....
Outside Toyonozaki Academy.
"Alright, see you tomorrow, Eriri."
Yukima Azuma said goodbye to Eriri. He had to go to the station to catch a bus, while Eriri's house was near the station next to the academy, at the end of the detective slope. The two of them headed in opposite directions.
"Hehe, see you tomorrow!" Eriri waved and smiled foolishly to herself.
The story should have ended here.
Until:
"Let's go home together."
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly hooked her arm around Yukima Azuma's and even said it loudly.
Eriri, who had just turned to leave, immediately spun around and rushed to pull them apart.
"Wait! Hold on a second! What are you two doing? 'Going home together?' Huh? Did I just isekai by a truck-sama?"
Eriri squeezed between them, acting as a shield to prevent Kasumigaoka from continuing her deadly verbal attacks.
Stuck between the two, Eriri's mind was filled with questions.
"Oh, Sawamura-san doesn't know yet? I'm living with Azuma," Kasumigaoka Utaha said calmly, smiling with a mysterious air, her hand gently brushing her cheek.
"How should I know that!" Eriri yelled, her voice shrill. "Wait a minute, why are you acting all shy about it!"
"Didn't Azuma tell you, Sawamura-san? Looks like you two aren't that close after all," Kasumigaoka replied, a playful tone in her voice.
"You're the one who's not close! Your whole family isn't close!" Eriri retorted. "Azuma is my childhood friend!"
"Oh? Your childhood friend? But I've never heard him mention you," Kasumigaoka teased, her smile widening.
"That's what I should be asking! I'm his childhood friend, but I've never seen you hanging out with Azuma!" Eriri shot back.
Seeing the two of them about to argue even more fiercely, Yukima Azuma placed his hands gently on both of their heads.
Whether it was the long black straight hair or the golden twintails, the soft, silky feeling was transmitted through his palms.
Surprisingly, this action worked.
Both of them immediately stopped arguing.
Each of them stood on one side, and without saying a word, both stepped on Yukima Azuma foot.
"Alright, everyone calm down a bit." Yukima Azuma sighed, speaking with a tone of helplessness. "Let me introduce you two again."
"Kasumigaoka-senpai, we met through literature before, and now she's renting the second floor of my house, a tenant."
"Eriri, a classmate since elementary school, middle school, and now high school, and my childhood friend."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation, Eriri's almost explosive emotions finally settled down.
However, her gaze toward Kasumigaoka was still full of suspicion.
After all, the idea of high school students living together sounded quite inappropriate.
In Eriri's mind, thoughts of a doujinshi about "living together outside school" started to take shape.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, on the other hand, gave Yukima Azuma a side glance.
She felt as if Yukima was hiding something, something unspoken.
Just like how he hadn't made her true identity clear.
So, this tsundere twintail girl had actually appeared before her...?
What had started as a relaxed, carefree time living at Yukima's house suddenly made Kasumigaoka Utaha feel tense.
"Sawamura-san, hello. Sawamura-san, goodbye. Alright, let's go home," Kasumigaoka Utaha said.
Eriri: !
She watched the two of them heading toward the train station.
After a moment of hesitation, Eriri immediately ran after them.
"I'm coming too!"
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha showed a look of surprise.
"Sawamura-san really plans to actively go to a male student's house and throw herself into his arms? How depraved!"
Although she had matured somewhat, Eriri's tsundere nature couldn't handle words like that.
Her snow-white face immediately turned bright red.
Even though Kasumigaoka Utaha's words weren't particularly rude,
Eriri couldn't help but imagine all sorts of scenarios, in all sorts of places.
'Think, Eriri, think!'
'Ah! Got it!'
Eriri's eyes lit up.
"Shiratamaru!" Eriri nodded. "That's right, I'm going to meet Shiratamaru, this has nothing to do with Kasumigaoka-san!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha squinted slightly.
This reason was certainly something she couldn't argue against.
So, something must have happened when she went to Fushikawa Publishing House yesterday.
The image of the cherry blossom-colored slippers flashed in her mind again.
— — — — — — — — — — —
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Chapter 49: "The Thief"
Kasumigaoka closed her eyes.
So, the time she came to Fushikawa yesterday was when the "thief" arrived!
Just in such a short time!
She recalled the cherry blossom-colored slippers at home had been opened.
Kasumigaoka's gaze shifted to Yukima Azuma, seemingly filled with sorrow.
Yukima Azuma smiled awkwardly.
How should he put it?
The current scene seemed rather striking.
But in reality, the bigger event was still ahead.
So, Eriri used "Shiratamaru" as an excuse.
The three of them walked together along the road to Yukima's house.
None of them spoke along the way.
Until they reached the door.
Yukima Azuma took out the key while swallowing a gulp.
The big event was about to come!
He opened the hallway door.
On the doorstep, Shiratamaru was sitting obediently waiting.
Unlike most adopted cats.
Shiratamaru had a very friendly personality.
Its mother must have been a house cat, and under her guidance, Shiratamaru had adapted very well to living with humans.
It was just unclear why it had been abandoned.
When Eriri saw Shiratamaru, fluffy and round like a tennis ball, she immediately lost interest in confronting Kasumigaoka.
She sat down directly and reached out her hand towards Shiratamaru.
Her mouth emitted the sound "Nyan nyan."
Shiratamaru was attracted, coming towards Eriri and trying to touch the tip of her finger with one of its paws.
When it confirmed there was no danger, Shiratamaru climbed onto Eriri's hand.
As she stroked its soft, pure white fur, Eriri's eyes lit up.
Kasumigaoka also looked towards Shiratamaru for a moment.
But soon, her gaze shifted to the side.
At the bottom of the hallway steps, a pair of women's leather shoes had been placed.
And the cherry blossom-colored slippers on the shoe rack were nowhere to be found.
A bad feeling began to rise in her heart.
"Welcome home."
Accompanied by a gentle sound, a cute girl who resembled a fresh flower appeared.
Kato Megumi stepped out of the kitchen, still wearing an apron.
If she hadn't been in her Toyosaki uniform, one might have thought she was a gentle and capable wife.
Eriri stopped her playful actions with Shiratamaru, and her whole body immediately froze in a daze.
Kasumigaoka's long, beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
So, the "thief" was here.
"Well, I'm back, Megumi-san. What are you doing in the kitchen?"
Yukima Azuma changed her slippers and walked towards the kitchen.
"Since I wasn't sure when Azuma-san would be home, I made some food, just in case."
Kato Megumi answered naturally.
"Oh, thank you. I'll take care of the rest."
"Okay, then I'll take off the apron for you."
"Mm, go sit in the living room for a bit. You can go home after dinner."
Upon hearing this conversation,
Kasumigaoka and Eriri exchanged glances.
Both of them clearly had the same thought.
"Why are you two so familiar with each other?!"
"Sawamura-san, Kasumigaoka-senpai, hello. I'm Kato Megumi. Azuma-san asked me to feed Shiratamaru."
Somehow, Kato Megumi had appeared next to them.
They almost jumped in surprise.
Upon a closer look, they realized that Kato Megumi was actually a very beautiful girl.
Though at first glance, she didn't leave a strong impression, it became apparent upon closer inspection and getting to know her a little that Kato Megumi was just as cute as the two of them.
It even made one think: "Wow, how come such a cute girl isn't standing out?"
"Kato... right? Do you know me?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha changed her slippers and began to inquire.
"Probably, after all, Kasumigaoka-senpai is very famous at Toyosaki, it would be strange if I didn't know you."
"But I was really a bit surprised just now. I didn't expect Azuma-san's tenant to be the legendary Kasumigaoka-senpai."
Kato Megumi responded sincerely.
The so-called "legend."
Although Kasumigaoka was used to being praised by others,
She couldn't feel displeased by the words of the cute girl in front of her.
Kasumigaoka immediately understood.
The girl named Kato Megumi was a threat far beyond Eriri.
Every action and gesture of hers made it impossible for others to be on guard.
This gentle, soft-spoken girl appeared harmless,
But in reality, she was the most dangerous kind of person.
Once she grasped the fearsome nature of Kato Megumi, Kasumigaoka looked at her ally who was on the same side as her.
What was Eriri doing?
Ah, Eriri was petting the cat.
Kasumigaoka unconsciously raised her hand to rub her forehead.
She had truly been wrong to place her hope in Eriri.
....
Dinner was quickly finished.
Since she was the one receiving the task, there weren't many options to choose from.
So, that evening, the four of them ate curry, grilled mackerel, and miso soup.
After the meal, Shiratamaru was lying in Kato Megumi's lap.
Its front paws walked along Kato Megumi's legs.
The soft pink paw pads felt like they were massaging.
Watching the close interaction between the person and the cat, Eriri finally realized the danger.
"Oh, it's already 9 o'clock. Azuma-san, Sawamura-san, Kasumigaoka-senpai, I'll be go home now."
Kato Megumi took out her phone, checked the time, and stood up.
Although she said "Oh," her tone remained as gentle as a breeze.
"I should be going too."
Eriri, feeling a little reluctant, stood up as well.
Both their homes were near the lower station of the academy, so it was conveniently on the way.
The trains had stopped running.
So, Eriri called a taxi.
Yukima Azuma discreetly slipped taxi fare into Kato Megumi's coat pocket.
After all, it was he who had asked her to help.
It would be inappropriate to make Kato Megumi pay for the taxi.
Taxi fares in Tokyo were known to be some of the most expensive in the world.
Moreover, Kato Megumi's family situation wasn't one where she could spend freely.
As a result, the taxi had barely gone a short distance when
Yukima Azuma received a message from Kato Megumi on Line.
Megumi: "Azuma-san, why did you slip money into my pocket? I don't want to receive it."
Azuma: "It's taxi fare!"
Megumi: "If it's taxi fare, I can pay for it myself."
Azuma: "Anyway, I asked Megumi-san to come help, and if I let you pay for the taxi... my heart won't be at ease!"
Azuma: (Attached with expression image: Not at ease .jpg)
Chapter 50: Breaking the Rules
Kato Megumi put her phone away.
Sitting in the taxi, she smiled contentedly.
It was truly a smile.
The corners of her mouth only lifted slightly.
The moment she touched the money in her pocket, she felt a bit annoyed.
Because the amount was a little large.
She couldn't help but think that maybe Yukima Azuma had given her the money to thank her for helping take care of Shiratamaru.
If that was the case, wasn't it like he was paying her for her services?
Emotionally, she felt a little uncomfortable with that idea.
But Yukima Azuma had explained that it was just taxi fare.
Kato Megumi felt happy again.
Because Yukima Azuma had noticed the little things about her.
At first, she thought that after paying for the fare, she would have to be a bit more frugal in the next few days.
Though she wouldn't complain about it.
Moreover, the fact that he paid attention to her made Kato Megumi genuinely happy.
.....
The next day.
Morning class.
Looking at the empty seat.
Kato Megumi blinked.
As soon as class ended, Eriri immediately ran over to Kato Megumi's seat.
"Azuma, that guy seems to have taken another leave. Kato-san, do you know what's going on?"
Eriri asked with some concern.
How should she respond?
Her feelings were complex.
Eriri wanted to find out about Yukima Azuma's situation, but she didn't want Kato Megumi to know the truth.
Otherwise, wouldn't it just bring Kato Megumi and Yukima Azuma closer together than she was?
"Huh? Even though Sawamura-san asked like that, I don't know anything," Kato Megumi replied.
"We went home together yesterday, and if Sawamura-san doesn't know, then of course, I don't either..."
Kato Megumi shrugged.
Eriri sighed in relief. "I see."
If Yukima Azuma hadn't told her where he was going but had told Kato Megumi, Eriri felt she would have been upset enough to cry.
However, before she could fully relax, Kato Megumi phone in the desk drawer suddenly buzzed.
With a questioning look from Eriri, Kato Megumi pulled out her phone. "It's a message from Azuma-san."
Eriri immediately froze, as if turned to stone.
It was as if a little ghost with braided hair was floating out of her mouth.
Kato Megumi read the message, then turned the LINE screen toward Eriri.
It only had one sentence:
"Megumi, I'm busy today, won't be home. Please take care of Shiratamaru!"
After reading it, Eriri snapped out of her daze.
It wasn't anything especially important he was asking for.
He was just asking Kato Megumi to take care of Shiratamaru.
Her mood lightened a little.
"Seriously, what is he up to?"
.....
Where had Yukima Azuma gone, and what was he doing?
This week had been really busy.
After the official matches, club activities, and many other things,
The revenue from the overseas game sales had finally been deposited into his account.
Thanks to his memories from his past life and successful guide books, Yukima Azuma had chosen to collaborate directly with the largest social media applications in each country to release the game.
