That was around May last year. After hearing that Aki Tomoya, or rather Taki, was already thinking about transferring the 'love metronome' fan website, Kasumigaoka Utaha found him under the name of another fan, expressing that she could take over.
Since Aki Tomoya didn't even want this fan website anymore, Kasumigaoka Utaha also didn't want it to fall into someone else's hands.
Using someone else's account and name, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Aki Tomoya quickly agreed on a price.
However, just when they had agreed on the price, Aki Tomoya suddenly changed his mind.
For some reason, he said he wouldn't sell it anymore and could just give it to her directly. She would only need to bear the subsequent operation costs of the website, including server rental fees.
With the change in website ownership, Kasumigaoka Utaha believed she hadn't been exposed and had no reason to be exposed, but she just didn't understand why at the last moment, Aki Tomoya didn't transfer the website by selling it, but rather it seemed more like a free gift.
One must know that the website still had considerable value. If Aki Tomoya were willing, he could have sold it for a good price among Kasumigaoka Utaha's fans.
However, this matter no longer mattered, for both sides.
"So, you didn't cause me any trouble, did you, Eriri?"
At home on Sunday, Aki Tomoya asked the visiting Eriri.
He still remembered giving her the account before.
After giving the account away, Aki Tomoya considered it to have nothing to do with him anymore.
Just don't cause him any trouble, that's all.
"It was recognized immediately, but at least Taki could make her read it, right?"
Eriri pouted. The other party had reminded her so many times, she couldn't possibly pretend not to hear.
At the same time, she also sighed about the power of the enthusiastic fan Taki.
To be able to make Kasumigaoka Utaha read everything Machida Sonoko wrote, that account had completed its mission.
"It finally served some purpose, huh?"
Aki Tomoya poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of Eriri.
"No cola?"
"No."
Otaku happy water, unfortunately, not here.
"Speaking of which, Machida-san really has a good temper..."
At this moment, Eriri sighed again.
Such a good-tempered editor, being able to tolerate that extent, Eriri had witnessed it.
Upon hearing this, Aki Tomoya casually replied, "Temper and personality are just one aspect. Machida-san needs you two right now."
"Needs us?"
"Although I don't know the situation with your works, for Machida-san, this is a good bargaining chip, but if something goes wrong, it could also become leverage against her. Machida-san was probably in a dilemma before, too."
Rather than saying she lacked the dignity of an editor, it's more accurate to say that along with her good temper, there was also a sense of forbearance.
"But Machida-san is also good enough. If it were someone else, that Senior would probably be completely taken advantage of, Eriri."
Speaking of this, Aki Tomoya sighed.
"But, they really are a perfect match, those two..."
"You mean Kasumigaoka and Machida-san?"
Eriri looked at Aki Tomoya with confusion at this moment, curious about the reason he said that.
"Well, as long as that person doesn't become a second Hongzaka Akane, I don't think Machida-san will give up on her, but who can say for sure about the future?"
Aki Tomoya shrugged, saying in a half-joking tone.
He heard from Hashima Iori that Hongzaka Akane and Machida Sonoko were classmates in University.
The moment he actually met Hongzaka Akane, Aki Tomoya confirmed that he couldn't bring himself to like that person.
ba yi si jiu ling san qi ba jiu
Looking at Hongzaka Akane was like seeing another Kasumigaoka Utaha with maxed-out self-awareness.
At that time, Aki Tomoya was wondering if Kasumigaoka Utaha really developed in the direction of Hongzaka Akane, would Machida Sonoko explode?
Aki Tomoya saw many similar things in both Hongzaka Akane and Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Hongzaka Akane, Eriri, are you planning to accept her invitation? You could go play around in her club, but I don't really recommend it."
"Why? Hongzaka Akane's club is at least top-tier in the industry, isn't it?"
"The industry, huh? The place you're going after graduating high school is much better than Hongzaka Akane's club."
Tokyo University of the Arts, with Eriri's talent, finding a national treasure-level old monster to teach her for two years would be better than being in Hongzaka Akane's club.
Moreover, that person is too strong-willed; if Eriri went, to put it bluntly, she'd still just be working part-time.
"But if you're focused on the industry, you can pretend I didn't say anything."
Of course, if Eriri is still thinking of going in that direction, Hongzaka Akane can indeed help Eriri quite a bit.
Just as Machida Sonoko thought, Hongzaka Akane could also help Kasumigaoka Utaha.
But it's impossible for the current Kasumigaoka Utaha to be with Hongzaka Akane.
She, who even has a trust crisis with Machida Sonoko now, is even less likely to accept help from Hongzaka Akane.
"Why did this suddenly turn into life counseling?"
Eriri scratched her head and laughed at this moment.
What was originally just Sunday small talk ended up with Aki Tomoya explaining his suggestions to her.
This scene became as if they were discussing her future path.
However, regarding her path, although she had already discussed with her Mother Sawamura Sayuri about going to the National Tokyo University of the Arts, Eriri hadn't really thought about the too distant future.
For Eriri now, the happiest and also most troublesome thing is probably the new work with Kasumigaoka Utaha.
As for Hongzaka Akane and such, Eriri wasn't really interested.
It was just the issue with Kasumigaoka Utaha that made her a little concerned.
"I'll just focus on what's in front of me, okay?"
Eriri didn't really want to think about things too far in the future.
Being able to stay in Tokyo after graduation, not returning to her home country or studying abroad elsewhere, and still being able to do what she likes, there wasn't much more to ask for.
"Perhaps this is where I'm different from Aki Tomoya; sometimes I don't even need to think about the future..."
Eriri let out a bitter laugh at this moment.
Things like privilege are innate, and while enjoying such privilege, to say it's not what she wanted... thinking about it now, wasn't that thought foolish?
Although she couldn't say she accepted it with a clear conscience, Eriri's understanding of her environment was much greater than before.
"Didn't you think it through very clearly?"
Aki Tomoya looked at his childhood friend in surprise.
Having this self-awareness meant that Eriri could already see many things.
Born into such an environment, for the past decade or so, Eriri's perspective was limited to a narrow viewpoint, which was something difficult to understand.
"...But, thinking about being different from you is actually something to regret, isn't it?"
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