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Chapter 31: The Akihabara Eye Test
"Shut up! I'm wasting a whole day of rest to come out to Akihabara with you. You should just be grateful!"
For some reason, Eriri seemed incredibly irritable the moment she arrived. Ryusei Kiryu had arrived early and hadn't kept her waiting, but he decided not to push for answers. He knew that the psychological state of a teenage girl was a complex, ever-shifting landscape. As long as she had shown up, he was satisfied.
Ryusei had never been to Akihabara. While he could navigate with his phone, a local guide—especially one as familiar with the district as Eriri—was invaluable during a crowded holiday. Moreover, he needed more opportunities to interact with the "Heroines" to understand the system's "check-in" mechanics.
After a few moments of tense silence, Ryusei pointed toward a nearby vending machine. "I'm going to buy water. Senpai, do you want anything?"
Eriri snorted. "I want coffee."
"Alright."
A moment later, he returned with a bottle of coffee and a bottle of water. He opened the coffee for her first before handing it over.
[Ding—] 10 copper coins. [Wallet: 0 gold, 10 silver, 93 copper]
Eriri took a sip, and the caffeine seemed to take the edge off her anger. Ryusei took a drink of his water and said softly, "Senpai, you might have misunderstood something yesterday. The Sayuri I mentioned on Line isn't Mrs. Sawamura. She's the landlady of my apartment."
"Huh?"
"I meant that if you were busy, I would ask her to accompany me instead." Ryusei calmly showed her his contact list. "See? Miss Sayuri."
Eriri stared at the screen. Silence stretched between them before her face flushed a deep crimson. Oh no, oh no!
"You... you scoundrel! Why didn't you explain that then?"
"I didn't think of it until I saw how angry you were today. I thought you had just changed your mind about coming."
"I... I didn't misunderstand anything!" she stammered, unable to admit she had been tricked by her own imagination. "I just wanted to come myself, so I changed my mind. I'm not angry because of you!"
"Oh, that's good. The train is here, Senpai."
Eriri practically bolted onto the subway to escape the awkwardness. Since it was Saturday, the train was packed. Eriri, being quite petite, struggled to reach the overhead handrail. Ryusei walked to the window, used his frame to carve out a small pocket of space, and beckoned her over. "Senpai, stay here."
She hesitated, looking at the crowded carriage, before choosing to stand near him. At least he's reliable, she thought.
"Senpai." Ryusei called her name softly.
"Hmm?" She looked up and met his eyes. They were exceptionally bright—spirited and clear. She found herself lost in them for a second before realization hit. Wait! Why is he so close? Our faces are almost touching!
Hemmed in by his arms against the wall of the train, her face turned bright red. Is he trying to kiss me? This pervert! I misjudged him!
But then Ryusei spoke with a serious expression. "Senpai, are you wearing contact lenses?"
"What do you want? Go away! Stay away from me!"
"Alright, I apologize." Ryusei immediately stepped back, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just curious about your eyes."
As the pressure dissipated, Eriri relaxed slightly, though she remained annoyed. "Curious about what? Haven't you seen a nearsighted person in contacts before?"
"I have. I was just confirming you were nearsighted," Ryusei said with a smile.
"You scoundrel, are you making fun of me?"
"Not at all. I was just wondering... look at my eyes."
She looked. They really were striking. "What about them?"
"My eyesight is excellent. I can see very far because I do Eye Protection Exercises every day." He began explaining the concept of the exercises.
Eriri looked suspicious. "You're saying your vision is this good just because of some exercises? Then why are there so many nearsighted people in your country?"
She's sharper than people give her credit for, Ryusei thought. He chuckled. "Because the exercises I know are different. If you doubt me, we can just pretend I never said anything."
He turned to look out the window. Eriri stayed silent, lost in thought until the train arrived at Akihabara. Once they stepped onto the platform and reached the district entrance, she stopped him.
"Ryusei Kiryu."
"Hmm? What is it, Senpai?"
She pointed to a tall building in the distance. "Can you see the text on that advertisement?"
Ryusei followed her finger. After a few seconds, he shook his head. "It's too far. I can't make it out."
Eriri tsked. "And here I thought your eyesight was so great."
She started walking away, her steps a bit lighter, but Ryusei remained still. "I understand now."
"Understand what?"
She turned back to see Ryusei closing his eyes. He placed his hands around his eyes and began a series of rhythmic rubbing and pressing motions.
"Junior? What are you doing? Are those the exercises?"
Ryusei didn't answer, focusing intently on the movements. Eriri walked back and watched him curiously. The motions were slow and deliberate, yet she found she couldn't quite memorize the sequence.
Ten minutes later, Ryusei lowered his hands and opened his eyes. They were even more vibrant than before.
"Akihabara's heartbeat, shines only for you..." he recited slowly.
"What?"
"That's the slogan on the sign. I can see it clearly now."
Eriri looked at the distant building, then back at him, her eyes wide with disbelief.