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389 The Blonde Princess Has Always Envied Nishimiya Shouko
🕑 Added 2025-07-18 15:00:16 +0000 UTC“To win over Kyousuke...?”
Eriri repeated the words, utterly baffled.
“Why would she want to go after Kyousuke?”
The news felt completely out of the blue.
Her head couldn’t quite process why that woman—someone who seemingly had no connection to Kyousuke at all—would suddenly set her sights on him.
“Sigh… Sawamura-san, it’s moments like these when you actually resemble a real princess,” sighed Kasumigaoka Utaha.
“That’s definitely not a compliment, is it?”
“It’s admiration, actually,” Utaha said, feigning a soft smile. “To grow up in such a bubble of love and innocence… you must’ve been raised in some secluded tower deep within a castle.”
“Hmph! Kind people are naturally blessed by good fortune. Only scheming, manipulative women invite misfortune into their lives!”
“Wow… only you could make ‘ignorance is bliss’ sound so charming. That’s classic Eriri logic. But unfortunately, it’s Kyousuke who’s the one getting hit by the misfortune this time.”
Utaha held out her phone toward Eriri.
On the screen was a detailed report about Kosaka Akane—compiled by her editor, Machida Sonoko, who had realized how serious the situation had become and put it together out of concern.
“Misfortune? What do you mean? If she just wants to work with Kyousuke, that could actually be a good thing for us, right? Collaborating with someone that high up in the industry would give us a huge—”
The blonde girl’s lips froze mid-sentence.
“You saw it, didn’t you?” Utaha said, voice calm but cold.
“Those are the creators Kosaka Akane has roped in under her wing. Many of them couldn’t endure her insane standards.
Under that pressure, they cracked—some even had mental breakdowns.
Not only did they stop creating, they had to be hospitalized. I’ve heard she’s even building her own private sanatorium now, just to house all the artists she’s burned out.”
Even someone like Utaha—who could go three days and nights without sleep when inspiration struck—shivered slightly at the thought. This wasn’t just artistic passion.
Kosaka Akane was… a lunatic.
“Whaaa?! That’s the collector’s edition of Bicycle X&H! And that pillow from Shuttle Dittora—they only sold a hundred in all of Japan! What’s that!? No way—!”
Eriri frantically zoomed in on the screen, her nearsighted eyes practically pressed against the phone.
“Hey, Utaha, where is this sanatorium located? Let’s go vacation there, Kyousuke! I’ll pay for everything with the money I made from my last doujin!”
“I mean, I don’t mind,” Kyousuke said, leaning in and mentally noting all the merchandise Eriri just squealed over. “But those are probably things the patients brought with them… not part of the facility.”
‘Still, I’ll make Kosaka Akane hand those over as compensation later.’
“….”
Utaha had briefly thought that Eriri was finally beginning to understand the seriousness of the situation—but clearly, she had been too optimistic.
‘Bonk.’
“OWW!”
Eriri shrieked, clutching her forehead.
“You witch! That was a sneak attack! I’m not paying for your dessert anymore!”
Utaha slowly lowered her hand, slightly wincing.
‘Wow… her skull is harder than I thought. That actually hurt my fingers.’
“If you want to keep your normal life, you better take this seriously. Try using that brain of yours like you do when we argue.
Otherwise, that sweet guy who draws with you and helps design your dumb little goldfish comics will get snatched away.
Who knows? He might end up like the rest of those artists—traumatized, flinching at the sight of a paintbrush.”
Utaha let out a long sigh.
She didn’t really think Kyousuke would break like that… but with Eriri this clueless, she had to exaggerate the danger to make her listen.
But maybe…
She crossed her arms, a sharp glint flickering in her wine-red eyes as she looked at Eriri.
Maybe, for someone like Kawakami Eiri, Kosaka Akane’s suffocating work environment wasn’t all that intimidating.
After all, this was the girl who once pushed herself so hard to draw that she nearly ruined her own eyesight—without anyone forcing her to.
That kind of relentless drive and stubbornness couldn’t be cowed so easily.
To achieve so much at her age, you needed more than just talent—you needed grit.
Utaha respected that about her.
That’s also why Eriri’s focus kept drifting to such ridiculous things.
It was that very realization that made Utaha decide to bring Kyousuke into this.
“Hmph?! I don’t remember ever agreeing to that!”
Eriri’s sapphire eyes sharpened instantly.
“Oh? I thought you liked that sanatorium. Why not take this chance to join Kosaka Akane’s team with Kyousuke?
You’ll get all the merch you want, early access to new novel sequels, game updates, and exclusive manga chapters—paradise for a hopeless otaku like you, isn’t it?”
Even though they were finally aligned, Utaha couldn’t help throwing in a jab.
“Tch, shut up. I have money, okay? If it’s just merch, I can buy as much as I want!” Eriri pouted and turned to Kyousuke.
“So what’s really going on?”
“It’s all in the report I gave you,” Utaha replied plainly.
“Ughhh! Who wants to read some long, boring document?! Are you trying to induce a breakdown?!”
Eriri huffed in frustration.
‘Don’t make me say it—I’m not wearing my glasses, okay!?’
Why couldn’t they just explain things like normal people? What kind of boss is expected to read reports anyway? That’s what underlings are for!
Utaha didn’t respond.
She simply turned her gaze, following Eriri’s, both of them now staring at Kyousuke.
Faced with two pairs of stunning eyes, Kyousuke sighed internally.
‘Eyes like those should only be filled with love—soft and smiling—not clouded with worry over someone like me.’
“The plan for today,” he began, “was to have you come with me to interview some new hires.”
He hesitated for a moment.
That had been his surprise for Eriri—an event to mark the anniversary of their first meeting.
But now he had no choice but to tell her.
“But for some reason, Kosaka Akane targeted me. All the candidates who were supposed to show up today dropped out.
Just like Utaha said—maybe she’s trying to make me give up on starting my own company and force me to join hers by showing off her influence.”
“What?! How dare she!”
Eriri exploded with fury.
She realized immediately—that was his surprise for me.
A special plan, just for the anniversary of their meeting.
And now… it had been ruined?
“A woman chasing after a talented man—it’s written in our DNA. Why are you acting surprised?” Utaha sneered.
She was angry too, but she had to admit… Kosaka Akane’s taste was impeccable.
“But it’s all fine now. We’re sticking to the original plan,” Kyousuke said, giving Eriri’s head a gentle pat. “Don’t underestimate me—I’m Kyousuke, after all.”
The girl quickly swatted his hand away.
“Quit it! You do realize this hair took me an hour to style—and you’re the one who helped me, remember?!”
“…So it’s really okay now?”
Kasukigaoka seemed like she had something more to say, but held back.
While she didn’t know how Miss Machida had gathered such detailed information on Kosaka Akane, it was clear from what she'd received that this woman wasn’t someone who could be handled with a simple, “It’s fine now,” like Kyousuke claimed.
She truly believed that Kyousuke would surpass Kosaka Akane one day.
But right now, the gap between them was simply too wide.
“Yes, I’ve taken care of everything. All that’s left is to talk to her and make things clear,” Kyousuke said with ease—like he was just strolling home, having forgotten his wallet, and planned to return later to pay for a crepe he'd picked up on credit.
“That’s it?” Kasukigaoka raised an eyebrow.
Even though she trusted him—believed he wouldn’t lie about something like this—it was Kosaka Akane they were talking about!
“That’s it. Don’t worry,” Kyousuke replied with a casual smile, and sneakily gave Utaha’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“I just remembered something my mom told me... about Kosaka Akane…” Eriri suddenly spoke up.
It was about a doujin artist she had really admired—someone she'd once traded fanbooks with, a common practice between circles at conventions to build rapport before sales.
That girl had possessed an incredible imagination and creativity, and they had kept in touch.
Until one day...
“Eriri! I’m so excited! Kosaka Akane invited me to join her company!”
That single line had marked the end of that budding doujin circle.
Her friend, beaming with joy, had left to join MARS with the blessings of her teammates.
They’d lost contact after that.
At the time, Eriri had held on to hope, imagining that her friend had simply taken the first big step into the commercial world.
She’d resolved to work hard too—so that the next time they met, they could both proudly share their accomplishments.
Until...
Her mother told her the girl had been admitted to a sanatorium due to her deteriorating health.
Eriri had felt a twinge of relief, thinking at least she was getting rest—until she recognized her in that hospital photo earlier, wearing a stark white gown and sitting on a bed.
That once-distant image had suddenly become terrifyingly real.
The realization of what it meant for Kyousuke to be targeted by Kosaka Akane sent a chill down her spine—like the flick of a serpent's tongue behind her back.
It was sickening. Unsettling. And somehow thrilling in its danger.
“NO! I won’t allow that to happen!”
Her scream echoed through the living room, loud enough that even little Kasuko looked up from her toys—though her attention quickly shifted to Yamauchi Sakura.
“Don’t go see that woman! I’m calling my dad! He can contact the Prime Minister and file a formal complaint about Japan’s terrible business environment!”
“I’m British! Our company is foreign-owned! I’ll ask the government to pressure Kosaka Akane into retreating back to Osaka!”
The blonde girl had transformed into a raging little lioness, stomping furiously and trampling the soft grass beneath her feet into the mud.
“I must say, I’m impressed, Spencer-san.” Kasukigaoka tilted her chin upward in satisfaction. Finally, something sensible out of her mouth.
“That’s right—there’s no need to confront her head-on. That would just mean playing into her hands. She made the first move, which means she’s the one in a hurry. We can take our time and prepare properly.
Since she so arrogantly submitted her resume, let’s have Kisaki and the others handle her.
Let her sit and stew at the company while you, Kyousuke, come with Aunt Mikiko and me to Hikari City.
It’s time we replaced all that old furniture, anyway. My parents have been dying to meet you…”
Hearing their back-and-forth, Kyousuke couldn’t help but laugh.
His chest filled with warmth.
These are my girls.
“Wait just a second! Even if we’re not going to the company, Kyousuke is spending the day with me!” Eriri shouted, stomping down hard on Kasukigaoka’s foot.
The muddy sole of her shoe left a brown and green stain on Utaha’s pale white foot, who immediately winced in pain.
She glanced down and gritted her teeth, raising a hand to grab the faux-foreigner's pigtails for a revenge combo.
“Alright, alright—enough of that,” Kyousuke interjected calmly, turning to intercept.
He gently caught her hand mid-swing and pulled her into a soft embrace.
The blonde girl stuck out her tongue in triumph. Score!
“Seriously… you two treat me like a kid,” Kyousuke muttered, then turned to Utaha with sincerity in his voice.
“Especially you, Utaha. About Ishida Hidenori… I’m truly sorry. I should’ve never let someone like him get close to you. That you had to dirty your hands because of him…”
It was something he had kept inside all night, finally finding the right moment to say.
She’d been silently watching over him the whole time, never letting him shoulder even a sliver of pain alone.
She had always been like this.
Still was. And in the future, he knew—he would be wrapped in her love for a long, long time.
The fury on Kasukigaoka’s face melted away, replaced by quiet vulnerability.
She leaned into Kyousuke’s chest, eyelids fluttering shut as she whispered:
“For you, Kyousuke… I’d do anything.”
Because without Kyousuke, Kasukigaoka Utaha would have long since died—along with her pride and self-worth.
“What the heck are you doing now, you shameless woman! Break it up!”
Eriri finally caught on to what was happening and shoved her way between the two, using her superior height and size to wedge them apart.
“Anyway, it’s settled! No company visit today—Kyousuke and I are going to—”
She paused mid-sentence, suddenly alert, eyes flicking toward Utaha.
Can’t say it. If she did, this one would definitely follow them and ruin everything. And why wouldn’t she? Eriri knew she would’ve done the exact same thing.
“I can’t avoid this, Eriri,” Kyousuke said gently, reaching out to smooth her messy bangs. His hand slid softly down the side of her head.
Eriri could avoid it. Yukino could avoid it. Utaha could avoid it.
But the only reason they could avoid it was because he refused to.
No matter what happened—internal drama, outside pressure, a meteor crashing down—he would always be the one to stand at the front.
He had accepted this fate long ago when he chose to walk this path alone in Tokyo.
That’s why he’d studied kendo so hard—so that even if life cornered him, he’d always have the strength to cut through.
Now, Kosaka Akane had started targeting his company.
And knowing her ruthless nature, if he backed down now, her next target would be the people closest to him.
No—not Kisaki and the others.
He was thinking of Ruyi Dormitory.
Especially her—the brilliant idiot standing right in front of him, like a child who never quite grew up but possessed a rare and irreplaceable genius.
And also, the steadily rising star, Kasumi Utako-sensei.
Kyousuke’s words brought both girls to a quiet pause.
“…Actually,” Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated, then began slowly, “Kosaka Akane contacted me through my publisher. She requested that I come with you to the company today.”
This message hadn’t come through her editor, Machida Sonoko.
It had been sent directly by the chief editor at Fushikawa Books.
The reason Utaha hadn’t mentioned it earlier was because she’d originally planned to convince Kyousuke to make a strategic retreat.
Because she knew—if Kyousuke found out Kosaka Akane had set her sights on Utaha as well, there would be no stopping his fury.
And now… she could clearly see it.
Despite the warm smile still lingering on his lips, his eyes—those pitch-black eyes—had turned ice-cold, steeped in quiet, deadly resolve.
Eriri’s expression darkened.
She hadn’t received a message like that herself, but she wasn’t an idiot—she could easily guess that Kosaka Akane had already investigated and knew she'd be accompanying Kyousuke today.
But what really made her expression change... was realizing the weight behind Kyousuke’s earlier words.
“I can’t run away, Eriri.”
Haa...
It brought back memories—memories of Taki Tomoya, someone else who hadn't run away when things got tough.
But unlike Kyousuke, Taki’s idea of “fighting back” and creating his so-called “Otaku Kingdom” had only made things worse.
He never considered her feelings—his resistance was more about preserving his own interests than protecting her.
But Kyousuke…
Kyousuke—this man who could proudly hold his head high and declare, “I’m Kyousuke!” with conviction.
His resistance, his refusal to back down, was all to protect her.
Just like he’d always done. No matter what chaos surrounded them, she had always been his first priority.
Even now, with this chaos happening behind the scenes at Tansan Studio, he hadn’t said a word. If Utaha hadn’t spoken up, she might never have known.
While she had been happily celebrating their anniversary, Kyousuke had been standing behind her—shielding her from the storm, allowing her to bask in warm, brilliant sunlight.
Knowing his personality, he wouldn’t care about something like an animation studio—not unless it had to do with her.
If he had been there the day those jerks smashed her copy of Tiny Love Rhapsody, he would’ve thrown himself at them without hesitation, even if it meant getting his face bashed in.
He’d bite down on their thumbs if he had to—just to make them apologize to her.
Brutal, unrelenting, savage… yet somehow, it made her feel completely safe.
With him, she never had to worry about being caught in the rain.
Why had Eriri always liked Nishimiya Shouko?
Because in Shouko, she saw another version of the life she could have had.
If… if only she had met Kyousuke first instead of Shouko.
Maybe then… maybe she would be the one smiling so gently now.
The one able to speak her mind openly to someone she liked.
The one who could proudly joke, “Look at my snow-white skin and sharp canines—I’m a vampire!”
If she had met him first… maybe, just maybe, she could’ve lived that kind of life.
She’d dreamed of it countless times—curled up under her blanket in the middle of the night, imagining a childhood filled with laughter and freedom.
A life without constant deadlines, without endless hours under a desk lamp.
Sniffle…
The golden-haired princess lowered her head, letting out a couple of quiet sobs.
Kyousuke couldn’t run—not because he wasn’t strong enough, but because she was hiding behind him.
Sheltered inside the dreamland he had built just for her.
“I’m going too!”
The blonde princess suddenly snapped her head up.
She wiped her eyes hard, raised her little hand, and glared at her sun—at him—with fierce determination burning in her sapphire eyes.
“Let’s make that ugly woman Kosaka Akane cry!”
“She doesn’t get to leave until she bawls like a baby!”
“Hahahahahaha—!”
Kyousuke burst into laughter—rich, free, and loud enough to make Kasuko in the living room look up in surprise.
The little girl quickly mimicked her brother’s laughter, giggling just as loudly, while Yamauchi Sakura and Miyamizu Mitsuha couldn't help but smile at the scene.
Yes—that laugh.
“That’s right,” Kyousuke declared boldly. “Since she came all the way from Osaka to hand in her résumé, we might as well graciously accept it—and then work her to death!”
“…Huh!?”
Kasumigaoka Utaha’s eyes widened in shock. Eriri was one second behind, but she caught on too.
“Kyousuke… the thing you told Shouko earlier—was that what you meant!?”
“Of course! Didn’t I say it already? It’s all been dealt with.”
Kyousuke said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Until now, the best he could do was bring in top-tier talent like Kazama Rikiya.
But now… Kosaka Akane herself had come knocking—with her résumé in hand.
Kosaka Akane must’ve lost her mind. Setting up a trap right in his territory? That’s basically begging to be taken in and treated like a dog.
“No way! I can’t wear what I planned anymore!”
Eriri suddenly cried out in alarm.
She had originally planned to wear the commemorative T-shirt she and Kyousuke wore together during their first convention—something they did every anniversary.
But now, she wasn’t just accompanying Kyousuke as his girlfriend—she was entering battle as his boss, his comrade-in-arms.
And her opponent? None other than that woman, Kosaka Akane.
That old T-shirt clearly wasn’t going to cut it.
“I have to call Mom right now and ask her to send over the Kyoto-style furisode kimono she was saving for New Year’s.
I need to overwhelm her from the very first glance! Let Kosaka Akane know Tokyo isn’t some backwater she can stomp around in.
I’ll make her feel inferior just by standing there—let my noble aura crush her spirit!”
Just moments ago, Eriri had practically squealed at the mere mention of Kosaka Akane. Now she was gnashing her teeth every time she said the name.
“You know,” Utaha said, eyebrow raised, “a blonde foreign girl in a fancy kimono doesn’t scream ‘elegant dominance’—it screams ‘limited-edition holiday gift set.’ Kosaka Akane might think Kyousuke’s offering you up as a peace offering.”
She was genuinely touched that Eriri was fired up enough to go this far, but she still had to be the voice of reason.
If Eriri really showed up in a kimono, Akane would laugh her off the battlefield.
The intimidation factor would collapse before the match even began.
“Kasumigaoka Utaha! Stop projecting your weird pervy fantasies in public! And what do you mean gift set, huh? Speak clearly!”
“Besides! Kyousuke would never offer me as a gift! If anything, he’d send you—you total otaku with your trashy taste—as a present! Like some extra-large, limited-edition inflatable doll! Right, Kyousuke?”
Eriri snapped back with no hesitation.
Consider this a warm-up—she was just getting started.
Soon, she’d show Kosaka Akane exactly who she was messing with.
“E-extra-large? You’ve got some nerve, Sawamura Spencer Eriri.”
Utaha, usually calm and composed, nearly exploded with rage.
“Coming from a flat-chested, underdeveloped little girl who can’t even tell the front from the back of her shirt without a padded bra? Who gave you the right to talk like that!?”
Eriri refused to back down.
She grabbed Kyousuke’s hand and, without warning, slammed it against her chest.
“There! Kyousuke, tell her! Compared to her fake padding, isn’t my natural perfection way more inspiring?”
“Kyousuke, you tell her! Isn’t mine more—”Utaha immediately grabbed his other hand and did the same.
Ssshhh…
On one side, Kyousuke’s hand was met with a soft but firm resistance—like something playfully pushing back, just the right size to fit perfectly in his palm, igniting a deep sense of control.
On the other… it was overflowing, warm and lush.
An irresistible fullness that begged for more than just one hand to hold it properly—a dangerously addictive feeling.
“Ahem—okay, maybe you should ask Naoka to help pick your outfit…” Kyousuke quickly pulled his hands back before things spiraled. “Or my mom. She’d definitely love to help you today.”
Despite the temptation, he knew better than to linger.
“I’ll go get ready. You guys should, too.”
He tossed the words over his shoulder as he disappeared into the living room.
Eriri looked down at her chest, her face turning from pale to pink… then to crimson… until she looked like a flushed little peach.
The warmth still lingered on her skin—unshakable, electric. It was hard to describe, but…
“Still missing the feeling, Sawamura-san?” Utaha’s cheeks were just as red, but that didn’t stop her from teasing.
