Chapter 19: A Call from a Fantasy World

A week had passed since the incident. For me, life felt like a drama that never stopped. All the students were talking about me, making me feel like a fish in a bowl.

"Wow, Akira-kun is so lucky! He keeps getting kisses from Mika-san!"

"I can't wait to see them together again! It's like watching a real-life drama!"

Listening to them, I could only hold my book, trembling. I wanted all of this to end. But how? Suddenly, an idea popped into my head: I needed to find help.

Ayaka. She might understand. She wasn't as complicated as Mika.

I saw Ayaka in the campus hallway, chatting with another female student. I took a deep breath. "Um, Ayaka-san," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Do you have any free time after class?"

Ayaka's face immediately flushed. The student next to her nudged her, signaling that this was her chance.

"Yes," Ayaka replied. "I do."

"Then... maybe we could meet up?"

"Of course," she said, her voice sounding happy.

The gossip about the two of us immediately spread. But soon after, new news calmed it down. The buzz was about a famous voice actress and cosplayer, Sayo Kurogami, who would be enrolling at this campus.

"Hey, did you hear? Sayo Kurogami is supposedly enrolling here?"

"Seriously?! I'm so lucky to be on the same campus as her!"

"Sayo Kurogami? You mean the famous voice actress?!"

Class began, but Sayo hadn't arrived yet. The otaku students were restless.

Suddenly, the classroom door opened. A girl with purple hair and light purple eyes stepped in. The otakus immediately cheered with glee.

"Sayo-chan! Over here! Over here! I can't wait for your new anime next week!"

"Sayo-chan! I love your cosplay so much! I'll keep supporting you!"

But Sayo's true personality came out. She snorted, shocking the otakus.

"Ugh, this is so annoying," she said with a heavy tone. "Don't you know I'm exhausted? Honestly, what's so great about college? I wish I could be a high school student again."

From her seat, Ayaka immediately recognized her. "Well, well, looks like there's someone I used to know," Ayaka muttered mockingly. "And someone I dislike the most."

"Hah! Who wants to see you again, Ayaka-chan?" Sayo shot back, their gazes locking.

For a moment, the classroom felt like a gladiator arena. The students could only watch. Suddenly, I, who had just returned from the library, saw the confrontation.

"Go ahead and flirt with other guys, Ayaka-chan," Sayo said, teasing. "I'm not interested in you 3D boys and girls. To me, you're all the same."

Ayaka replied sharply. "I don't care about your 2D boyfriends either! What's the point of loving something that doesn't even have a form?!"

Just as the atmosphere was heating up, Sayo's gaze shifted to me. Her purple eyes widened as if she couldn't believe it. The character from her favorite game and anime, her "ideal husband," was standing right in front of her, watching their argument.

Sayo's heavy and rough voice suddenly changed, becoming soft and full of admiration.

"Prince Caeluso?"

Instantly, the entire room fell silent. All the students stared at her, stunned.

"Huh?"

I pointed at myself, confused. "Caeluso? Who is that? I don't know him."

With a gentle tone, Sayo explained her favorite character. Her voice was a complete 180 from before. I realized that this girl was not just a normal nuisance. She was a famous cosplayer, a voice actress, and an utterly fanatical otaku.

And she had just become a new threat to my quiet life.