LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 9: "Rumours
"Kato-san just said that you like him, right?" Izumi Yu asked Kato Megumi with interest.
You little brat, are you trying to act all reserved with me? Look at me playing hard to get and still not getting you!
"I was just talking about personality! I didn't mean anything else!" Kato Megumi defended herself with a guilty conscience, then hurried forward and changed the subject. "Oh no! We're going to be late for school! Let's go!"
"Kato-san is even cuter when she's shy," Izumi Yu said, following closely beside her with a smile.
"Are you serious, Izumi-kun?" Kato Megumi asked curiously, turning her head.
"Of course," Izumi Yu replied, meeting her gaze and nodding slightly.
"Hmm... Izumi-kun is surprisingly honest," Kato Megumi said, tilting her head with a smile. "You are the most honest and sincere person I have ever met."
"Then I'm honored," Izumi Yu said, a faint smile appearing on his face as he saw Kato Megumi's favorability rise.
---
[Name: Kato Megumi.]
[Status: A girl who is in a period of confusion in her life and repeatedly confirms her feelings.]
[Favorability: 52 (A close friend who secretly has feelings for you.)]
---
"Sure enough, it takes contrast to be effective!" Izumi Yu thought, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly as he noticed the girl's favorability improve.
If it weren't for that wavering scumbag Tomoya Aki, Kato Megumi's affection for himself wouldn't have risen so quickly.
Izumi Yu glanced at the time. His other goal seemed to be within reach as well.
If things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before Tomoya Aki and Kato Megumi broke up completely.
Izumi Yu felt a sense of happiness bubble up inside him.
One step closer to saving the poor girl from the abyss of scum!
---
Today was yet another victory for the God of Pure Love!
---
When Izumi Yu and Kato Megumi arrived at the school gate, there were less than five minutes left before class started. A few students remained at the gate, and the appearance of Izumi Yu and Kato Megumi immediately drew their attention.
Izumi Yu, being extremely handsome, was a secret crush for many girls in the school. Kato Megumi, though quiet and not easily noticeable, was still an undeniable beauty. Together, the two of them made a striking pair.
"Izumi-san and Kato-san are coming to school together again. They must be in love, right?"
"Although I'm not convinced, I have to admit that Kato-san and Izumi-san really do look good together."
The whispers around them became louder, and the subjects of the gossip were naturally Izumi Yu and Kato Megumi.
"I'm sorry, it seems I've caused unnecessary misunderstanding and trouble for you, Kato," Izumi Yu said apologetically.
"It doesn't matter..." Kato Megumi shook her head with a slightly red face, asking curiously, "Izumi-kun is very popular. won't it cause any trouble because of me, right?"
As she spoke, she didn't seem particularly angry. But hearing the comments, she felt a bit shy and conflicted inside.
"As long as I don't cause any trouble for you, I'm glad," Izumi Yu said with a smile. "Of course, I don't cause trouble. After all, the people I care about are right beside me."
Ding-a-ling...
The sound of the preparatory bell and Izumi Yu's voice mixed together, and Kato Megumi's heartbeat quickened slightly.
"Huh?! What did Izumi-kun say?" she asked, her heart racing, though she only caught a vague outline of his words.
"Nothing. It's time to hurry into the classroom," Izumi Yu evaded the question with a smile.
"Hmm..." Kato Megumi followed, a bit downcast.
She felt as though she had missed something important.
---
"No! It's not like that! Kato and this guy aren't lovers! They're just classmates!" A figure, hidden under a large tree on the school campus, muttered to himself as he watched the two of them. His body trembled, looking like it would collapse at any moment.
[You, who played with the girl's heart, noticed a pair of eyes watching you from a distance. Realizing that the boy was suffering because of the rumors, you decided to deliver an even bigger shock. You led her to a secluded place and—]
"Ugh, this narration is so stupid!" Izumi Yu groaned inwardly. "This method is too low-level!"
However, the narrator did have some value.
At least it meant that his plan was working. Izumi Yu knew that seeing him and Kato Megumi together every day—along with all the rumors circulating—had likely pushed Tomoya Aki to the edge. Victory was almost certain.
---
"Tomoya?! Why are you here?!" A surprised voice suddenly came from behind, startling Aki Tomoya, who had been peeping at the two of them.
"Huh?! Eriri?! What are you doing?" Aki Tomoya asked, panic in his voice as he quickly patted his chest, trying to hide his nervousness.
"I saw you acting suspiciously, so I came over to check," Eriri said with a shrug. She glanced at the two figures walking away, then looked back at Aki Tomoya with a suspicious expression. "Isn't that Kato-san? And the person with her—Izumi-san? You didn't come here to spy on them, did you?"
The girl's intuition is really sharp.
When Sawamura Eriri noticed Tomoya Aki's strange behavior and the two people in front of him, she quickly realized his intentions.
"No! I just happened to see it!" Tomoya Aki denied quickly. "Eri, don't say weird things!"
"Hmph! Why do I feel like you look guilty, Tomoya? We've been childhood friends—are you hiding something from me?" Seeing the guilty expression on Tomoya's face, Eriri raised an eyebrow. "You don't like Kato-san, and you're jealous because you see her being close to another boy, right?"
At Eriri's pointed question, Tomoya froze for a moment, then immediately denied it. "No! Kato and I are just club members and friends. Why should I be jealous if she's with another guy?"
"Forget it, I don't care!" Eriri snorted coldly, walking past him. "Even if you're jealous over another girl, it's none of my business!"
"But this guy actually noticed Kato-classmate and became friends with her... That's a bit unexpected," Eriri thought, glancing at Izumi Yu's back with curiosity.
If it weren't for Tomoya Aki, Eriri would have never paid attention to Kato Megumi. Kato was incredibly inconspicuous—not because she was plain, but because she seemed like an invisible presence. As long as she didn't make noise, people would subconsciously ignore her, like a stone by the roadside.
---
"Hmm... I feel like something's off," Kato Megumi murmured, a bit uncomfortable.
She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was staring at her.
"What's wrong, Kato-san?" Izumi Yu asked softly.
"Maybe it's just my imagination, but I feel like someone's watching us," Kato Megumi said, troubled.
"Pfft~! Kato-san is so cute! Why would anyone want to stare at us? Do they want to taste our happiness?" Izumi Yu chuckled with a smile.
"Huh?! Izumi-kun really likes to joke around!" Kato Megumi blushed slightly at his words and unconsciously quickened her pace toward the classroom.
"I'm not joking," Izumi Yu muttered to himself, not continuing the conversation.
---
[Looking at the girl who's slowly sinking, you aren't addicted to the game because you notice that, in addition to the victim's gaze, there is another one—one of the victim's admirers. You can easily take the admirer away and let the victim see their loyalty shift. This will torment the victim even more...]
Upon hearing the narration, Izumi Yu realized that, besides Tomoya Aki, there was another target watching him.
Izumi turned around and spotted a girl with yellow hair walking behind them.
"Eriri? Ah, now that I think about it, tomorrow is the weekend, and I have a meeting with her arranged by the publishing house." Izumi Yu touched his chin thoughtfully and smiled faintly.
However, he wasn't in a rush to approach Eriri. Being too deliberate would only backfire. Sometimes, it's best to let things unfold naturally for the maximum effect.
---
When Izumi Yu and Kato Megumi entered the classroom, they arrived just as the bell rang. All the other students had already sat down, but as they walked in, the class immediately turned their attention toward them.
Izumi Yu, being extremely handsome, was admired by many girls, while Kato Megumi, though quiet, was undeniably beautiful. Together, they made a striking pair.
"Did you hear? Izumi Yu and Kato Megumi seem to be a couple—they've been coming to school together every day!"
"Seriously? They're inseparable now. Maybe they're already in a relationship."
Rumors quickly spread that Izumi Yu and Kato Megumi were a couple. Soon, it wasn't just the class, but the whole school was buzzing with gossip.
Though these rumors were based purely on speculation, they spread like wildfire. It didn't take long before they became the talk of the school.
---
Tomoya Aki, however, wasn't so pleased with the rumors.
"Damn it! Kato is my heroine—how could she become involved with this guy?!" He clenched his fists, his face twisted in frustration as he stopped several girls who were gossiping.
"Huh? Are you and Kato-san dating, Tomoya?" one girl asked in confusion.
"Ah... no!" Tomoya quickly shook his head, denying it.
"So it's just a secret crush? Then you'd better give up, Tomoya! Izumi is better than you, both in looks and grades! He's also been taking care of his sick sister—he's an amazing guy!" Another girl, pitying Tomoya, added.
"No way! Kato and I are in the same club! She's my heroine—she wouldn't fall for someone else!" Tomoya yelled, flustered.
"Tsk! You're crazy. You're not Kato-san's boyfriend, so why wouldn't she like someone better, like Izumi-san?" The girls rolled their eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"You don't get it! Kato and I have a special bond!" Tomoya yelled, frustration bubbling over.
---
Soon, school ended for the day.
Izumi Yu glanced at Kato Megumi, who was packing her things, and walked over.
"Are you coming with me, Kato-san?" Izumi asked with a smile.
"Ah? I'm not far from the club room, and I still have club activities," Kato Megumi replied softly, looking at Izumi with some unease. She seemed distracted by the rumors she had heard.
"It's fine. I'm leaving school anyway, so we can go together," Izumi Yu said with a smile.
"Well... okay then." Kato Megumi hesitated before nodding, "But I can only go as far as the school gate."
"That's enough."
"Why does Izumi-kun want to go with me?" Kato Megumi asked, standing up with her schoolbag, still confused.
"Because I want to spend time with you, even if it's just for a few moments," Izumi Yu said seriously, looking into Kato Megumi's dark eyes.