Chapter 73: Puzzled.jpg
Eriri realized that asking Utaha for advice was definitely the worst decision she could have made.
Looking at her, Eriri said huffily, "Can you talk properly?"
"I think what I said was perfectly fine."
Utaha said frankly, "Given my personality, if someone were sending love letters to a boy I liked, I would definitely seize the opportunity to snatch all those things away before he found them, and then throw them into the trash. By the way, did you throw away those love letters?"
"No... I haven't thrown them away yet."
Eriri shook her head. Listening to Utaha, she couldn't help but wonder if she really hadn't done anything wrong and if this was exactly what she should do.
Utaha then immediately asked, "Did you open and read them?"
"Wouldn't that be wrong?"
Eriri immediately replied, "Of course I didn't read them. I've already done this much; I wouldn't go so far as to open them and read them, right?"
"If you don't read them, how will you know who is trying to steal your base?" Leaning close to Eriri's ear, Utaha whispered like a devil, "I told you, love is war. If you don't understand your opponent, how can you defeat her?"
That didn't sound wrong, either?
But Eriri wasn't so easily fooled. She shook her head repeatedly, saying, "No, doing that wouldn't be right. Don't try to corrupt me."
Seeing that Eriri wouldn't fall for her trick, Utaha was slightly disappointed. She had originally wanted to see what kind of love letters girls her age wrote. However, upon reflection, secretly reading other people's writings was indeed inappropriate. Since Eriri had already blocked the path of others' confessions, she should stop there.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Then let's just leave it at that. Don't say anything, and just pretend this never happened. How about that?"
"Rea... really like that?"
"What else?"
Rolling her eyes at Eriri, Utaha said, "Are you planning to go confess your crime to Asakura-kun yourself? Although I doubt he would blame you, what if he asks why you did it? How would you answer? Wait, he definitely will ask that. Yes, definitely."
"..."
With Utaha putting it that way, Eriri felt it was truly the case, and she nodded repeatedly, "Mhm, mhm, then I won't say anything. But is it really okay?"
"As long as you don't give yourself away, it's fine. Were you discovered this morning?"
"Of course not."
"Then it's okay. Just act normally. Even if Asakura-kun really finds out, can't you just act spoiled and cute?"
"Act spoiled and cute..." Eriri imagined it and couldn't help but shiver, "Ew! That's disgusting."
At this, Utaha smiled faintly. She found it disgusting now, but she would probably really do it later. Although she didn't have personal experience, she had drawn some conclusions from various film and literary works.
No one can escape the "It Smells So Good" Law.
Although her lunchtime break was interrupted, Utaha was in quite a good mood after learning about the incident.
Looking at Eriri, she said with a smile, "It looks like you've made up your mind. In that case, I'm done here. It's quite hot outside, let's go back to the classroom."
Eriri could only agree, returning to her classroom with a hint of anxiety... In the afternoon, during Art Club activity time.
After Kaede arrived at the Art Club and didn't see Eriri, he asked Usami, "Is Eriri on duty today?"
"Yes, she is."
After responding, Usami looked at Kaede with some hesitation, wanting to ask something but not daring to.
Seeing Usami's expression, Kaede asked, "Usami, is there something you want to say?"
After hesitating for a moment and glancing at the club president and Uchimaki Subaru, who were also in the club room, Usami pointed outside and said, "Let's talk outside."
Confusion.jpg
Although he didn't understand, Kaede followed her out.
After seeing the two leave, the president looked at Uchimaki Subaru, who had already set up his easel, and asked, "Aren't you curious?"
"Curious? There's nothing to be curious about, is there?" Uchimaki Subaru blinked and replied, "Instead of being curious about that, I'd rather focus on preparing for the upcoming drawing competition. President, do you think I should draw a dog-eared girl or an elf this time?"
"..."
This guy is hopeless, let him be.
However, the president didn't take any further action. After all, the person who went out with Usami was Kaede, and there was absolutely no way those two would get together. It was probably about something else.
Once they were outside, Usami voiced her question to Kaede.
"Asakura-san, have you and Eriri had a fight recently?"
"...Huh?"
Kaede froze for a moment, then asked incredulously, "Why do you say that?"
"Because... because at noon, I noticed Eriri didn't acknowledge you at all. When I asked her, she said she hadn't noticed you, but it really didn't look that way to me. So I thought maybe you two had quarreled. But Eriri wouldn't say anything, so I could only ask you."
So that's what it was. Kaede realized what she meant.
Touching his chin, Kaede still seemed confused as he said, "That's impossible. I definitely haven't fought with Eriri or made her angry. Hmm... do you think it might be that time of the month for girls?"
Usami immediately understood. She, who never discussed such topics with boys, instantly blushed, but eventually shook her head and said, "I don't think so. It must be some other reason."
"If it's not that, then I really can't figure it out." Shrugging, Kaede smiled and said, "But don't worry about it. Eriri will come over once she finishes her cleaning duties. We'll find out then, won't we?"
"Yes, that's true."
Usami smiled as well, looked at Asakura-kun, clenched her small fist, and said, "Asakura-kun, I'm rooting for you!"
After saying that, she went back to the club room.
Kaede was momentarily stunned, then smiled ruefully. "She noticed that too? If that's the case, maybe I don't need to hide it too much anymore. From now on, I'll act more openly."
Fifteen minutes later, Eriri finally arrived at the Art Club.
"Good afternoon... I'm so tired."
As soon as Eriri entered, she complained about being tired and sat down in a chair, unwilling to move.
Just as she settled down, Kaede handed her a bottle of juice: "Here, juice. If cleaning duties are really that tiring, couldn't you ask Usami to help you? Or you could call me too."
After a day of cooling down, Eriri had mostly managed to follow Utaha's advice to act as if nothing had happened. She took the drink and said, "Hehe, thank you. But I don't need help. It was just sweeping and some tidying up, not heavy trash like last time. I just need a little rest."
Seeing the conversation between the two, Usami became even more confused.
Did she really not see him at noon? Was I overthinking things?