At Toyogasaki Academy, Kasumigaoka Utaha had no mind for classes today. Because she had just finished pulling an all-nighter to complete the third volume of Love Metronome, class could only be used for catching up on sleep.
After finally making it through to the end of the school day and preparing to go home and rest, Kasumigaoka Utaha actually! saw Uchiha Ryo in the distance, waiting for her at the school gate.
He... what is he doing at the school!
The thought of their "experimental material gathering" last time made Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart beat a little faster.
"No! Utaha, you can't be like this. So what if he teased you on your simulated date? You have to tease him back!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha hurriedly ran back into the school building, rushed into the restroom, and began talking to herself in the mirror.
"Huh? What are you being crazy about over here?"
The restroom door was pushed open, and a certain girl with blonde twin-tails saw Kasumigaoka Utaha hiding and talking to herself.
"Sawamura? Hehe, my apologies. I was just a little excited because I saw my boyfriend come to pick me up from school. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot that because of your 'work', Eriri-san, you don't dare to find a boyfriend, do you~"
Sawamura Spencer Eriri gritted her teeth, pointed a finger at Kasumigaoka Utaha, her face full of disdain.
"Your boyfriend? Don't tell me you've latched onto some sugar daddy~ Could it be a working adult from society, maybe an old man?! I never thought you were this kind of person."
Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted coldly. "I'm not in the mood to argue with you right now. After all, my boyfriend is waiting for me outside."
Seeing Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly leave the restroom, Eriri followed her out, disbelieving.
She wanted to see for herself what kind of boyfriend Kasumigaoka Utaha had found.
At the Toyogasaki school gate, gazing at Uchiha Ryo's near-perfect side profile, Eriri seemed to, no, she could already hear Kasumigaoka Utaha's mocking laughter.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "He's a first-year junior from Shuchiin. Very handsome, right?"
Eriri: "Hmph! (He is pretty handsome). But what's so great about having a boyfriend...."
Kasumigaoka Utaha covered her small mouth. "I'm sorry, Eriri-san. I forgot you don't have many male friends. Oh dear~ Eriri-san doesn't like women, does she? It seems I need to keep my distance."
"Kasu-mi-ga-oka!!"
Eriri turned her head. "I have male friends too, okay? And a childhood friend at that. He's coming to pick me up later too."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's face was full of disdain. What childhood friend could compare to her Teacher Naruto?
But the next moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression froze. Because she realized Uchiha Ryo wasn't there to pick her up at all....
Looking at Uchiha Ryo and Takashi chatting and laughing not far away, Eriri clutched her stomach and laughed.
"Your boyfriend? Here to pick you up? Tsk, tsk, isn't that Natsume-kun from our class? Oh my, two handsome boys walking together. I really want to draw it~ (and maybe add some plot I'm good at)."
Kasumigaoka Utaha's face was dark. At the same time, Eriri said even more arrogantly.
"Ah, my childhood friend is here too!"
A certain otaku with glasses was seen running over quickly. He passed by Eriri without a thought of greeting her, rushed straight out of the school gate, and blocked Takashi and Uchiha Ryo's path.
"Natsume! And you, the nameless Shuchiin student from last time! I must invite you to join my game project today. We have a professional artist. As long as you're willing to be the models for the male leads...."
Takashi shook his head with some embarrassment.
"Sorry, Aki-kun. I'm not very interested in the game you're talking about."
Uchiha Ryo narrowed his eyes. "Takashi, does he bother you often at school?"
Takashi: "Uh, because we're in the same class, he occasionally comes over to invite me to join his game project."
Uchiha Ryo nodded. He was prepared to have a "tactful" chat with this guy named Aki Tomoya. There's nothing wrong with liking the 2D world, but pestering people is where you're wrong.
"Get lost. A good dog doesn't block the way. Takashi and I are going home."
Aki Tomoya was stunned. Takashi also shook his head helplessly. He couldn't control Ryo-nii anyway, so Aki-kun would just have to bear it himself.
"Wait a minute, you two! I sincerely want to invite you to complete this epic game together. Don't worry, I've already talked to the female lead. All we're missing is the appearance of the male leads!"
Aki Tomoya spoke eloquently, constantly talking about the masterpiece of a game he wanted to create.
Uchiha Ryo nodded, then glared at him.
"Let's go, Takashi. We're going back."
Takashi: "Um... is Aki-kun alright?"
The two gradually walked away, leaving only the dazed Aki Tomoya behind.
Not far away, Kasumigaoka Utaha shook her head. "Your childhood friend? Heh."
Eriri's fists clenched, but this was school, after all. And only Kasumigaoka knew about her relationship with Aki Tomoya.
And at that moment, at the school gate not far away.
Aki Tomoya: "Woof! Woof woof—"
Afterward, the Toyogasaki Newspaper Club immediately published a new piece of news on the campus forum. [Shocking! A certain first-year with the surname Aki barked like a dog for a minute at the school gate. What on earth was the reason?]
Because in the world of the genjutsu, he really thought he had become a dog.
Uchiha Ryo said casually, "Takashi, if you run into this kind of persistent guy at school in the future, just refuse him sternly. If he still pesters you, come find me."
.....
"Welcome home, Takashi!"
"Welcome home, Ryo! Have you been doing alright living on your own? Remember to come home and visit often."
In the yard of Takashi's house, Aunt Touko came up and took the two's bags.
"Takashi, Ryo, I've already made dinner. Come in and eat in a bit. But speaking of which, did you two plant this cherry blossom tree?"
Takashi nodded. "Ryo-nii helped me plant it. I really like this cherry blossom tree...."
Fujiwara Touko smiled. "Is that so? Planting a cherry blossom tree in our own yard, we'll be able to see the cherry blossoms bloom up close in the future."
At this time, Fujiwara Shigeru also walked out of the room. "A cherry blossom tree, huh? That's nice. I'll be able to enjoy the cherry blossoms and drink sake in the garden in the future."
Takashi: "Aunt Touko, Uncle Shigeru, I believe it will be very beautiful when all the cherry blossoms are in full bloom."
Fujiwara Shigeru nodded, then patted Takashi and Uchiha Ryo. "Even if the cherry blossoms are beautiful, come inside and eat first."
Takashi gave a sound of agreement, but before walking into the room, he turned his head and looked at the youkai, Rakuzakura, sitting on the cherry blossom tree.
"Welcome home, Rakuzakura."