Chapter 39: Sapphire diva Kasumi Reira

The middle school building was unfamiliar territory. From the main gate, the old school building stood slightly behind, with the middle school building to the left and the high school building to the right. I was struck anew by the sheer size of the campus. Aya and Mizuki had attended middle school here.

‘If I’d attended middle school here too…’ I mused, then dismissed the thought. It was unlikely I would have become this close to Aya and Mizuki. My knowledge of the novel’s plot was the reason for our friendship. If I’d arrived in this world without any prior knowledge… I would have remained an ordinary background character.

‘But… was it really… possession?’

The question lingered in my mind. The subtle ways Rina’s habits and mannerisms surfaced made me wonder. The disappointment I’d felt during the drama club experience… But in a modern, non-fantasy setting, asking someone about spiritual possession seemed impossible.

In any case, I was here, walking alongside Aya and Mizuki, through this unfamiliar space. And that, in itself, felt strangely significant.

Mizuki, as usual, led the way, her familiarity with the middle school building evident. We followed quietly.

The atmosphere here was distinctly different from the high school. A chaotic energy filled the hallways and classrooms, the desks and furniture smaller, the view from the windows subtly altered.

‘Aya and Mizuki spent three years… here…’ I walked down the hallways, imagining their middle school days. They were probably similar to how they were now: Mizuki playful and energetic, Aya calm and composed.

We ran into a middle school teacher in the hallway.

“Oh? High school students? Ah, Asakura-san.” The teacher waved at Mizuki, recognizing her.

“Hello, sensei~!” Mizuki grinned, waving back.

The teacher’s gaze swept over us, then he nodded. “You’re here about the Spring Festival? I’ve heard the rumors.”

“Hee hee, it just sort of happened,” Mizuki chuckled, scratching her head.

The teacher smiled, impressed. “It’s quite innovative, using social media for promotion. No one’s ever thought of that before. Anyway, good luck, Trinity.”

…Trinity. I froze.

‘Even the middle school teachers know that nickname now…’ It had spread far beyond social media, becoming common knowledge within the school. Aya and Mizuki simply nodded, and I, mimicking them, did the same.

Had the nickname become… official? I sighed inwardly.

‘Me, one of the Four Beauties…’

After a brief exchange with the teacher, we arrived at an empty classroom. There, bathed in the light streaming through the window, sat a beautiful girl with long, braided light blue hair.

It was the first time I’d seen such an unnatural hair color. ‘She must have dyed it because she’s an idol… right?’

I quietly observed Kasumi. She was undeniably beautiful, worthy of the title “idol.” Her uniform, a middle school blazer and skirt, was impeccably neat and stylish.

And as we approached, I realized…

‘She’s taller than me…’

I pouted slightly. I preferred to think of her as tall, rather than myself as short. But the reality was… I instinctively moved closer to Aya, the tallest among us.

Just then, the girl turned from the window, her voice elegant and refined. “Greetings. Yukikawa-senpai, Asakura-senpai. And you are…?”

Wow… it was a formal, almost archaic, greeting. And her aura, befitting a popular idol, was captivating. She wasn’t just a pretty girl; she seemed to belong to a different world.

“Kasumi-chan, it’s been a while,” Mizuki greeted her with a bright smile.

“Hello. This is Kurosawa Rina,” Aya added, introducing me.

Flustered, I managed a simple, “Hi!”

Kasumi looked at me and smiled gently. “Kurosawa-senpai. I’ve heard about you.” Her eyes were calm, yet with a hint of melancholy. The kind of gaze that seemed to see right through you. I remembered the description of her personality from the novel.

‘She longed for someone who could see beyond her glamorous exterior, someone who could understand her true self. A stereotypical desire for many celebrities.’

Was it true? Perhaps I’d find out eventually, but that wasn’t the reason for our visit today. Kasumi tilted her head slightly, her hands clasped elegantly.

“I didn’t expect all three of you to come. I would have prepared something to offer you.”

“Don’t worry about it. How was your nationwide tour?” Mizuki asked, showing her concern, and Kasumi smiled softly.

“It… went well. Thankfully.” Her tone was gentle, but I detected a hint of hesitation, a subtle uncertainty that made me wonder if it had truly “gone well.”

It was strange. In my past life, I’d barely interacted with girls. Now, not only could I converse with them easily, but I was also becoming adept at reading their expressions.

According to the novel, Kasumi rarely attended school, only coming to fulfill the minimum attendance requirement. But she seemed quite close to Mizuki, who was leading the conversation.

“Since we’re here, how about I treat you three to dinner?” Kasumi offered.

“Sure~ And what do you mean ‘treat’? We’ll eat together.”

“…?” I paused, confused. How had we ended up with a dinner invitation? With one of Japan’s most popular idols…?

I glanced at Aya. She seemed lost in thought, then nodded. “Okay. I’ll let my family know.”

“…Me too…” I mumbled, pulling out my phone.

‘Is this how girls make dinner plans…?’

Swept along by Kasumi’s elegant aura, I’d somehow agreed to have dinner with her.

****

Dinner was held in the VVIP room of a luxurious restaurant I’d never even dreamed of entering.

“Wow…” I gaped at the opulent surroundings, barely suppressing my amazement. The glittering chandelier, the neatly arranged silverware, the floral centerpiece on the table… it was impeccable.

‘Is this… real life…?’ I ran my hand over the back of my chair, the soft, luxurious leather a testament to the restaurant’s exclusivity. I felt like I should be wearing a dress, not a school uniform.

“Rina, is this your first time here?” Mizuki asked playfully, and I chuckled awkwardly.

“Yeah, well… I’ve never been to a place like this before.” The most expensive place I’d ever been to, even in my past life, was a family restaurant. This was a different world entirely. And the fact that we’d arrived in a limousine still felt surreal.

‘So… limousines actually exist…’ I’d only seen them in dramas and manga. The interior was unbelievably spacious, the plush leather seats enveloping me in luxurious comfort. Looking out at the night cityscape through the tinted windows, I’d wondered if I was dreaming.

But this… this was my reality now, my life as Rina.

“This is the kind of place Kasumi-chan belongs in,” Mizuki said, and Kasumi nodded, a small smile on her face.

“Yes… usually, I have to hide my face in public. I can relax here.”

“That makes sense.” I’d seen videos of celebrities being swarmed by fans. With Kasumi’s level of fame, it was understandable that she had to be discreet.

And then… there was Aya. I glanced at her. She was impeccably polite, adhering to proper dining etiquette, but there was a subtle unease about her, a slight stiffness that suggested this wasn’t her natural environment.

Mizuki, on the other hand…

‘…She’s being as cheerful as she can be, within the confines of this setting.’

A controlled cheerfulness. Mizuki seemed to instinctively know where to draw the line, her laughter and chatter lively but never boisterous, never crossing the line into impropriety. It was a skill in itself.

Kasumi, watching Mizuki, lowered her gaze, then clasped her hands and spoke softly. “Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me.”

“Hmm? Us?” Mizuki tilted her head.

“Yes, it’s good to see you again,” Kasumi replied with a gentle smile.

‘…The atmosphere has shifted slightly,’ I noted, observing Kasumi. At school, she’d seemed mature and elegant, but now… she seemed younger, more like a typical middle school student.

“Kasumi-san, you can relax. It’s just us,” Aya said gently, and Kasumi’s face lit up.

“Really…?” she asked hesitantly, fidgeting with her fingers. The gesture was strangely endearing.

‘Is she really a celebrity…?’ This wasn’t the glamorous image of an idol; it was the shy demeanor of an ordinary middle school student trying to be polite.