Chapter 143: Where Did You Learn That?
In the afternoon, everyone gathered together and played Monopoly and Mario Party all afternoon, filled with laughter. Although there wasn't as much physical activity as playing outside, it was still very joyful.
At 4 o'clock, everyone said their goodbyes and left Kaede and Eriri's new home.
Before leaving, Usami pulled Eriri aside and whispered, "Eriri, remember, ask Asakura-kun to help me ask too."
"I know, Mizuki." Eriri replied with a wry smile. "But, for this kind of thing, it mainly depends on the person themselves. I can't give you too much advice!"
"Hehe, I know, I know. Then I'm off!"
Waving, and watching Usami leave, Eriri turned around and met Kaede's curious gaze.
"Uh... I'll tell you later!"
Back inside, the two tidied up the living room and then went directly to the studio.
Without turning on the computer, Kaede sat on the sofa inside and beckoned to Eriri.
Seeing this, Eriri could only walk over with a red face and lean into Kaede's embrace.
"Don't move around, we still have to prepare dinner later."
"Of course, just chatting." He said this, but the next second Kaede couldn't help but kiss Eriri's earlobe.
The sudden action made Eriri twitch her neck from the tickle, then turn to glare at Kaede: "Didn't you say we were just chatting?"
"We can still chat like this."
"Kaede-kun!"
"Hahaha, alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Stroking her head, Kaede smiled and said, "Usami's matter, it must be related to Uchimaki, right?"
Eriri nodded and explained what had happened that morning with a light chuckle.
After listening, Kaede couldn't help but pinch Eriri's cheek and say, "You, in such a short time, how did you become so mischievous?"
"Hmph, isn't it all from learning from you, Kaede-kun?"
"Eh? Did I?"
"Didn't you?"
"Emm~~~~"
Seeing Kaede's hesitant look, Eriri pouted and turned around, placing both hands directly on Kaede's cheeks and saying, "What kind of expression is that!"
Unfortunately, what greeted Eriri was still Kaede's smiling face, showing that her threat had no effect at all.
On the contrary, just looking at Eriri's adorable huffy expression, Kaede had no complaints even if he just sat there motionlessly.
Looking at Kaede's gaze fixed on her, Eriri's hands eventually stopped moving, and she said with a slight blush, "What is it, that look..."
Listening to Eriri's words, Kaede smiled and said, "Eriri, can you see anything in my eyes?"
"Hm?"
Eriri tilted her head in confusion and looked into Kaede's eyes, saying, "There's nothing."
"There is." Kaede straightened up slightly, leaned a few inches closer to Eriri, and whispered, "My eyes are full of you."
"Ugh... Don't, don't say such cheesy things!"
"It's just an emotional expression, how can you call it cheesy?"
He stroked Eriri's cheek, his gentle movements making Eriri unable to avoid him. Even though similar things had happened several times before in Kaede's bedroom, it still made Eriri feel her heart race.
Pursing her lips, Eriri weakly said, "Kaede-kun, where did you learn all this..."
"Oh? Is that what Eriri thinks?"
Kaede raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "But honestly, I haven't gone to learn such things. And you should know, some words, just by simply learning and imitating, cannot move others. It relies on inner feelings; language is just a medium for expression.'Silence is golden' or something, I think we can achieve that too, but I still believe that language can help Eriri understand better."
Listening to Kaede's words, Eriri felt that she couldn't stay there any longer, otherwise, no matter what happened next, she seemed unable to refuse.
With a flushed face, Eriri quickly got up and ran to the studio door. As she opened the door, she turned and said, "I'll go prepare dinner. We ate a lot of greasy food at noon, so how about I make something light for dinner?"
Kaede smiled and nodded, not moving, watching Eriri run out.
It wasn't until the door closed that Kaede let out a breath and said, a little nervously, "Even though those words were thought of on the spur of the moment, it's still embarrassing to say them out loud. I thought I had a thick skin, but in this situation, it's impossible not to be affected myself."
After a pause, Kaede smiled with emotion: "But, it's good as long as it was conveyed. I guess Dad is Dad after all. No wonder he was able to win Mom over back then. He looks like he studied economics, but he really knows a lot of things."
As if on cue, Kaede's phone rang. It was his dad's call.
After answering, Kaede smiled and said, "Dad, why did you think of calling me? You shouldn't be off work yet, right?"
"I'm not off work yet, but I just finished some things, so I'm relatively free."
Asakura Kiichi, sitting in his office, held his phone and said, "Kaede, are you alone right now? Have your classmates all gone home?"
"Yes, they've all gone home. Eriri went to prepare dinner for today."
"That's perfect, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Hmm... Are you sure you're alone?"
Kaede was a little confused. He glanced at the closed room door and said, "Yes, it's just me."
"That's good. Actually, it's just one thing. I put something in the cabinet by your bed in your bedroom. Just go and see for yourself. I won't say more. Remember to come back for dinner when you have time, don't always make your mother go over. Alright, I'm hanging up. Also, don't tell your mother."
The call ended, and Kaede looked at his phone, his confusion deepening.
"In the cabinet? Something was put there?"
Kaede thought, his dad did indeed take time off work those two days after buying the house to help him set things up, but he really hadn't seen what exactly was put there.
So, Kaede got up and went to his room, opening the drawer of the bedside cabinet in his bedroom that he hadn't really used yet.
"..."
The things inside were indeed just some items, as his dad had said, but these things… Kaede picked up one box and looked at the word "ultra-thin" marked on it, not knowing what to say.
"Dad… I really didn't expect these things to be put here by you. If you hadn't said anything, I probably would have thought it was Mom's idea if I accidentally found them."
Sighing, Kaede quickly put the items back and locked the drawer.
Eriri absolutely couldn't see them.