Why wasn't I the one who got the male lead's script?

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Additional update completed 2/37

I just updated it after I finished writing it orz I don’t have any money left and I need votes from the bosses to stand up (not really)

Kasumigaoka Utaha is unlikely to be out of ideas: Chapter 6: They each have their own concerns (Part 4)

"It's just a little effort."

Kato chuckled and nodded, then walked to the coin-operated beverage machine next to him.

"Things are getting interesting."

After Kato left, Hoshimi turned around and looked at Futaba, who was taking a sip of coffee, with a half-smile, and the latter gave him an affirmative look in return.

"As long as the work is named after Kasumi Shiko, it won't be recognized - this adolescent syndrome is really difficult for people."

Futaba nodded and turned to look at Hoshimi with a serious look.

"So, is teacher Kasumi Shiko's mental state okay? I've heard of her great reputation before, and it must be hard to feel such a sudden fall from grace."

"Well... at least I'm trying to convince her to keep working, and she hasn't given up on herself—at least not yet."

Hoshimi clasped her hands behind her head and looked at the ceiling with a troubled expression.

"But honestly, she was really down. If she hadn't finally given up and asked me for help, she would have given up by now... Luckily, Eriri is here too. At least her presence can help calm Kasumigaoka-senpai."

"So, you just left Sawamura at Kasumigaoka's house?"

"Otherwise, it's impossible for Eriri to stay at my house after her body recovers."

Xingjian curled his lips indifferently - he was not worried that he would lose control, but he felt that if Eriri continued to stay in his house, she would definitely take away his exclusive bed.

It doesn't matter whether she lives in her own home or not, but her bed is her territory that she absolutely cannot give up to others. (Realistic)

"It's true that I took Eriri to Kasumigaoka-senpai's house the first time, but she's been staying there these past few days of her own free will."

She said this a few days ago when Hoshimi logged into the game and continued to gallop across the continent of Eorzea with Eriri.

"Even though Mom and Dad aren't home right now, it would definitely be fun for me to stay home and play by myself... but with Utaha Kasumigaoka in this state, she absolutely can't be left unattended. I'll stay at her house reluctantly just to see what kind of embarrassment she'll cause next—it's definitely not because I want to take care of her, hmph."

Ah... your tsundere nature is about to overflow, Eriri.

"...When I heard your description from Xingjian, I thought the relationship between these two people must be very bad."

Miss Futaba held her forehead with a complicated expression, and Xingjian just smiled and shook his head - he had thought so at first.

But the bond and emotions between Eriri and Shiina are not as simple as simply disliking and being hostile to each other.

"So, what are you going to do next?"

Futaba gently swallowed the bitter coffee and turned to Hoshimi, who lowered her head and began to think, with a look seeking answers.

When he sits upright with his fingers lightly placed in front of his mouth, his expression serious and solemn - that is a sign that he is beginning to fall into deep thought.

"First, tell Kasumigaoka-senpai about this discovery, and then we can find a solution together."

Xingjian responded straightforwardly, but his expression still didn't relax.

"Oh? I thought you had already figured out a solution."

"At the moment, we do have a general idea... but I don't think this method can be successfully implemented."

The black-haired boy shook his head and quickly rejected an idea that popped up in his mind.

Although that is the most common method, it may also be the most likely to work.

"The most important thing is... the decision on whether to implement this method is not in my hands."

“…That’s quite difficult.”

Futaba sighed slightly. Since this was a method that even Xingjian was not completely sure of, the success rate was probably less than half.

"Anyway, it seems the only thing I can do to help you is to help you identify the symptoms and provide theoretical knowledge. Beyond that, I'm willing but unable to do anything more... Just do your best."

"Ah, it's okay, thank you Futaba."

"No need to thank you, just be responsible for the coffee beans for the lab next semester."

"Haha, it's fine."

"...Then, here's another question."

Futaba straightened her somewhat listless body slightly, supported her chin with her hand, and glanced at the short-haired black girl who was buying a drink more than ten meters behind her.

Hoshimi also subconsciously followed Futaba and turned her gaze to Kato, who had his back to the two of them and was completely unaware of their conversation.

"...I take back what I said. Perhaps Hoshimi could tell Kato-san about your recent experiences—of course, you have to use words she can accept."

"Wait, Futaba, don't you think the fewer people who know about these things, the better?"

"Indeed, I think so now too—but Kato should be classified as a non-theoretical figure."

The gray-haired girl withdrew her gaze, then looked away with a distracted look, her slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.

"Think about it, in your club—no, in the club you used to be in, how many people have already suffered from puberty syndrome?"

"........."

Everyone except Kato Megumi was infected.

"So you can reserve your suspicions about Kato for now and tell her about this. At least in the worst-case scenario, if she develops similar symptoms in the future, both you and she will be able to detect them more quickly, right?"

Futaba expressed her thoughts very naturally, as if she was confident that this was the most suitable solution at the moment.

"...Indeed, I'll try to tell her when I get a chance."

After thinking for a moment, Hoshimi agreed with Futaba's suggestion, took out her mobile phone and started typing on the virtual keyboard, as if she was editing some message.

"Sending a message to Kasumigaoka?"

"Well, I've made some progress in explaining the situation to her. I'll call Senior and explain the situation as soon as I leave the library."

Hoshimi told Futaba the exact contents of the text message, and also told her the things that were not edited in the text message.

"...I'll tell her the method I just thought of, but whether she adopts it or not is entirely up to her."

"...That's it, I'm still very confident in your work."

The gray-haired girl glanced at the boy's concentrated profile, drank the coffee in the cup, and then stood up from her seat without warning.

"...Wait Futaba, where are you going?"

"Go home early, of course."

Futaba pushed her glasses, then closed the "Physics and Philosophy" book beside her, and met Hoshimi's puzzled expression with a matter-of-fact look.

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If nothing unexpected happens today, there will be more~

It's the beginning of the month, I'll give all the bosses a September bounty by tomorrow at the latest, I hope the bosses can kill me with their votes (dog head)

Kasumigaoka Utaha is unlikely to be out of ideas: Chapter 6: They each have their own concerns (Part 5)

"Xingjian, your purpose of coming here has been achieved, so there is no need for me to stay here any longer, right? And—"

She looked at Kato, who was holding two drinks and about to turn around and walk towards her, and her eyes became a little complicated.

"I can give you two some space to be alone together. Just like I said, explain it to Kato. After all, some things are easier to say in person."

"…But is it okay for you to go home alone?"

"It's noon now, and the sun is shining brightly. I'm not some over-teens-old giant baby who clings to his parents. It's no problem for me to travel alone. Put away your unnecessary concern, Xingjian."

Although the words that came out of her mouth were still a bit merciless, Futaba smiled at the embarrassed boy.

She was not an idiot, and of course she understood that the boy's excessive and meticulous care was actually his concern for her.

"Besides, before I met you guys, I was already used to living alone."

She waved her hand casually, then glanced at Kato before he came back, and was about to leave.

"Besides... I can't really handle a guy like her."

"...?"

She left this sentence and then walked towards the stairs without looking back.

"Okay, it's up to you from now on. Contact me if you need anything."

"Hello...ah."

Although Xingjian subconsciously tried to persuade her to stay, Futaba didn't stop walking. She waved at him with her back to him, then walked straight into the corridor and disappeared around the corner leading to the stairs.

"...This guy really comes and goes based on his mood."

Feeling a little depressed, Xingjian pouted. Even though Futaba's figure had disappeared from her sight for a long time, she was still staring at the corridor.

Originally, compared to Kato, he would feel more appropriate, relaxed and comfortable being with Futaba - but for some reason, this guy was so eager to go home that he slipped away so quickly.

He actually felt that the distance between him and Futaba was gradually decreasing in recent times.

Although he used to often go to the lab to drink coffee and chat with Futaba, the two of them basically lost contact after leaving school.

There seemed to be some changes happening to Futaba lately—but Hoshimi couldn't tell whether this was a dynamic shift over time, or another side of Futaba that she had been hiding.

Indeed, she is a friend with whom she can confide, Xingjian thought so from the bottom of his heart.

"...But I didn't expect Futaba to have one too."

Things hidden deep in my heart that I am unwilling to tell even to him, my friend.

In fact, Xingjian would not find it strange if this happened to others or even to himself - after all, it is human nature.

But when he realized that the person who was hiding something from him was Futaba, he still felt a little sad.

It seems that guy is not always as rational as he usually appears.

Xing Jian, who was a little absent-minded, rested his chin on his hand, his eyes wandering to the corridor where people occasionally walked in and out with books in their arms. Just when he was off guard——

"Well."

The cold touch on his cheek made him move aside suddenly. It seemed as if something very cold had touched his face in an instant.

Xingjian then subconsciously glanced to the side. Kato, holding two drinks in paper cups, had come to her side without her knowing when - it was obvious that it was her who had just given her a cold.

"Sorry, I saw you were in a rare daze, so I subconsciously played a prank on you."

The black-haired girl smiled faintly and handed the orange juice in her hand to Xingjian. After the latter reacted and took the drink, she raised her head and looked around.

"Huh? By the way, where's Futaba-san?"

"Ah...that guy went back first for something."

“Oh…I see.”

Kato blinked, then sat back in her original seat in a daze. It was impossible to tell from her expression whether she was disappointed or had any other emotions in common.

"What a shame. I thought I could spend more time with Futaba-san."

Her tone remained calm, but one could hear a hint of loss in it.

It shouldn't be an illusion.

"Kato, were you and Futaba... chatting just now?"

Xingjian thanked him, took the orange juice, and looked up to meet Kato's calm gaze.

If I remember correctly, these two people should have little in common.

But Kato's words just now seemed to highlight her concern for Futaba...

This shouldn't be Xingjian's illusion.

"Ah, well. It might be more appropriate to say that this is just my one-sided confession from Futaba-san."

Kato gave an embarrassed smile and gently rubbed the paper cup with his hands.

"Although I'm very interested in Futaba-san, she seems a little...repulsive."

"……interested in?"

"I think people who can live out their true selves are amazing. After all, they are born with such eye-catching personalities... This is really enviable."

Ms. Kato explained slowly and methodically, her eyes calm and gentle from beginning to end.

"Besides, someone with a cute personality like Futaba-san always makes you want to get closer to her. Unfortunately, I don't know her very well yet... so I don't know what to do."