Before she realized it, the sky had dimmed into a curtain of violet and gold.
When Eriri finally set down her pen, stretching her stiff fingers, she glanced at the clock—and nearly choked. It was already past 8 p.m.
"Eh?! That late already?!"
Her phone buzzed just as she was about to panic. It was her mother.
"I'm heading home now!" Eriri answered quickly, forcing her voice to sound nonchalant.
Kamiigusa Misaki, still bouncing with residual energy, turned toward Nozomi and barked like a director on set. "Nozomi! Escort Eriri home!"
She didn't even ask—it was a declaration.
"Eh?! Wait, it's fine!" Eriri waved her hands, flustered.
She was a high school student, not some fragile child. If people saw her being escorted by a guy—especially this guy—what if they got the wrong idea? Worse... what if Nanami misunderstood?
Misaki squinted knowingly, her eyes glittering with mischief. "You do know this neighborhood has sketchy alley creeps, right? They love harassing girls walking alone. You sure you wanna risk it?"
Eriri's defiance cracked like a brittle cookie. "Ugh... fine. Just ignore what I said."
So Nozomi grabbed his coat, and the two stepped out into the night.
Behind them, Yukinoshita Yukino watched silently through the window, her expression unreadable.
It felt familiar.
Before…
She had once walked this same path. Said the same words. Let him walk her home.
And afterward…
She had ended up leaning against his chest.
Shiina Mahiru peeked over her shoulder with a sly grin. "Yukinoshita-san~ Are you jealous?"
"No," Yukino replied coolly, "I'm just... curious about that girl."
"Sawamura Spencer Eriri. Daughter of a British diplomat. Surprised you haven't met her before. I thought the Yukinoshita family went to all the high-level banquets."
Yukino nodded faintly. "We did. But I was always on the sidelines. Watching my sister mingle with the world while I sat quietly."
Mahiru softened. So that's how it was… Yukino hadn't had many friends before. Maybe none.
Without warning, Mahiru reached out and held Yukino's hand, warm and firm.
"Then... let's be best friends from now on, okay?"
"Eh?!" Yukino blinked.
"Or... is that not allowed?" Mahiru's eyes sparkled with mock sadness.
How could Yukino resist that?
Blushing faintly, she muttered, "...It's not impossible."
--
Meanwhile, on the quiet street bathed in streetlamp light, Nozomi and Eriri strolled side by side.
"Come to think of it, Sawamura-san, you're half-British, right?"
"So what if I am?!" Eriri snapped instinctively, baring her little fang-like canine teeth. "Planning to tease me now?"
"Not at all," Nozomi replied smoothly, hands in his pockets. "Just admiring how pretty you are. That golden hair really suits you."
Eriri blushed, cheeks warming in the cool air. "D-don't say weird stuff like that! And besides, don't forget you have a girlfriend!"
"Jeez, calm down! I'm just saying you're beautiful—as a friend. Can't I be proud of my clubmate being a total knockout?"
She glared at him, then huffed and picked up her pace. "If you must be proud, then whatever. Not my problem."
Nozomi chuckled, keeping up effortlessly.
From behind, Eriri's silhouette was dazzling.
Her golden twin-tails bobbed with every step, and her black thigh-high socks accentuated her long, slender legs.
She looked like she had stepped straight out of a shoujo manga.
In Toyosaki Academy, she and Kasumigaoka Utaha were the undisputed top-tier school beauties.
But while Utaha was cold and aloof, Eriri carefully maintained a friendly, approachable image, making her even more popular. She got confession letters almost every day.
Of course, none of those boys had any idea she was secretly the infamous erotic mangaka, Kashiwagi Eri.
Only Nozomi knew. Her secret was safe with him.
Eventually, they arrived at a stylish Western-style villa.
Originally, Eriri only meant to walk to the station with him. But Nozomi insisted—what if some creeper showed up on the train?
Remembering a few too many questionable doujin plots, Eriri caved and let him walk her home.
Nozomi whistled as he took in the elegant house. "Wow... Eriri, your place looks like a princess lives here."
She looked away, embarrassed. "My dad insisted. Said he missed the architecture from back home."
She shuffled her feet nervously. "A-anyway, you should head back now. My mom might see you and get the wrong idea..."
Too late.
A curtain fluttered on the second floor. Behind the glass stood a woman with long, flowing hair and features nearly identical to Eriri's—just a touch more mature, elegant. Their eyes met.
Eriri's heart froze. Oh no. Not her.
"Nozomi, hurry up and go! I'll see you later, okay?!" she hissed.
But before he could even move, the front door opened.
A gentle, floral breeze greeted them as a stunning woman stepped out, radiating a mature charm that made Eriri's teen aura seem like child's play.
"Ara~ Eriri, what a surprise. Bringing home such a handsome boy and not even offering him tea? That's hardly polite."
Eriri nearly exploded. "M-MOM!! What are you doing?! Let him go already—he has stuff to do!"
Sayuri Sawamura, the epitome of graceful chaos, gave Nozomi a dazzling smile and completely ignored her daughter's protest. "You must be Nozomi, right? You're even cuter up close. My, my~ Eriri, you've got good taste."
Nozomi gave a wry smile. "Actually, I was just on my way back..."
"Oh nonsense! You're already here. At least come in for a little snack. Besides... you walked my daughter all the way home. That deserves a proper thank you."
Before he could reply, Sayuri had linked her arm through his and practically dragged him into the house with surprising strength.
Eriri could only watch, flustered and mortified. "I'm so sorry! I swear I didn't plan this!"
"It's fine," Nozomi replied, although the awkwardness in his voice was clear.
Minutes later, he found himself sitting on the edge of Eriri's bed, blinking at the sight of her room.
It was pink. Very pink.
Bookshelves lined the walls, stuffed with manga, light novels, and—he noticed with amusement—fan-drawn comics with her signature art style. Her secret world laid bare.
Nozomi chuckled. "Kashiwagi Eri in the flesh, huh?"
Just then, the door creaked open.
Eriri stepped in, hair damp, wrapped in a towel that clung tightly to her frame. Her fair shoulders shimmered with droplets.
Their eyes met.
"Oh. Uh. Good evening, Sawamura-san," Nozomi said, trying very hard to look anywhere but directly at her.
"AHHHH?!" Eriri screamed, yanking the towel tighter. "W-What are you doing here?! You pervert! Don't look!! Get out!!"
She lunged forward, trying to push him out, but her foot slipped on a damp spot.
"Wah!"
She crashed into him. They fell backward—Eriri landing right on top of him.
Just then, the door opened again.
"I brought tea and some strawberry mochi—"
Sayuri stepped in and froze, plate in hand.
There was a beat of silence.
Eriri was straddling Nozomi.
Sayuri blinked, then covered her mouth with a soft giggle. "Oh my~ I'll come back later. You kids have fun."
She closed the door.
Click.
The sound of the latch echoed like a death knell.
Eriri was crimson.
Nozomi looked like his soul had left his body.
"I... I swear it's not what it looks like!" Eriri wailed. "Mom!! Listen to me!!"
But then she felt something—something against her thigh.
She froze.
Her eyes slid downward. Her face turned beet red.
"Y-Y-You PERVERT!!!"
Her voice rang through the villa like a meteor crashing into Earth.
Somewhere, Sayuri giggled behind the door.
She was going to enjoy having Nozomi around.