect everyone to think that way, but I still want to explain it. (I don't mean to attack or argue, I'm seriously explaining the plot to the readers. I respect every reader, respect their ideas, and hope that every reader can have their own ideas when reading books and articles, instead of being inexplicably influenced by others, because it's hard to change after the initial impression.)

First of all, there's the longest one, where a reader thinks that the Utaha I wrote is strange and doesn't fit her character. But I want to ask, what is Utaha's character?

A one-track-minded love brain? I don't think it's like what you said, otherwise the senior wouldn't have chosen to let go and quit after knowing that Aki Tomoya cared about her talent rather than her as a person.

If she were a love brain—"So what if you like my talent? I'll make you like me as a person! I absolutely won't give up just because you don't like me!"

Like Nino Nakano from the Quintuplets, even though she knew that Futaro's feelings for her weren't the best and he wouldn't like her, she still actively pursued him, and gracefully accepted her loss in the end.

The senior I envision is a very charming person. She's literary, thoughtful, pursues romance, loves change, and likes 'romantic love written like a book', which is why she was initially attracted to 'Aki Tomoya, her number one fan', and didn't think about giving up even after being rejected, because at the time she didn't understand Aki Tomoya's true feelings, and only felt that she had to grasp this 'fateful encounter'.

Do you think that someone like that would choose to accept an inauthentic him when she realizes that the protagonist isn't being his true self? Maybe, after all, she's a love brain (laughs), but speaking for myself, I definitely wouldn't! I'd be scared of her motives every day if I was with someone who wasn't being real with me! I can't accept it no matter how much she likes me? (If I could tell)

And what you said about 'two women fighting over one man', from your God's-eye view, isn't that just a pure love triangle? Isn't the male protagonist a big idiot, why can't he see it? Then imagine yourself, one day, you're in class and just about to eat when suddenly two girls who you used to pursue but rejected come to you and ask you to help them with something. Would you agree or not? Would you think that they regret it and want to pursue you again, or would you think that they've always liked you but were too embarrassed to say it? I don't think you can think that way, right? Wouldn't you be attacked by little fairies as a 'disgusting man'? The most likely thought is that you're going to be used as a tool again.

Secondly, there's Kaguya, what you said about giving a hair tie and seeing a change.

Please, I don't even understand what you're talking about. Did I write any plot related to hair ties or changes in the whole text?

What I wrote was clearly 'Kaguya changed her hairstyle on Hayasaka's advice, and then used this to get the male protagonist to bring up the topic, so that she could conveniently implement her charm on the male protagonist and complete the love war (make him confess first)'

You didn't even understand this and you're talking about hair ties and hair ties, and I didn't say that the male protagonist never gave Kaguya gifts? Is it possible that I haven't written that yet?

Then there's Yukinoshita, what you said about her being literary and speaking in riddles and saying 'I'll consider it'. I admit that what you said has a bit of truth to it, but I didn't write that Yukinoshita directly rejected him in the whole text, so how did you make up the plot?

I haven't even started writing about Yukinoshita! She's still living in other people's memories!

As for Eriri and the angel, etc... I'm too lazy to say anything, anyway, you didn't mention them, if you think it's possible, then go with your idea.

Then, besides this brother who reads very carefully, there's also a brother who put forward his own opinion—Kaguya isn't such a stupid person, she wouldn't exchange food with the male protagonist just because she's curious about commoner food, the male protagonist's own idea is too stupid.

I won't explain much, I just want to say, please go back and watch the first episode of the anime, there's a complete interaction between Kaguya and Shirogane about lunch boxes, and Kaguya's own personal thoughts, I basically took it from there.

In fact, not only this reader, but I myself also want to say that Kaguya, such a young lady, is very outrageous, because she's too standard—conservative, easily deceived, and most importantly—likes a poor boy from a commoner background.

The reason why I set it up like this is because literary works are aimed at the masses, everyone likes to see it this way, so the author wrote it this way,

And I'm very realistically restoring the characters' personalities from the original work, I hope you can believe this, but if you really think I didn't restore it correctly, then it's my problem.

To be honest, before I write a book every time, I go to read the summarized character settings (not necessarily in line with your ideas, but definitely the official character settings) carefully before writing (because I'm afraid of getting the character settings wrong), and then think about what kind of plot is logical, so that you can read happily and not think 'Ah, this author is a big idiot, didn't understand the character settings and just wrote the plot blindly, and then thinks he's right'.

That is to say, what I wanted to write from the beginning was a light and happy comedy. Maybe the plot at the beginning was a bit too tragic, I don't know if it aroused something that readers care about in their hearts, if it did, I apologize, but the plot requires it, so I have to do it this way.

Also... everyone should have seen that the articles I post are uploaded on a schedule, which means they're all my drafts. And the time here is... 3:00 in the morning, which shows that I really care.

Recently, after seeing that reader's comment, I've been constantly affected. Yesterday, I even spent a whole day doing nothing, just sitting in front of the computer deleting and revising, revising the outline, revising the plot, and rethinking how I should start writing (posting these isn't to gain sympathy or anything, just a feeling that came from the heart), which has led to all my recent drafts being used up (because I'm busy with my graduation thesis recently, so I really don't have much time. The time I usually spend writing books is limited, and I'm the kind of person who writes very slowly and likes to think about the wording, so it's even more difficult).

I don't know about other authors, but I'm actually a very emotional person. The key is that I also like to read everyone's posts and book reviews. When I see something interesting, I can even smile knowingly, and when I see readers' 'add oil' messages, I'm also very happy, so it's not surprising that I'm affected, so I've been very conflicted these days, but fortunately I've gotten through it and haven't affected the normal updates.

Finally, I also hope that all readers can treat it rationally, not only the way they feel about this book, but also anything else. Before seeing the whole picture of the truth, remember to be cautious in your views and words.

Last but not least, I declare again that I'm not attacking anyone, I'm just talking about the matter. If any reader feels offended, please bring it up and I'll post a separate chapter to apologize one by one.

The very last thing! I hope everyone can forgive me for these rambling personal thoughts, this time I was really overwhelmed and couldn't control my hands. In the future, I'll try to reduce the number of words and try to put them in the PS and tell everyone all at once.

That's all, Yours sincerely.

018. Utaha's Feelings

The past experiences were too heavy for Utaha. Every time she recalled them, her mood would become quite low.

"Senior, should I start talking now?" Kato's tone was neither light nor heavy, like a floating cloud in the afternoon, giving people a hazy feeling.

It was enough to awaken Utaha.

"Yes." Utaha nodded.

The memories are over. Perhaps she was a loser in the past, made the wrong decision, but that's definitely not always the case. In the future, she will never make the same mistake again.

"Natsukawa-kun's habits..." Megumi Kato tilted her head, looking thoughtful.

"If it's Natsukawa-kun, he's very casual about what he eats, but he seems to be fond of coffee, and when he drinks coffee, he seems to like holding the cup with his left hand and doesn't like adding sugar..."

"Wait a minute, Kato, what I want to know isn't that kind of..." Utaha quickly interrupted her.

The information provided by Kato was indeed very rare, something that even she didn't know, but it didn't quite fit the theme of today's meeting, and most importantly...

Utaha glanced at Eriri without leaving a trace, and found that she also looked interested, so she became even more determined in her heart.

"If possible, I hope you can reveal some of your junior's habits when facing girls... such as subconscious small movements, facial expressions, etc."

Megumi Kato is a very observant person, which is recognized by everyone in the club, so even if she is very familiar with her junior's habits, Utaha wouldn't think that she likes her junior and observes her so carefully.

Moreover, it doesn't matter even if Kato likes him, she hasn't been pursued by her junior like Eriri and her Utaha, which shows that her junior doesn't like Kato, and her junior has always been unceremonious to girls he doesn't like.

That is to say, Kato is OK.

The only ones who need to be guarded against are the woman in the 'Service Club' and... someone who may be liked by her junior in the future.

But this is easy to handle, she just needs to keep launching attacks and make her junior's vision only contain her.

Perhaps she has failed before, but since her junior can like her once, then there can naturally be a second and third time, and she will complete the instant kill in the second time and never let go of the junior who only belongs to her.

Therefore, information is very important.

Love is war, and useful information is essential to win the victory.

However, she thinks very beautifully, but reality will not always be as she wishes.

"Small movements? Facial expressions?" Megumi Kato tilted her head, looking a little puzzled, "I can't see that kind of thing."

Utaha frowned, thinking that even Kato couldn't see through the real self hidden behind her junior?

But it may be another reason...

"It's okay, Kato, just say something..."

"I said, Utaha, why are you making things so difficult for Megumi? She's not some kind of psychic, how could she know these things?" Eriri suddenly spoke up to help.

"In the end, what you said about Kanade... Natsukawa-kun's news, it's hard to say if it's true..."

Utaha didn't respond, just glanced at Eriri lightly, thinking that she deserves to be called the blonde loser, revealing her true thoughts in a conversation.

Didn't you just say that you were helping to record because you saw her working hard? Now it has become that you are helping because you are interested in the news, ha, you杂鱼.

"In that case, let me start first and set an example."

"As far as I know, her junior... when pursuing a girl, he is completely indifferent to other people he doesn't like."

"It's not the kind of deliberate rejection because he's afraid of being misunderstood by the person he likes, but simply ignoring them, as if saying 'I know what you're thinking, but what does that have to do with me? Please don't disturb my life'."

She had a very deep experience of the indifference and ruthlessness in it.

"At first, I thought her junior was worried about being misunderstood by others, but later I found that no matter whether the girl he liked was present at the time, his attitude would not change."

“To be honest, I was really upset back then, and even doubted whether my junior's feelings for me were fake, otherwise how could he be so heartless?”

“It wasn't until a chance encounter later that I saw my junior after he had just broken up. Unable to bear it, I went to comfort him, only to find that he had already recovered.”

“Rational, decisive, gentle, humorous, and most importantly, not so ruthless to me. The junior I knew was back.”

“At that time, I thought, maybe this is the 'regret medicine' that God gave me. I took it for granted.”

“However, the good times didn't last long. One day, my junior was once again attracted to a vixen…”

“You know what happened after that. I was rejected again, but after that, I naturally didn't go looking for trouble again.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke word by word, sometimes in a low voice, sometimes with ups and downs, full of emotion, but her expression was as calm as if she were telling someone else's story.

“That's all the information I know.”

“I like my junior, the kind of like where it has to be him.” Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression was indifferent, but her words were shocking.

“Sawamura Spencer Eriri, I know you like my junior too. If possible, I am willing to compete fairly with you, but only if you no longer obstruct my love.”

Kasumigaoka had failed once… No, she should say that she had failed many times, but only the first time was caused by her own reasons. She will cherish the opportunities she gets in the future, so she must be honest with herself.

Eriri is an insider, and Katou should also be aware of it, so it doesn't matter if they both know. Anyway, her feelings have long been exposed, so it's better to exchange their vigilance with honest thoughts.

“……” Eriri was almost stunned in place.

Kasumigaoka's words were like a thunderclap, shocking her young heart.

Who is she? Why is she here today? What is she going to do later?

Like the three soul-searching philosophical questions, Eriri felt like she was in a state of sage time after finishing her doujinshi, with no thoughts in her mind other than thinking about life.

Does she like Natsukawa奏?

It should be.

Perhaps she was unwilling to face her heart because she still had an obsession with 'childhood friend', but now, facing Kasumigaoka, a love rival who confided her feelings to her, she couldn't say anything against her will.

“Hmph, the… the same thing is what I wanted to say to you!”

“Oh? Not bad, Eriri, I didn't know you had a frank side.”

“What do you mean by that?! Are you looking down on me?! Want me to bite you?!”

“Heh, in the end, you're still a small fry…”

“Ugh! You nasty black silk fat woman!”

“Tsk, blonde loser.”

“Cow monster!”