After school.
Takumi Yuuya headed home first, changed into fresh clothes, and waited for Sawamura Eriri.
Not long after—
The doorbell rang.
Yuuya opened the door to find Eriri standing outside.
"Come in. Let's plan which light novels to buy," Yuuya said with a smile.
"You didn't already plan that yourself?" Eriri blinked in surprise.
"I just wanted an excuse to go shopping with you. The light novels are secondary."
"…!"
Eriri's cheeks flushed pink.
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +30.
She slipped off her shoes, changed into house slippers, and followed him into the living room.
Yuuya handed her a drink and sat beside her, opening his laptop.
"Where should I look?"
"Do you want to read professional blogger recommendations, or browse yourself?"
"I'll browse."
"Then check out the Fushikawa Library site. It's the biggest light novel hub right now, tons of up-and-coming authors. I've even collaborated with some of them, drawing covers for bestsellers."
"Fushikawa… I've heard of it."
The name reminded Yuuya of someone. He hadn't met her yet, but he knew she attended Sobu High as well. With Eriri and Aki Tomoya there too, that "random background heroine" must be in another class.
Maybe she'd be his next target.
…
On the site, Yuuya picked a few light novels that caught his interest.
He and Eriri took a taxi to the largest bookstore nearby.
The place was buzzing with light novel readers.
Right at the entrance, bestsellers were stacked in towers.
Easy pickups.
Yuuya grabbed a few, continuing deeper inside.
When they passed a certain section, Yuuya glanced at the sign, stepped in without hesitation.
Eriri froze, face heating up, but couldn't bring herself to stop him. She silently watched.
Yuuya browsed for a while, then slipped one volume among his earlier picks.
After leaving that section, Eriri pretended she hadn't seen anything, continuing her own selections.
Yuuya came back to her side.
"Honestly, none of these match up to your art."
"…!"
Eriri ducked her head, cheeks crimson.
That wasn't the kind of praise she wanted… but it still made her heart pound.
…
At the register, they queued together.
When it was finally Yuuya's turn, he froze.
The cashier was a girl with sleek black hair, pale skin, delicate features—and a tiny mole at the corner of her eye.
Even in the plain work uniform, her figure stood out.
"Nine thousand yen," she said softly.
Yuuya handed over a ten-thousand-yen bill.
"Your change, one thousand yen."
She returned it politely.
Yuuya accepted, said nothing, and stepped aside with his bag.
But his eyes lingered.
So it was her.
Gokou Ruri—the infamous "Kuroneko."
She clearly wasn't a Sobu student. This bookstore was too far for that. A quick search on his phone confirmed: only one high school was close by.
"She's really pretty. Wasn't it an old guy working here before?" Eriri remarked.
"Yeah, but still—not as cute as you." Yuuya slipped his phone away.
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +50.
Books in hand, they moved on to a dessert café.
Afterward, they played crane games on the mall's first floor. Yuuya spent a thousand yen to win Eriri a rabbit plush.
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +50.
…
Outside Eriri's home.
"Want to come in for tea?" she asked shyly.
"I'll visit again this weekend if you're free." Yuuya smiled.
"Then… tomorrow at lunch, can we eat together?"
"If you hug me right now, I'll promise."
Eriri didn't hesitate—she wrapped her arms around him.
Yuuya held her close, stroking her hair.
After a long moment, she lifted her face.
"Tomorrow, let me bring your lunch, alright?"
"Perfect. I'll tell the maid she's off duty tomorrow."
Yuuya agreed without pause.
Her eyes sparkled as she nestled against him.
"I… I think I might already—"
"Eriri."
A voice came from behind.
Eriri jumped.
Turning, she saw her mother, Sawamura Sayuri, smiling behind a folding fan.
Yuuya had already let go.
Eriri froze for a few seconds before pulling away.
"I-It's not what it looks like, we were just—"
"I'm courting Eriri," Yuuya cut in smoothly.
Affection from Sawamura Eriri +50.
"Looks like you're close to winning her over," Sayuri teased.
"Not yet. I'm still trying," Yuuya said modestly.
Eriri's heart thumped. She'd wanted to say she was already starting to fall for him, but her mother's timing had ruined the moment.
"Why not come in? Have some tea? Or even stay the night?" Sayuri winked.
"Thank you, but maybe next time. I've got other matters tonight." Yuuya bowed politely.
"Then take care on your way home."
"See you. Eriri, tomorrow."
…
Back at home.
Yuuya noticed Kawasaki Saki's shoes by the entryway.
He switched to slippers, headed toward the kitchen.
"I bought dessert. Make sure you eat some later."
"Dinner'll still take a while," Saki replied with a smile.
Yuuya set the sweets in the fridge, then flopped onto the sofa and messaged Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Yukino, don't bother making me a lunch tomorrow. Another girl's bringing me one."
Half a minute later, she replied.
Yuuya opened it, stunned.
I'm your girlfriend. Why let someone else make your lunch? Is mine not good enough?
He reread it several times before typing back.
"You seriously mean to be my girlfriend?"
I lost to you. I already agreed.
"And now you want to chase off the others?"
Yes.
"Yukino, you're moving fast."
I won't tell anyone, but I'll prove it through my actions. You made me your girlfriend, so I'll fulfill the role completely.
Yuuya's lips twitched.
So dutiful.
He thought for a moment, then typed:
"If you're really that committed… can I stay over tomorrow night?"
One minute later—
Yes.
Yuuya stared at her reply in silence.
..
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