Everyone in the classroom stared at the sudden uninvited guests. Aside from Murakami Yuu, all had surprised and doubtful expressions.
Totsuka Reita smiled happily, ignoring the tense atmosphere in the classroom, and walked beside Murakami Yuu with the person behind him:
"Did I come at a bad time?"
"No, you came at just the right time."
Murakami Yuu answered with a smile. After also raising his hand to greet the person behind him, he gestured for Totsuka Reita to stay calm, then faced Aki Tomoya whose brows were furrowing tighter and tighter:
"You just asked what will happen to the club after Eriri leaves, what will happen to the game production progress. My answer is - what does that have to do with her?"
"You..."
"Don't rush to refute. The fact itself is just like this. Think about it carefully, Aki-san. From the very beginning, from when you clamored about wanting to realize your dream, the path had already gone astray, hadn't it? Having a dream but not working hard yourself, instead wanting to completely rely on others.
The important character design and script design are all handled by others. What role did you play in it? Planner? Producer?
Don't make me laugh. When you made character design requests to Eriri, you only said ambiguous things. You couldn't provide any constructive requirements and could only let her improvise.
I heard it was the same with the plot text - only saying things like 'I'm not satisfied,' 'this isn't the feeling I want.'
Not even knowing what you want yourself - can you really deserve the title of producer?"
"Our matters don't need your interference!"
"Don't shout so loudly. I'm just giving you some suggestions. Back to the point - Eriri will cut ties with this club today. There won't be any surprises."
"On what grounds? I won't agree to Eriri leaving this club!"
"Your agreement isn't needed. To be blunt, your so-called club is just an unrecognized hobbyist organization at school. There's no need to say much to you - she can just leave directly."
"You bastard..."
"Calm down a bit, Ethics-kun. With your eyes glaring so wide - do you want to bite someone?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had been maintaining a cold, observing stance until now, walked over. Aki Tomoya took a deep breath and turned his head to the side without speaking, though hatred still floated in his eyes.
She didn't give him much attention but met Murakami Yuu's gaze instead. Her tone was light, revealing neither joy nor sorrow:
"Since Sawamura-san wants to leave the club, there should be a reason, right?"
"Right! How can she just leave for no reason!"
Aki Tomoya was suddenly awakened by her and hurriedly chimed in from the side.
This reaction made Kasumigaoka Utaha frown.
"Monthly exam."
Murakami Yuu had anticipated this and was unhurried:
"Last monthly exam results - Eriri's English subject wasn't ideal. Students should prioritize studies after all. Club activities are only supplementary. Is this withdrawal reason formal enough?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri who stood beside Murakami Yuu with her head lowered and silent, then nodded slightly as if convinced. She didn't continue saying anything, turned around, and returned to her previous seat without a word, picking up her novel collection again.
"Sen... senpai..."
Aki Tomoya seemed to still want her to help say something, but she clearly had no intention of interfering in this matter anymore and didn't even look up.
He looked toward Katou Megumi to the side. This girl with weak presence only shook her head slightly, expressionlessly indicating she was powerless.
How can you be like this! If Eriri leaves, how can our club continue to exist!
Aki Tomoya roared internally. He was unwilling. This small patch of heaven he had worked so hard to maintain and piece together was slowly collapsing and being destroyed from one corner.
"Eriri, please, our club can't do without you. If you leave, our club can't operate. At least... at least after the artwork is finished..."
Aki Tomoya changed his expression, becoming pitiful.
He began changing methods, no longer attacking head-on but employing appeasement policy:
"I beg you, please stay..."
He slowly knelt down, his head buried on the ground.
Well, seeing someone dogeza for the second time. Do shameless people all like doing this posture?
Murakami Yuu was disdainful.
Eriri's face showed reluctance. Just as she was about to say something, Murakami Yuu grabbed her hand. This intimate physical contact instantly drew her emotions elsewhere.
Murakami Yuu looked at her and smiled, indicating to leave everything to him to handle. Eriri nodded with a red face. Only the hand gripped together with his tightened slightly.
"Kneeling is useless. Eriri will leave this club today, but she won't cause trouble for other club members. So someone else will replace her artist position in the club."
Totsuka Reita pushed the person behind him before Aki Tomoya who was straightening up. He had handsome features and wore slightly curled medium-long blonde hair.
Murakami Yuu introduced him to everyone in the doujin game club:
"This is Uchimaki Subaru-san from the art club. He possesses superior drawing experience and has won excellent awards in many competitions. After Eriri leaves, if you don't mind, he'll fill Eriri's artist position.
By the way, he's also a fanatical 2D otaku, so he should have considerable compatibility with your doujin game club. I imagine you should adapt to each other quickly. This way there shouldn't be any problems, right?"
After Murakami Yuu's introduction finished, Uchimaki Subaru bent at the waist toward everyone with low spirits and greeted them neither lightly nor heavily:
"I'm Uchimaki Subaru. Please take care of me from now on."
Aki Tomoya slowly climbed up from the ground himself, looking at him with a gloomy expression without speaking.
Eriri stared at Murakami Yuu. This development was beyond her expectations.
Murakami Yuu smiled at her, then turned to face Aki Tomoya:
"The general situation is like this. Eriri needs to withdraw from the club due to academic reasons. Considering her sudden departure would trouble everyone, she helped find an assistant with drawing skills no less than hers to replace her position.
This way, the doujin game club won't be affected. She can also leave with peace of mind to improve her academics. Are there any more questions?"
No one spoke.
"Well then, that's that. I still have matters to attend to. Please get along well from now on."
Murakami Yuu patted Uchimaki Subaru's shoulder:
"Subaru, I'm counting on you."
The latter nodded.
Having said that, without bothering about others' reactions anymore, Murakami Yuu held Eriri's hand, turned and walked toward the door. After Totsuka Reita exchanged a few laughing words with Uchimaki Subaru, he also turned and followed behind Murakami Yuu.
"Traitor..."
Aki Tomoya's body was trembling. Then using all his body's strength, he shouted loudly at the departing voices:
"TRAITOR!!!"
Eriri's figure paused for a moment. Seeing this, Murakami Yuu didn't say much, only smiled and lowered his head to draw close, letting their foreheads press together. After that, turning a deaf ear to Aki Tomoya's reaction, he walked out of the classroom without looking back.
After watching Murakami Yuu leave, Totsuka Reita turned back to look at Aki Tomoya who was still in an angry state. He pointed at him and laughed heartlessly:
"That student there - the way you're throwing a tantrum looks just like a dog."
...
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