It was the weekend again.

Although Yukinoshita no longer needed much tutoring, Sobu High and Toyonozaki Academy were, after all, two very different schools. Their teaching methods and approaches to problem-solving also differed, so the two top students still found their study exchanges inspiring.

Kasumigaoka showed up early in the morning, carrying her cat, Star. To her surprise, Yukinoshita's home also had the exact same cat tree.

Yukinoshita cleared her throat lightly. "The shop owner said it was a buy-one-get-one-free deal."

When she had learned that Kasumigaoka had adopted the tiny calico kitten, Yukinoshita had gone online to the highest-rated pet supply store, picking out a mountain of toys, scratching posts, beds, and litter boxes, then sending them straight to Kasumigaoka's place.

She had even bought a few for her own home, planning to casually post some photos later so that when Kasumigaoka came over, she could bring her cat without worrying.

Yes, Yukinoshita had been trying to charm… Kasumigaoka's cat.

Kasumigaoka almost laughed aloud. Yukinoshita's attempts at subtlety were terrible.

She set the kitten down on the bottom level of the cat tree. The lively, fearless little thing immediately hopped down and began happily batting around a ball of yarn on the floor.

When Kasumigaoka turned her head, she caught Yukinoshita kneeling on the rug by the low table, her gaze fixed on the kitten with a softness and shyness she never showed people wanting to reach out, but too hesitant to touch.

Kasumigaoka smiled. "Want me to hold her still for you again?"

Yukinoshita shot her a glare.

The first time they had met Star, Kasumigaoka had pinned the kitten down so Yukinoshita could pet her to her heart's content.

Letting someone else play with your cat so freely Kasumigaoka, you're actually… kind of cute.

Still, Yukinoshita shook her head. "No, just watching her play like this is enough for me."

Kasumigaoka raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think you'd be the kind of person who's satisfied just by seeing someone you like being happy."

Yukinoshita froze for a moment at that, as if reminded of something, before pursing her lips and glaring. "Get over here and review your notes. You're graduating this year, remember?"

When they had first met, both of them had been hiding behind various disguises. Back then, to prove her academic skills, Kasumigaoka had even used someone else's test paper.

Kasumigaoka waved lazily. "My scores won't change no matter how many times I redo those problems. I've got more important things to do."

Right, this was the natural genius who could nap through class and still take first place.

But… more important things?

Yukinoshita's curiosity was answered when Kasumigaoka pulled out her phone, opened Twitter, and was immediately greeted by a flood of unread messages and countless mentions.

One glance was enough for Yukinoshita to mutter, "Wow."

The private messages were full of nasty insults, passive-aggressive jabs, and even direct personal attacks.

The arguments all revolved around one person author Miss Shizuko Kasuga and Kasumigaoka was defending her.

Apparently, the "Love Metronome" fandom had split into factions over the two female leads. Some fans of the second heroine had turned into die-hard anti-fans of Kasuga, continuing to hound her even after the series ended.

Messages like:

"Kasuga the hack! I live and die for Sayuka!"

"Out of ideas, huh? Just stirring up ship wars to make a quick buck."

"How does it feel to spend money you made by trashing your own characters?"

"Plenty of authors play favorites, but not many treat the second lead like a disposable punching bag over and over again."

"Sayuka's a person too! Does she deserve to be butchered just because she's fictional?"

"Boohoo, my Sayuka! Kasuga, you have no heart!"

Yukinoshita had always thought Kasumigaoka's snarky personality came from experience. Now she realized this woman had been through battles.

"You argue with these people every day?"

"If I did, they'd have killed me by now. I only bother replying on weekends."

Unbelievable. She treated it like running a weekly dungeon raid.

Kasumigaoka's lips curved into a small smile. "Back when I was in a slump and couldn't sleep at night, I'd actually seek them out just to argue. I'd feel better afterward."

At that time, she had been socially withdrawn, unlucky in love, and under siege from readers over her novel.

Every day on Twitter, she was dragged out and cursed at by strangers from across the country. Whenever her publisher released even a hint about her new book, waves of boycotts would follow.

There were moments when Kasumigaoka truly felt like her whole life was nothing but the smoldering ruins of failure.

Yukinoshita set down her pen and looked at her.

Though she wasn't as socially adept as her sister Haruno, she wasn't a fool. This was a topic best steered away from.

"Speaking of which, that blonde girl we met last time Sawamura, right? You two seem close."

She hesitated before adding, "But I get the feeling… you're avoiding her."

It was obvious.

If you were struggling in life, you'd usually turn to close friends for comfort. But back then, Kasumigaoka had preferred spending time with someone who had once been her rival.

Kasumigaoka smiled faintly. "Don't be fooled by her attitude. Sawamura is actually… a hardcore fan of my friend Miss Kasuga's work."

"She can be even sharper-tongued than me when she's emotional, but once she calms down, she gets embarrassed about it. That's the best time to tease her."

"Honestly, if we put the past aside, I could probably be good friends with her. But…"

Kasumigaoka rested her cheek on her arm, eyes a deep wine-red that reflected a calm, autumn-water stillness.

"But every time I see her, I remember the darkest days of my life… and all I want to do is avoid her."

"Yukinoshita, I really am a weak person, aren't I?"

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