After seeing the Line notification, Aki Tomoya casually placed the school bag in his hand on the living room sofa. He didn't rush to check the message Eriri sent on Line, but instead put the instant bento he bought on the way home into the microwave to heat.
His parents were on a business trip and wouldn't be back until the end of the month at the earliest. The busyness of office workers was reflected here; after just enjoying a Golden Week, the subsequent period was filled with busy work.
The sound of the microwave working echoed in the quiet kitchen. Aki Tomoya clicked on Eriri's avatar on Line.
"Are you there?"
Pfft!
Forgive Aki Tomoya for being rude, but since he was the only one at home, he really couldn't help but laugh out loud.
With just two words, he could probably imagine what Eriri looked like right now.
That tsundere young lady, she had a day like this too...
She was probably squatting on a chair right now, holding her phone tightly and staring at it intently, waiting for a reply with full concentration.
Imagining that scene, Aki Tomoya couldn't help but laugh.
"Preparing dinner, I need to study after eating. If you have anything to say, say it now, I have time."
Aki Tomoya replied slowly on Line.
By replying like this, he was telling Eriri that it was best to get straight to the point if she had anything to say now.
"That... Kasumigaoka, that woman, contacted me..."
Dot dot dot dot, hurry up and continue! Explain things clearly!
Aki Tomoya couldn't help but roll his eyes. He wasn't a god, who would know what was going on if she was so vague!
"And then?"
Get to the point, Eririi Spencer Sawamura!
If you don't speak clearly, it's uncomfortable for both sides.
"It's about her new work!!!! That guy suddenly came to me and said she wanted to collaborate with me. I really don't know what that guy is thinking [○?｀Д′? ○]!"
On Eriri's side, after sending the message, she buried her head in her knees weakly.
"I... I said it..."
After saying it out loud, Eriri seemed to be a little relieved.
Since being reminded by her Mother, Sawamura Sayuri, last time, if she really had the self-awareness of a childhood friend or a friend, it would be best not to bother others when they didn't have time.
So Eriri asked at that time, how would she know when Aki Tomoya had time?
She didn't know, and she didn't dare to ask...
At that time, Sawamura Sayuri's advice to her was not to overthink it. Originally, it wasn't a big deal, but overthinking would make it more troublesome.
As for how to do it specifically, Sawamura Sayuri didn't say much, only told her to be more mindful.
Afterwards, Eriri thought about it and also found that during someone's exam preparation period, if she didn't confirm whether the other person was free, it would definitely be wrong to bother them rashly.
In fact, the reason Eriri hesitated was also because of Kasumigaoka Utaha's matter.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's proposal, she really didn't know whether to accept it or not. After all, as a creator, she really wanted to collaborate with the other party.
But in Eriri's eyes, her actions were a bit strange, simply put, they were a bit inconsistent compared to before.
Since Kasumigaoka Utaha's change was after that rumor, Eriri felt it was necessary to ask Aki Tomoya about this matter.
Whether it was because the other party was a party to that incident, or because she still wanted to take the childhood friend's opinion as a reference, Eriri felt that contacting the other party when the school was closed, that is, when Aki Tomoya left the library and went home, should be an appropriate time.
It was just that when the words were on the tip of her tongue just now, Eriri also spoke vaguely at first.
"New work collaboration?"
Aki Tomoya was slightly surprised, but this surprise didn't last long.
If it were the old Aki Tomoya, he would probably be very excited about the collaboration between Kasumi Shiko and Kashiwagi Eri.
However, now, what did this have to do with him?
Simply as someone he knew, although their collaboration surprised him a little, Aki Tomoya didn't think he could offer any good advice on this matter.
"Shouldn't you be asking yourself about this? Wouldn't it be better to ask Kashiwagi Eri properly?"
Aki Tomoya replied.
He wasn't the one collaborating with Kasumi Shiko. If he were to offer any professional advice, to be honest, he didn't have the inclination to think about it.
If he had to say something, he could only say: "There's nothing wrong with it, right?"
At least the topic was raised, which would keep the public anticipating.
In this regard, there was actually nothing wrong with it.
"I ask myself?"
Eriri tilted her head and looked at the reply on Line.
She held her smartphone in her right hand and restlessly fiddled with her golden ponytail with her left hand.
Aki Tomoya's words were telling her to decide for herself, the key was whether she wanted to collaborate with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
In such matters, the other party had no responsibility to make a decision for her.
As for herself, does she want to collaborate with Kasumigaoka Utaha?
There's no need to overthink this question. Purely as a creator, under the identity of Kashiwagi Eri, Eriri's creative drive is pushing her to accept this proposal.
After all, she really likes Kasumi Shiko's works. If there's an opportunity to collaborate, as a creator, it's impossible for her not to be tempted.
So, considering the situation, is it reasonable and logical to give a reply now?
"My only friendly advice is this. How you decide is up to you! By the way, you're not still dwelling on what happened in elementary school, are you?"
With a ding, the microwave finished heating. Aki Tomoya sent the message and then opened the microwave to take out the bento.
Meanwhile, Eriri received Aki Tomoya's reply.
When she saw the last paragraph, she was stunned.
Bringing up what happened in elementary school at this moment choked Eriri.
Now she didn't know what to say in response.
After that incident in elementary school, their relationship was actually no longer normal. It took many years to resume normal communication.
Should it be said who betrayed whom?
Eriri didn't know how to deal with it, but if possible, as someone who once shared the same aspirations, she had always wanted to restore their relationship to normal.
But the abnormal friendship, which was maintained solely by the nature of childhood friends, had become precarious after being exposed by Aki Tomoya.
"..."
Not knowing how to reply, Eriri could only respond with a string of meaningless dots.
"As childhood friends, our communication is really troublesome. Talking to you, both in the past and now, is really tiring. Regarding what happened when we were little, from my perspective now, you weren't wrong, and I wasn't wrong. I've let it go, have you?"
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