I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Page 170

Reluctantly agreeing to sing the theme song for Kamen Rider by Yoshihiko Kamigo, Tomoya Aki noticed that the upperclassman was constantly shaking her leg.

It's like the tension felt by someone who is afraid of being tone-deaf or has an exhibitionist habit before their "execution."

"I can't do anything with you, so let me sing with you. I'll sing any anime theme song you want!"

Eriri generously told Kasumigaoka Utaha that she didn't mind revealing her interests. After all, they were all acquaintances. Even if Kudo Sayaka was meeting for the first time, her childhood friend would definitely not be the kind of person who would have any prejudice.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked up at Eriri, first trying to appear calm, then pointing to a line on the song: "This..."

"No way, is that Kasumigaoka-senpai?!"

Yoshihiko Uego widened his eyes and whispered to Tomoya Aki next to him.

If he wasn't mistaken, that song was the theme song of a popular anime.

Is that aloof senior a homebody?

The tension he's showing now seems so similar to his past behavior...

Are you kidding me? !

"Is this the end of the world, Tomoya?!"

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Chapter 201 Soon I'll Become a Hot Weapon That Can Only Type Words (2/?)

Kasumigaoka Utaha can confirm that at least two people present were not otaku from beginning to end.

Aki Tomoya was, but not anymore.

Yoshihiko Uego may still have some reclusive tendencies now.

Sayaka Kudo and Megumi Kato are clearly not.

Among these people, two of her juniors, Kato Megumi and Kamigo Yoshihiko, were people you would never have imagined before that she was actually a homebody.

But it doesn't matter now. Eriri can do it, so why can't I?

Thinking back to how tough it was to go to university and not be able to reveal her homebody identity, and then seeing Eriri living such a carefree and easy life now, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt very envious.

When this guy was at Tokyo University of the Arts, he probably didn't care about his nerdy status at all and didn't care about other people's opinions.

No, she also really wants to be able to chat freely with others about topics she likes while she's in college!

Whether you stay at home or not doesn't matter anymore, as long as you're happy!

"It's the end of the world, Tomoya!!!"

Uesugi Yoshihiko was dumbfounded; this wasn't the Kasumigaoka Utaha he knew.

The high-class beauty of Toyonosaki Academy turns out to be an otaku, just like them.

This astonishing fact made him feel as if the world had collapsed.

From the moment he entered Toyosaki Academy until his graduation, Yoshihiko Uesugi's impression of this senior was that she was unapproachable and belonged to a different world.

Now tell him that this person is one of his own kind, and that he is about to break down.

"Wow, your reaction is really exaggerated..."

Aki Tomoya was also in the know. If they hadn't both been otaku and hadn't started writing light novels back then, they wouldn't have met through that opportunity.

However, he was still somewhat surprised. The senior student who had never revealed this fact at Toyosaki Academy had taken the initiative to tear off her mask in front of several juniors besides him.

"An Yi, I think I understand why you know this amazing senior. It turns out you two were similar before!"

Sayaka Kudo looked at him with great interest.

I didn't know he was a homebody too. Oh, I see!

Despite her surprise, Kudo Sayaka didn't have any prejudice against otaku because of Aki Tomoya. Besides, she had also suffered a lot of prejudice when she was a bad student in the past.

Kato Megumi's reaction was even simpler, as if she wasn't surprised at all, probably because she had already noticed some clues a long time ago.

In fact, after her true identity as a homebody was revealed, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt an indescribable sense of relief.

You don't have to worry about other things; you can just let go and do what you like. It feels really good.

Kasumigaoka Utaha doesn't have any special singing skills, but she's definitely not the kind of person who sings badly; she's listenable.

After singing a song with Eriri, a faint pink blush rose to her cheeks, and she was slightly out of breath, as if she had exerted herself a little too much.

"It seems pretty good..."

Evaluating her performance, Kasumigaoka Utaha gave herself a seven out of ten.

After that, the weekend gathering ended around sunset.

Although it's summer vacation, it doesn't mean everyone is really free. After entering university, thanks to the habits formed in high school, everyone still has a lot to do.

They didn't linger for long before parting ways. As she left, what impressed Kasumigaoka Utaha most was probably the astonished look in Go Yoshihiko's eyes on her back that lingered for a long time.

"I'm also a homebody, so I'm really sorry."

Kasumigaoka Utaha thought to herself.

After saying goodbye to them, Aki Tomoya and Kudo Sayaka teased each other one last time.

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned to look at Eriri beside her and awkwardly said thank you.

"Huh? You can say thank you too?"

Eriri thought she had misheard and turned to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha in surprise.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, who looked somewhat awkward and shy, surprised her greatly.

Moreover, how should Xie put it, what did she do?

"Never mind, I didn't say anything!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha replied irritably.

However, she was still sincerely grateful to Eriri for inviting her and taking her out to play today.

Otherwise, staying at home just writing novels would be really boring.

People should always need to relax.

Moreover, it's nice to let loose occasionally like this; she seems to have come to understand just how carefree Eriri has been these past two years.

At the same time, it was clear that this guy must have received a lot of help from Aki Tomoya.

She could only sigh at the unique advantage of childhood sweethearts.

"Pfft, you're so stingy! Can't I even tease you a little?"

Eriri smiled.

To be honest, she didn't expect Kasumigaoka Utaha to be able to let loose today.

After all, among the people at today's gathering, only she and Aki Tomoya knew her true identity.

What I never expected was that my kind gesture would make this proud writer soften up and say thank you.

"Eri, here you go... I don't know what you like to drink, senpai, how about iced coffee?"

After seeing Sayaka Kudo off, Tomoya Aki returned with three cans of iced coffee. He handed one to Eriri and then looked towards his senior.

Since he was going the same way as these two, Aki Tomoya didn't intend to avoid his senior. Even though their relationship wasn't as close as before, they were still more than strangers but less than friends.

We've already covered most of what happened before at the last get-together.

"Thank you."

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, then began to carefully examine Aki Tomoya.

Her meticulous gaze made Aki Tomoya feel a little awkward, prompting him to ask, "What's wrong?"

"I just thought of a new theme; I'm not that enthusiastic about youth romance for the time being."

After writing light novels about youthful romance for so long, and constantly taking stomach medicine, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt it was getting boring.

Now she wants to write something else.

"For example, create an alternate account and send a sample opening paragraph to a popular fiction publisher?"

"puff!"

"puff!"

Aki Tomoya and Eriri were both sprayed out at the same time, and they almost choked.

"If you keep doing this, Miss Machida will kill you!"

Eriri complained.

Aki Tomoya, who was standing nearby, shared the same sentiment.

Kasumigaoka Utaha jokingly replied, "If it doesn't work out, I'll just keep writing light novels under the pen name Kasumigaoka Utaha. If it becomes popular, it'll be adapted into a TV series and a movie!"

She still sounds very ambitious, but Aki Tomoya and Eriri could tell that this senior was mostly joking.

However, Eriri is still quite looking forward to her future works.

But before that—