547 - I Was Genderswapped and Reincarnated as a Villainess, but I’m Making this My Personal Yuri Game

### Chapter 547: "The Hero Arrives in the Nick of Time" The day after the three-day concert ended, An found herself surrounded by a throng of students in the upper school. Never before had she, a seemingly eccentric daughter from the subterranean family, been so inundated with people. Previously unacquainted individuals now flocked to her as if a switch had flipped, bombarding her with questions. The motivation behind most of the crowd was clear. They wanted to get closer to Kujo Sakuya and their group, having noticed An performing with them at the concert. They thought by getting close to An, she might introduce them or offer insights into gaining favor with Sakuya's clique. The questions posed to her largely revolved around Sakuya. "What does Kujo-sama like?" "How can one become closer to them?" "What are their hobbies?" Repeatedly hearing such queries grew exhausting. However, not every interaction was self-serving. Initially, those surrounding An were mostly from upper-class families like the Dojo family, interested solely in utilizing her for connections. Yet, when they realized An wasn't providing the desired information, many fell away. Those who remained were genuinely interested in her. "Hey, Imaoji-san! You're so talented with so many instruments!" "Ah... honestly, I wasn't really into music initially. It's only after practicing with Kujo-sama and the others that I picked it up." "Really!? Isn't that even more impressive?" "Right! It makes it even more amazing that you became so skilled after practicing with them!" "Well, haha..." An could only manage a wry smile. She believed it wasn't her own brilliance but rather the excellence of her teachers. The people now questioning her assumed she had a natural talent for learning instruments quickly, but that wasn't the case. Every member of the band had dramatically improved thanks to Momochi-sensei's guidance. The real talent lay not with the students, but their mentor. "Hey, Imaoji-san... Compared to your family, mine is much lesser in rank, but... would you be my friend?" "Oh! Not fair, I want to be friends too! Hey, Imaoji-san, I come from a normal family and don't quite get the whole status thing... Would you be friends with me too?" The initial wave of upper-class Dojo family members had aimed to use An to gain access to Sakuya and their faction. But these people now surrounding her were different. They genuinely admired An and desired friendship. And so, An's response was clear. "You don't need to worry much about status. I'm not exactly from a prestigious background myself, nor am I adept in etiquette... If you don't mind that..." "Really? That's a relief!" "Now we're all friends!" "Imaoji-san, you're kind of formal. Let's talk more casually as friends." "You're right... Yes, looking forward to it!" With the barrage of morning questions finally easing, a smile returned to An's face. It was a delightful surprise for her to have made so many friends so quickly after entering the upper school. An had often found herself alone. Her unique interests led her to wander solo with a camera, always on the hunt for a scoop. This made her something of a loner, often viewed as strange and distant. Thus, forming so many friendships so suddenly felt like a miracle. However, it wasn't a miracle at all. An's diligent efforts had been recognized. Her peers finally saw her value. Yet, An attributed all these positive changes to Sakuya. Though she initially almost caused trouble for Sakuya with a concocted scoop, they forgave her and even welcomed her into their circle. This unexpected alliance offered her lessons in manners, music, and more. An believed her current status was due entirely to Sakuya's kindness. "Let's have lunch together starting today!" "Great idea!" Thus, An made plans to join her new friends for lunch. --- As lunchtime arrived, An headed to the cafeteria with her newfound friends. During the break, they chattered about various topics. Their conversation flitted from one subject to another, leaving An struggling to keep up. When questions were directed at her, An was comfortable answering—if she couldn't disclose something, she'd skillfully deflect or remain silent. But when the conversation moved beyond queries about her, it became more challenging. Aspiring to be a journalist, An was well-versed in current affairs. However, her friends—bright, lively high school girls—rarely discussed politics or the economy. Only fleetingly would celebrity scandals come up, mainly revolving around favorite singers or idols, or movie star crushes, conversations in which An felt out of her depth. The topic she found hardest, though, was... "Hey, An! Do you have someone you like at school? A boyfriend?" "Uh, well... no... that's not... um..." Her eyes darted evasively as she hesitated to answer. Truthfully, An did have a "favorite girl," but no "favorite guy." She had never experienced love or been in a relationship, making romantic conversations a particularly tricky area for her. "Excuse me, Imaoji-san." "...Huh?" Near the cafeteria, amidst the bustling crowd, a boy approached An and her group. Initially taken aback, the group stiffened when they realized who it was. "I need to talk to you. Could you meet me behind the school building after classes today?" "Uh... sure..." "Thanks. I'll see you at the building." With that, the boy departed, leaving An's friends and nearby students buzzing with excitement. "Wow, An! Wasn't that Shindo-senpai from the second year?" "He's rumored to be from the highest-ranking underground family, both kind and handsome! And it turns out he truly is, as we just saw!" "Getting called behind the school after classes must be a confession! Lucky you, An!" "Well... haha..." An struggled to maintain an unstrained smile. The one who had approached with smooth words was Shindo Iitori, a senior a year above her. An knew a fair bit about him, as he belonged to the same Konoe family faction as herself, but ranked higher than her Imaoji family. They had encountered each other at faction gatherings, and An was also aware of his true nature. Though he was reputed for his friendly demeanor and charming smile, the reality was quite different. At these gatherings, Iitori was known to fawn over those above him while acting very overbearing to those below. An viewed him as someone who was good at maintaining appearances but thought little of him personally. Nevertheless, others around her were oblivious to this. Not just An's friends but also other students in the cafeteria buzzed with excitement, speculating that An would be receiving a confession from the second-year student Shindo Iitori that day at lunch. --- True to their lunchtime promise, Shindo Iitori came to escort An after classes. Her friends, filled with anticipation, waved her off with gleeful squeals. Shortly afterwards, a middle school student approached them, inquiring about An's whereabouts. The friends informed the middle schooler that she had been summoned behind the school by a male student, suggesting that they shouldn't interrupt. Whether or not the middle schooler understood, they left the classroom in pursuit. "Who was that just now?" "Not sure? Seemed like they had business with An." "Haven't I seen them somewhere before...?" The new students, who had freshly entered the upper school, only knew the name Kujo Sakuya without clear recognition of his appearance. It had been less than two weeks since they started, enrolled in a different department, making it unlikely for them to know him precisely. Even if they had seen him at the concert, the distance and the crowd made distinguishing individuals difficult. An's new friends, unaware that they had just interacted with Kujo Sakuya, assumed she was currently receiving a confession behind the school, and continued their romantic gossip, excitedly speculating about the outcome. --- Having absorbed the conversation, Sakuya quickly made their way behind the school. Iitori's henchmen stood blocking the path, warning incoming students to stay away. However, Sakuya managed to slip past unnoticed. It wasn't because the guards were inept; they had effectively cordoned off the area. Rather, Sakuya seamlessly bypassed them, utilizing a momentary shift in their attention, moving through the cover of shrubs and trees. For Sakuya, this stealth maneuver wasn't anything extraordinary; it was simply acting as they had been trained, without conscious effort. Blending with the environment, evading detection as the sentries glanced away, came naturally. Once behind the school, Sakuya silently navigated through the shadows, seeking their target. It wasn't a particularly large area, nor deeply concealed, so finding their goal was swift. However, the scene they discovered was peculiar. Contrary to what they'd been told of a romantic confession, it appeared far from loving. Observing for some minutes, Sakuya intervened precisely as Iitori raised his hand against An. "Stop right there!" “What the...?” “Sakuya-sama…” With his hand still mid-air, Iitori froze at the sight of Sakuya, eyes widening as he processed that his target was someone closely tied to Kujo Sakuya, whom he had plans to leverage through An. While An's newer friends might have failed to recognize Sakuya, there was no mistaking their esteemed rank among the Konoe family for Iitori. He swiftly dropped his hand. “Well, well, Kujo-sama... it seems there’s been a misunderstanding…” “What seems to be the misunderstanding?” "Tch..." Sakuya cut through Iitori's smooth talk with a piercing gaze. Iitori had heard of Sakuya's boldness but hadn’t anticipated such audacity. Any semblance of endearing charm was absent from the defiant figure before him, clearly not to his taste. “You may not yet understand, Kujo-sama, but Imaoji-san and I are together. So, this matter concerns just the two of us. Even you, Kujo-sama, should remain uninvolved.” Iitori's tone shifted subtly, revealing his domineering nature beneath the polished exterior. "You mean to imply that the daughter of the Imaoji family would refuse the advances of me, the heir of the top-ranking Shindo family within the Konoe faction?" "Eep!" Sakuya had remained silent until then, but now presented a video recording on their smartphone to Iitori, causing his expression to twist in an instant. "The world has become quite convenient, hasn’t it? Everyone carries these little tools, capable of recording audio and video at a moment’s notice. Nowadays, incidents or disputes can be captured on evidence that dispels any baseless denials." "Damn it!" Facing the devilishly grinning middle school student, Iitori's face contorted with frustration. The video clearly captured him trying to exert his will and his status over a defenseless girl. Moreover, the opposing party was from the Kujo family, one of the five northern houses, and this undeniable evidence meant his claims would hold no ground. "F-fine, I will take my leave now!" With that, Iitori turned on his heel and retreated. As he grumbled about the negligence of his guards, An finally seemed to snap out of her daze, moving as if released from a spell. "Sakuya-sama! Sakuya-sama! I was so scared… It was terrifying!" "You’re safe now, An." For An, standing against someone like Iitori and the Shindo family was virtually impossible; she had no choice. If Iitori had so much as hinted at marriage, her family might have eagerly agreed to it. For the Imaoji family, the Shindo family was conveniently ranked just higher, making them an ideal match for a marital alliance. Being too high or too low on the social ladder could complicate such dealings, but allying with an upper-tier family was the best outcome for a daughter from the subterranean clans. Thus, the mere suggestion of marriage from Iitori would have likely resulted in compliance from her household. While enduring a few hits might have been tolerable, the thought that she might have been forcibly kissed or had her body violated by Iitori was terrifying. He might have derided An as a plain girl, but given the chance to have his way with someone unresisting, there was little doubt about his intentions. The very thought sent shivers through her body. Yet, as An clung to Sakuya, being held tight, her head and back gently patted, the overwhelming terror and anxiety melted away. Sakuya had appeared heroically in her moment of peril, effortlessly dealing with the villain and rescuing her. While it was unlikely that Iitori had truly given up, trusting this person made An feel reassured that everything would be alright. And considering her feelings, it wasn't just admiration—no, she loved them dearly. "Sakuya-tan! Sakuya-tan! I love you! I really do!" "My, An-san. You're quite something. Hehe." An's words were neither a joke nor spoken lightly; they came straight from her heart. However, her feelings seemed to be taken lightly, as Sakuya merely chuckled softly, continuing to comfort her with gentle pats.