The next morning.
Haruto declined the room service from the presidential suite.
Instead, he requested some ingredients from the hotel and made breakfast himself.
Red date, white fungus, and glutinous rice porridge. A light breakfast, beneficial for physical recovery.
Haruto figured that after almost an entire sleepless night, Annie probably wouldn't want to eat anything too greasy.
She might not even have much of an appetite.
So, a light porridge was just right.
He placed the prepared breakfast on the small table and took measures to keep it warm. Then, he walked over to the bed, pulled up the scattered blanket over Annie, and gently kissed her forehead.
Annie let out a soft, dreamlike hum before turning over.
Seeing this, Haruto chuckled softly.
After changing his clothes and leaving the room, Haruto turned his earpiece back on and placed it in his ear.
As soon as the connection was made, Shiro's resentful voice came through.
"Brother didn't come home last night."
Hearing this, Haruto inexplicably felt guilty.
"Uh... I had some things to take care of."
Hearing this, Shiro was a bit skeptical.
She was still curious about what Haruto had been up to yesterday. Because of Shiro's age, Haruto had locked all R18 content sources on her computer.
A kind of youth mode.
But it didn't restrict games or anything else.
The computer itself had top-tier specs, even for personal use. That "680" lock wasn't difficult to crack, just a piece of cake for Shiro. However, once the lock system was broken, it would send an alert to Haruto.
So, for now, Shiro's understanding was appropriate for her age.
She hadn't been exposed to anything weird too early.
"Target Four... can't be found."
Shiro entered game mode, her eyes scanning the screen as she spoke hesitantly.
Haruto thought for a moment.
Target Four should be Megumi Kato.
Shiro must have overlooked Megumi.
"It's fine, I'll contact her myself."
At this moment, Haruto was feeling rather confident.
Yesterday's date progressed halfway, and there was no disaster at all!
What love triangle drama? It simply didn't exist, okay!
I am a master of time management! Rock-solid, never getting caught!
As Haruto was mentally patting himself on the back, he arrived at the gates of Sobu High.
The third day of the school festival was also the most lively.
Today, the main stage of the festival would be open.
Located in the Sobu High gymnasium, the enormous venue could accommodate 30,000 spectators at once.
On today's stage, Sobu High students would showcase their performances.
And for the grand finale, the school had spent a fortune to invite several top-tier industry celebrities.
Hoshino Ai would also appear as part of the final act.
At this point, Hoshino Ai was already a rising idol, her debut promoted everywhere. Just standing there, she naturally attracted people's attention. Furthermore, after some vocal training, her singing and dancing talents had been discovered.
She was practically an instant star from the moment she debuted.
Many students at Sobu High were her fans.
Back to the present.
When Haruto arrived at the school gate, he immediately noticed Megumi Kato standing alone in the corner.
He quickly walked up and smiled.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Megumi."
Megumi looked up at him and shook her head with a smile.
"I just got here myself."
However, as she said that, two white pigeons were perched on her shoulder.
Haruto waved his hand to shoo the pigeons away, wondering if he had gotten the meeting time wrong.
He shouldn't have been late as he had arrived twenty minutes early.
Today, Megumi was wearing a white dress, paired with a red jacket that suited her perfectly.
She also wore a white beret on her head.
Haruto felt that the hat alone added at least 3,000 points to her cuteness.
"What do you think? Does it suit me?"
Megumi asked softly, spinning around in front of him.
Haruto nodded.
"Rather than just suiting you... it's as if it was made just for you."
Haruto's words made the girl blush slightly.
Walking side by side, the two entered the school grounds. As they walked, their hands occasionally brushed against each other.
Haruto tentatively extended his finger and hooked it around Megumi's hand.
She didn't resist or pull away.
That soft little hand just trembled slightly and then let him hold it. So, Haruto took her hand completely, their fingers interlocking.
Megumi was the quiet type.
So, Haruto took on the role of keeping the conversation going.
Looking at the bustling festival streets around them, Haruto smiled and said,
"It's really lively. Too bad I was busy the past two days, but at least I get to spend the last day with you."
Hearing this, Megumi glanced at him, tilting her head slightly.
"Didn't you attend the festival yesterday, Haruto?"
Haruto: !?
In his earpiece, he could hear the sound of Shiro frantically typing on her keyboard.
Haruto's mouth twitched.
What happened to not getting caught?
Wasn't he supposed to be a time management master?
Had he just jinxed himself!?
"Uh... Megumi, you saw me?"
Haruto asked, nearly in tears.
Megumi Kato nodded naturally.
"I ran into you by chance."
Haruto let out a helpless sigh.
No way, Megumi had an antimemetic presence so people would usually overlook her unless they were specifically aware of her.
Yesterday, even though Shiro had been monitoring the cameras, she must have been affected by Megumi's antimemetic trait.
"Yesterday, that was..." Haruto still tried to salvage the situation.
"First, you were with a silver-haired girl, then two blonde girls..."
Megumi counted on her fingers.
"Wait, Megumi, you call that 'by chance'?"
Haruto was dumbfounded.
Megumi nodded.
"I ran into you three times. By chance."
Her tone was calm, but the impact was devastating.
Haruto lowered his head obediently.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. I toyed with your feelings. I deserve to die. When you stab me, please make it quick and painless."
Megumi stopped walking and looked at him for a long moment before sighing helplessly.
"Even I would feel a little hurt if the person I like was this much of a flirt."
At this moment, Haruto felt like a prisoner on the eve of his execution.
He was done for!
As for using his trait to alter Megumi's memory and perception...
If he did that, Haruto felt he would truly lose his qualification as a human being.
"So, as compensation, at least be fully devoted to me right now."
Megumi said this.
Haruto raised his head in disbelief. Was Megumi really letting him off this easily!?
Seeing Haruto's surprised expression, Megumi showed a helpless look.
"After all, even before joining the Foundation, I already knew that Haruto was a flirt."
Haruto's head immediately sprouted an exclamation mark.
She knew all along?
Haruto suddenly recalled his three years in middle school.
If there had always been an unnoticed Megumi around him…
Oh, then his true nature had been exposed long ago...
"In other words, Megumi, you knew..."
Haruto stopped mid-sentence.
Saying any more would be impolite.
But still, Megumi is the best!
After that, Haruto wholeheartedly accompanied Megumi to enjoy the school festival. After wandering around, the two eventually arrived at the performance hall.
They bought two tickets and walked inside.
"Actually, I think I didn't need to buy a ticket?"
Megumi pointed at herself.
Haruto couldn't help but chuckle.
Please, don't use your anti-memetic trait for something like sneaking into a show, okay?
Of course, Megumi was only joking. In the past, even when movie ticket sellers ignored her, she would still pay for a ticket before walking in.
At this moment, the performance hall was already packed with people.
Haruto reached out and held Megumi close to him, half-embracing her to prevent her from getting pushed around by the crowd.
The two found seats near the front and sat down.
One performance after another followed the schedule.
They watched silently, occasionally whispering to each other or exchanging glances before smiling softly.
In fact, more than the performances, they both enjoyed each other's company the most.
Yui and Yukino's play also arrived as scheduled.
It was Titanic, and this time, nothing unexpected happened.
Watching the performance, Haruto commented,
"Wow, Yukino's acting is so stiff. If she weren't at least good-looking, she might have gotten pelted with rotten tomatoes."
Megumi couldn't help but laugh.
Although she shouldn't be laughing at her classmates, it was really funny. Hearing Megumi's laughter, Haruto suddenly realized something.
"Wait, Megumi, weren't you supposed to be in the play too? Why are you sitting here so calmly?"
Haruto asked curiously.
Megumi pointed at a human-shaped cardboard cutout in the corner of the stage.
"I made that to replace my character. I didn't have any lines anyway."
Haruto looked at the cutout and facepalmed.
It even looked pretty similar to her.
The performances passed quickly, and just as Haruto and Megumi were chatting happily…
"And now, please welcome the popular idol—Hoshino Ai~~~!"
The moment the announcement was made, the hall erupted in a wave of cheers as loud as an avalanche.
All the lights in the hall suddenly went out.
In the audience, countless pink glow sticks lit up, and in some areas, they even moved in rhythm to cheer.
Watching this scene, Haruto couldn't help but feel amazed.
How long had it been? That kid… had already become this famous?
"So the booths at the entrance were selling glow sticks?"
Megumi realized belatedly.
Earlier, they had seen a few empty booths at the entrance and wondered about them. Now it seemed the glow sticks had sold out long ago.
"Do you want a glow stick? I think I have one."
Haruto asked.
Megumi blinked.
She didn't remember Haruto buying one.
Also, looking at his clothes, there didn't seem to be a place to hide one.
Naturally, her gaze shifted downward.
"Even though the lights are off, people can still see, you know? Even I would get embarrassed."
Megumi said this.
Haruto: ?
What kind of suggestive words were those?