I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

This relationship wasn't exposed at school, but now that Aki Tomoya has taken the initiative to approach Kasumigaoka Utaha, this vibrant school is sure to be filled with gossip.

However, none of that mattered to him. Because of what happened last night, Aki Tomoya felt it was really necessary to explain things clearly to this senior.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared blankly at Aki Tomoya, who had genuinely surprised her by addressing her by his pen name.

For some reason, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a little irritated when he approached her at school for the first time and showed such an unprecedentedly serious expression.

"……what do you want to say in the end?"

After a moment of silence, she asked in a questioning tone.

The sudden arrival and the forceful manner made Kasumigaoka Utaha feel slightly uncomfortable.

Aki Tomoya raised his hand to push up his glasses and said slowly in a calm and clear voice, "Kasumi Shiko-sensei, how is your new work coming along?"

Upon hearing his question, Kasumigaoka Utaha looked slightly taken aback.

Would Aki Tomoya be interested in her new work now?

Based on my observations of Aki Tomoya over the past few days, there seems to be something wrong with him no matter how you look at it!

This guy is focused on preparing for the University of Tokyo entrance exam, so what's the point of suddenly asking about her new work?

"Thanks to you, the preparations were very thorough, and the inspiration was flowing freely!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms and replied in her usual confident tone.

However, the truth is quite the opposite. Because she has been thinking about Aki Tomoya recently, Kasumigaoka Utaha's new work is still just a title.

"Since you're so full of inspiration and can come up with new works so easily, why not put all your energy into them, cooperate with the editor's arrangements, and work hard for your writing career?"

I'll focus on getting into Tokyo University, and you can focus on being your light novel author. Isn't that better?

Everyone has their own goals, and they are not each other's everything...

"What do you mean?"

"Ms. Kasumi Shiko is not cooperating with Ms. Machida's work, is she? I clearly wrote it on the homepage and posted an explanation on the top of the page time and time again. Ms. Kasumi Shiko's deputy editor-in-chief is quite good at dealing with people. For the sake of her own writer, she is really willing to lower herself to pretend to be ignorant, even though she knows the truth!"

Aki Tomo didn't mean anything by it; he was just annoyed by what happened last night and wanted to take this opportunity to explain things to Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Although she knew that given Kasumigaoka Utaha's personality, she knew how difficult it would be for Machida Sonoko after she found out about this, Aki Tomoya's main reason for coming to her was not to target the deputy editor-in-chief.

On the contrary, Aki Tomoya understands how responsible Machida Sonoko is as an editor, but understanding is one thing, if it affects him, Aki Tomoya won't give her a pleasant look.

After careful consideration, Aki Tomoya felt that there was no need to continue like this.

To put it in a way that sounds like shirking responsibility, a promising and popular writer who is about to start a new book has been affected because of him. Should he also be held responsible for Kasumi Shiko's writing career?

I'm sorry, he can't bear that responsibility, and he might even feel guilty for no reason.

"If Ms. Kasumi Shiko's writing career is hindered because of me, am I responsible?"

Aki Tomoya has no expectations for Kasumi Utako's new work at all; he is not interested in anything related to anime or manga these days.

"There's a limit to arguing, okay? If you think I dumped you, then just consider me a complete jerk, and if you want revenge, go ahead!"

Aki Tomo doesn't mind portraying himself as a bad guy, since everyone will go their separate ways after graduating from high school anyway.

Kasumigaoka Utaha will go to her Waseda University Faculty of Letters, and Aki Tomo will enter the University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine.

"I will definitely get into Tokyo University, and then I'll hook up with the only daughter of some tycoon there. Then, like those literary seniors, you'll drop out of Waseda University to finish your writing career, and you won't even have the right to make me laugh!"

Aki Tomoya imitated the most arrogant and vicious tone he had heard in movies, mercilessly attacking Kasumigaoka Utaha.

"Light novels, huh? Just a woman writing about teenage romance and getting dumped, does she really think she's writing anything literary? Maybe one day when my senior can write light novels that are recognized by the Nobel Prize in Literature like Kawabata Yasunari does, she'll have a chance to stand in front of me arrogantly and make that bastard regret missing out on such an outstanding woman. Right now, you're just a woman haunted by the past, not even as good as your past. Utterly laughable!"

Ugh, cough cough, my throat's almost dry from talking!

Aki Tomoya had never spoken in such an intense tone before, and his words were so extreme and sarcastic, especially to a girl who hadn't even graduated high school yet!

If he had to give himself a score, Aki Tomoya would give himself zero points, because he was just now the most wicked man in the world!

However, if it can make Kasumigaoka Utaha completely give up, Aki Tomoya feels it's still worth it.

Come on, let's hurt each other!

=

Thank you for the monthly pass from 【Waiting for an Empty City】.

Thank you [Book Guest 35304429275] for the spicy snack monthly pass.

Thank you to 【骚年灬小浩】 for the 2 blades.

Thank you to [The Contractor Who Can't Crit] for the February ticket.

Thank you [Black and White Thief] for the February ticket.

Thank you [月墨丶] for the 3 blades and 1 month's vote.

Thank you【无码にCrazyう】for your monthly ticket

Thank you for the monthly pass from [North-Artanis-Fang].

Thank you [流年——=] for the monthly pass.

Thank you for the spicy snack from [Galaxy Human Empire]

Thank you to [Saohua Wang Anlan] for the razor blade monthly ticket.

Thank you [MoCity Monthly Pass]

Thank you [Blue and White Admiral] for the February vote.

Thank you for the two blades from [Shhh].

Thank you [Confused Little Dark Cat] for the February ticket.

Thank you [南山浅悠然] for the monthly pass.

Thank you [Amano Yukiteru] for the 2nd month ticket and 2 blades.

Thank you for the February vote, [Envision the Future]

Thank you to [Ahoge-loving] for the 2nd month ticket and 2 razor blades.

Thank you to [Anonymous User] for the monthly pass.

Chapter 21 Tears, Can They Be Flowing?

On the rooftop of Toyonosaki Academy, the atmosphere had frozen after Aki Tomoya's barrage of words.

Kasumigaoka Utaha lowered her head slightly, her bangs obscuring her expression, but her trembling body revealed how excited she was by Aki Tomoya's words.

She clenched her fists tightly, as if she had endless anger with nowhere to vent it.

How surprised and ironic she must have felt to hear those words from Aki Tomoya!

The boy who once loved her novels so much, reading them dozens of times over, is now spouting nonsense, belittling her as worthless.

Leaving aside her old work "Love Metronome" and her new work, let's just talk about how much this girl used to love light novels!

From Aki Tomoya's tone, Kasumigaoka Utaha could hear his disdain for so-called light novel literature!

Looking at Aki Tomoya's past, such words should never have come from his mouth.

Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a deep sense of estrangement from Aki Tomoya!

Could this person have truly undergone a complete transformation?

Putting those thoughts aside, Kasumigaoka Utaha grew increasingly angry, especially after hearing Aki Tomoya's comment—

"She's just writing about teenage romance, and about a woman who got dumped. Does she really think she's writing something literary?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha is furious!

How dare a mere Aki Tomoya utter such contemptuous words?!

Could it be that I've been misjudging this guy all along?!

"You really dare to say that, Aki Tomoya-kun!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's beautiful face was filled with rage, her wine-red eyes seemed to be burning, and a few misty wisps could be seen on her eyeballs.

It's safe to say she's furious right now.

Enveloped in rage, Kasumigaoka Utaha exuded an imposing and formidable aura that would awe anyone.

It's worth noting that Aki Tomoya was just mocking something she loves.

The fact that something she cherished was belittled by someone else finally angered the senior student.

If Aki Tomoya rejected her feelings last winter, is he now devaluing those feelings along with her?

It's no wonder Kasumigaoka Utaha was so angry; Aki Tomoya's words were unexpectedly sharp.

"I admire your courage to say such things, you scumbag!"

Does she see herself as nothing more than scum?

It seems this senior student is exceptionally angry.