Chapter 359: Seen Through
After class at noon, it was lunchtime. Kawashima Ami declined invitations from other classmates and came over to Kitamura Yusaku.
"Let's go, Yusaku. Didn't we say we'd go together?"
Kitamura Yusaku nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, let's go. Everyone is already waiting outside the classroom."
Walking to the cafeteria with everyone, Kawashima Ami curiously looked at Eriri, who was pulling on Kaede's shirt hem with a puffed-up face, and quietly asked, "What's wrong with her?"
Kitamura Yusaku said he wasn't sure, while Takasu Ryuji, who knew a little, said, "Well, she probably got into trouble again and wants Asakura to help. Based on past experiences, the situations where this happens can be counted on one hand."
Kitamura Yusaku suddenly understood: "Ah, now that you mention it, I get it."
However, Kawashima Ami still didn't understand, frowning and saying, "What are you two talking about? Be clearer."
Kitamura Yusaku wagged his finger and said with a smile, "You'll know in a bit."
They had all been friends for a year, and Kitamura Yusaku knew very well that another person would definitely join them soon.
Sure enough, upon reaching the restaurant, everyone saw Utaha waiting at the entrance.
Utaha, who was reading a book of traditional literature, looked up and said, "You guys are a bit slow today."
Walking over, Eriri retorted, "Are you just too fast? Did you not sleep during class for once?"
"I don't sleep in class every day. Most of the time, I'm awake."
After explaining, Utaha looked at Kawashima Ami, who was standing next to Kitamura Yusaku, and said with a smile, "Do you have a new member? Your group is growing even stronger."
Kitamura Yusaku introduced, "Utaha-senpai, this is Kawashima Ami, who just transferred. She's my childhood friend. Ami, this is Utaha-senpai from the third year, also one of the school's celebrities."
"Hmm, I recognized her as soon as I saw her."
Compared to Eriri and Kaede's works, Kawashima Ami had read Utaha's love metronome in her free time. Although she read slowly, she bought every volume.
"Hello, Utaha-senpai, I'm Kawashima Ami. Please take care of me."
"Hello, please take care of me too."
Utaha hadn't heard about Kawashima Ami from Eriri before; this was her first time meeting her, so she didn't pay too much attention. After greeting her with a smile, she said, "Alright, let's go in first. Standing here blocking the entrance, we look like some kind of gang."
Entering the restaurant, Kawashima Ami was visiting Toyosaki's student restaurant for the first time. After observing the lively scene, she followed everyone to choose their lunch.
Because there were quite a few people, they simply occupied two tables.
Kaede, Eriri, and Utaha sat on one side, while Takasu Ryuji, Kitamura Yusaku, and Kawashima Ami sat opposite them.
While eating, Utaha said with some surprise, "Oh~ is Kawashima-san still a model? She has a very tall figure, indeed very suitable for modeling."
Because she was a Senpai, and Utaha was better than herself in both looks and figure, Kawashima Ami couldn't feel any sense of superiority. So, she maintained a very docile demeanor when facing her.
"Not at all, Utaha-senpai, you're flattering me."
Listening to their conversation, Eriri took a bite of tempura, her eyes full of amusement.
The current situation was indeed similar to what she had imagined. A large part of Kawashima Ami's personality was related to her long-term experience of being flattered. Perhaps Eriri's own appearance and figure couldn't make her the center of attention, which was normal. Eriri herself had come to terms with it and didn't think her figure was among the best.
However, when Utaha appeared, it was different. After all, Utaha had a figure that even Eriri herself couldn't help but want to pinch, and her height was in no way inferior to Kawashima Ami's, which was enough to put pressure on the other party.
Facts proved this to be true. Even though Kawashima Ami knew she had been exposed to others, she didn't dare to act too presumptuously in front of Utaha.
Of course, her behavior didn't mean that Utaha couldn't see through anything.
After lunch, Utaha, needing to discuss work with Eriri during the lunch break, went to the Art Club with Eriri and Kaede.
As soon as they entered and closed the door, Utaha placed her hands on Eriri's shoulders, leaned into her ear, and softly said, "Eriri, that's not very kind of you!"
Eriri's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately said, "Huh? Eh? What are you talking about?"
"Oh my, are you playing dumb now?"
Utaha released Eriri, went to sit on the sofa, and looked at the two in front of her, saying, "That transfer student, Kawashima Ami, she's not just the way I saw her at lunch, is she?"
Eriri really hadn't expected Utaha to find out so quickly. With an awkward expression, she sat down: "Emmm~~~ Why do you say that?"
Kaede wasn't as surprised as Eriri. He hadn't said much during lunch because he had been observing Utaha's expressions.
Although he hadn't studied facial expressions or psychology, he had read some related materials and had a slight understanding. He noticed that Utaha would occasionally and imperceptibly observe Eriri's expressions during lunch, and his own actions were also noticed by her, but she just hadn't said anything.
"Why do I say that?" With her arms crossed, Utaha smiled, "Don't forget how you were when we first met. In class, you acted like a refined young lady, but secretly you were a total otaku, not refined at all. With you as a precedent, plus Kawashima Ami's obviously uncomfortable demeanor earlier, there must be something going on."
...Well, say what you want, but don't bring up my past self. That was just a necessary disguise, and it's not the same as Kawashima Ami!
"So you admit it then? That transfer student is putting on an act?"
"Yes, that's right. You really found out quickly."
Sighing, Eriri told Utaha about meeting Kawashima Ami a few days ago.
"Oh, it seems there's no way to make Kawashima Ami show her true nature in front of you on the first try. Otherwise, I wanted to see you go all out. We'll just have to wait for another opportunity."
Listening to Eriri's explanation, Utaha clicked her tongue and said, "You're really something. You even dare to use me, your good friend, as a tool."
"Hehe, don't say it so harshly!"
Intimately linking her arm with Utaha's, Eriri said with a smile, "I just found it interesting, I wasn't plotting against you, Utaha! Besides, you're so smart, how could I possibly plot against you?"
"Mmm hmm... Do you think I'll believe that? You'd better accept your punishment!!!"
"Kyaa!! Don't tickle me!!!!"