Utaha’s voice was as bright and teasing as ever.
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
She was one of Toyogasaki Academy’s most beautiful students and currently a third-year.
A brilliant young woman, she had held the top academic rank in her year ever since enrolling and had never once surrendered it.
With her striking looks, powerful presence, and habit of doing whatever she pleased, she had earned a reputation as Toyogasaki’s untouchable “flower.” “Senpai.” Hearing her voice, Natsuki turned toward the classroom door.
“K-K-Kasumigaoka Utaha?!” The moment Eriri recognized that familiar voice, she bristled like an angry golden kitten.
Her twin-tails swayed behind her, and one of her tiny fangs peeked out as she glared.
‘Natsuki-kun knows that gloomy, black-stockinged, top-heavy woman too?!’ Gabriel was one thing.
She lived next door to Natsuki, and besides, she was also a petite, flat-chested blonde.
Small girls were cute!
They were practically comrades in misfortune!
Utaha was completely different.
That black-stockinged woman had an absurdly good figure.
One glance was enough for Eriri to recognize her as a serious threat.
Utaha watched the bristling blonde with open amusement before speaking in her usual lazy, teasing tone.
“Calling someone by their full name is rather rude, Sawamura Spencer Eriri-san.” It hardly looked like an argument.
Utaha was simply entertaining herself by poking at an angry little cat.
Eriri huffed.
“What are you doing here?” “I’m here for Kouhai-kun, of course.” Utaha turned her wine-red eyes toward Natsuki.
“Shall we go, Natsuki-kun?” Natsuki nodded.
“Eriri, Senpai and I have something to take care of, so I’m heading out.” “You don’t have to report everything to me!” Eriri answered with all the haughty dignity she could manage.
Inside, she immediately began wailing.
‘Why did I say it like that?!’ ‘I-I’m fine.
Really.’ She was not fine!
Not even remotely!
…
After saying goodbye, Natsuki and Utaha walked side by side through the school grounds on their way to the station.
They planned to take the train to Dengeki Bunko.
Envious gazes followed them the entire way.
The girls envied Utaha, while the boys envied Natsuki.
A handsome boy and a beautiful girl walking together were bound to attract attention, and the two made a particularly striking pair.
“So, Kouhai-kun…” Utaha leaned slightly closer to him.
“Are you interested in that imitation young lady who looks flawless on the outside but is actually a complete disaster inside?” She preferred calling him Kouhai-kun rather than simply Natsuki.
It was her own private way of addressing him.
“We’re just classmates,” Natsuki replied.
“Really?” “Really.” They continued chatting as they left the school.
…
Back outside Class 2-G, Eriri stood in the hallway clutching a broom, her mood thoroughly ruined.
‘I was here first!’ Whether it was seeing him naked or being rescued from a monster, all of it had been arranged by fate!
…
Dengeki Bunko’s headquarters occupied several floors of an upscale office building, and the working environment was every bit as impressive as the location suggested.
Natsuki went directly to see his editor, Kagurazaka Ayame, to discuss the contract for his next series once No Game No Life: Zero concluded.
Fortunately, he had not encountered the sort of situation where a newcomer produced one huge success and was then deliberately suppressed by the publisher.
Dengeki offered him one of the best renewal contracts in the industry, along with every favorable condition they could reasonably provide.
Naturally, Natsuki had no reason to refuse.
For him, republishing stories from his previous life was little more than a hobby that happened to make good money.
He was much more interested in discovering what superpower he would receive tomorrow—and just how many supernatural forces were hidden within this world.
Still, he had no intention of abandoning his writing career.
Even Touma Kamiyama from the world of Kamen Rider Saber had continued writing novels while saving the world.
Driven by a certain mischievous urge, Natsuki decided to continue his career as an author of “healing” stories.
His next light novel would be—Your Lie in April.
Once the details were settled, Natsuki left Ayame’s office and found Utaha already waiting outside.
The moment he appeared, a flash of excitement passed through her wine-red eyes.
“How did it go, Kouhai-kun?” “Pretty well.
My next book is officially moving forward.” “Details.
I want all of them.” Utaha was genuinely interested in his new project.
No Game No Life: Zero had wrung plenty of tears from her, and while speaking with her own editor, Machida Sonoko, she had heard that plans for an anime adaptation were already underway.
Kouhai-kun really was impressive.
In every sense of the word.
Natsuki did not keep anything from her and gave her a general outline of Your Lie in April.
Utaha clicked her tongue.
“Another story designed to emotionally devastate your readers.
Aren’t you afraid your fans will hunt you down in real life?” “No.
I generally refer to this genre as ‘healing,'” Natsuki corrected her.
“Besides, none of them could beat me.” Utaha assumed he was bragging and rolled her beautiful eyes.
“Did everything go smoothly with Machida-san too?” Natsuki asked.
“Mm-hm.
Which means we can go shopping now.” Natsuki stared at her.
A wise old monk had once said that women were tigers waiting at the foot of the mountain.
Natsuki now understood exactly what he had meant.
Especially when shopping was involved.
A girl’s stamina while browsing stores was terrifying.
Utaha seemed to awaken some hidden reserve of strength, somehow outlasting even Natsuki’s body after it had been enhanced by [Peak Human Physique].
By the time they finally stopped, night had already fallen.
…
After eating dinner at a Japanese restaurant, Natsuki and Utaha prepared to head home.
Just then, dark clouds drifted across the star-filled sky.
Crack.
Crack.
A deeply unnatural noise echoed through the night, each sharp sound carrying clearly through the quiet street.
Natsuki frowned.
‘Another demon?’ They had been appearing far too often lately.
“Kouhai-kun, what…
is that sound?” A cold, sinister chill spread through the area.
Utaha immediately sensed that something was wrong and instinctively grabbed Natsuki’s sleeve.
Natsuki drew a breath before speaking in a serious voice.
“Senpai, no matter what happens next, don’t panic.” Seeing that he was not joking, Utaha did not waste time asking questions and simply nodded.
She was polite but distant with strangers, saving her sharp tongue and wicked teasing for the people she trusted.
Under normal circumstances, she would have immediately mocked Natsuki for saying something so dramatic.
However, Utaha knew when a situation was serious.
Suddenly, several objects tore through the air.
“Look out!” Natsuki’s sharpened senses instantly caught the paths of the incoming attacks.
Energy surged through his body as he wrapped an arm around Utaha’s waist and leaped aside with her.
A barrage struck the spot where they had been standing, almost like a storm of bullets.
Then the projectiles exploded.
Boom!
Several deep craters appeared in the pavement.
Utaha’s pupils contracted, and she drew in a sharp breath.
‘What in the world was that?’ Natsuki set her down and focused on the direction the attack had come from.
A spider-like monster descended on a strand of webbing, letting out a sinister chuckle.
It had the body of an enormous spider, but a grotesque human head protruded from the top of it, giving the creature a hideous appearance.
The earlier attacks had come from its mouth.
It could compress its webbing into bullets and fire them at incredible speed, and the strands exploded the moment they struck anything.