A few days after Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha ran into Hashima Iori that day, they went to settle scores with Machida Sonoko.
Kasumigaoka Utaha felt it was absolutely necessary to suspect that Machida Sonoko had unknowingly sold her out.
This made her very unhappy. Even though Machida Sonoko was a good editor and a strong backer at Fujikawa Bookstore, some things truly left her speechless with anger.
The first formal invitation the two received from Hongzaka Akane was also recent, but whether or not to go was still under consideration.
Hongzaka Akane's circle was quite well-known in the industry.
However, compared to her offer, when Kasumigaoka Utaha was collaborating harmoniously with Eriri, she felt it really wasn't that enticing.
"I don't know, whatever."
Kasumigaoka Utaha replied coldly.
After leaving that sentence, Kasumigaoka Utaha walked towards the field.
The after-party is over, and the third-years also have things to be busy with.
Although it's not necessary to participate, they have to be present.
Seeing that Kasumigaoka Utaha had also left, Eriri sighed, and then chased after her.
Nobody is getting out of this after-party.
As for the matters concerning the two of them, Aki Tomoya didn't know, probably only hearing others mention names like Kasumi Shiko and Kashiwagi Eri.
The day after the after-party ended was the closing ceremony.
During the week leading up to the after-party and the closing ceremony, students were more relaxed than usual.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the closing ceremony. Aki Tomoya held his prepared speech and sat in his seat, waiting to go on stage.
"It's finally time, Commander!"
Kamigō Yoshihiko, who was sitting next to him, nudged his arm.
This time, the student representative was not Kasumigaoka Utaha, but Aki Tomoya. In Kamigō Yoshihiko's eyes, it seemed like a major event, like the changing of an era.
Aki Tomoya rolled his eyes at him, then ignored his friend.
After the student council president finished speaking and stepped down, the broadcast in the gymnasium sounded: "Please welcome the student representative, Second-year B Class, Aki Tomoya..."
When the broadcast in the gymnasium sounded, Aki Tomoya stood up from his seat and slowly walked towards the stage.
It wasn't Kasumigaoka Utaha; this change surprised everyone, but after thinking carefully, they immediately understood.
In the eyes of many, Aki Tomoya, at this moment, confidently took over the baton from Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had created a three-year legend at the school.
In reality, Aki Tomoya was just cooperating with the school's arrangements to make himself look a little more serious.
"Aki-kun from second year, I guess we'll only see Kasumigaoka-san on stage at the graduation ceremony from now on."
In Third-year D Class, Masumi Sakaguchi, a library committee member who had been troubled by Aki Tomoya multiple times in the first half of the year, mumbled. She cautiously glanced towards Kasumigaoka Utaha in Class C.
According to her guess, the person on stage and the person below the stage actually had an unknown relationship.
She was once in the same class as Kasumigaoka Utaha. Although in her eyes, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't remember her at all, she still saw every move Kasumigaoka Utaha made when she was competing with Aki Tomoya in the library.
Masumi Sakaguchi, curiously wondering what their relationship was, watched Kasumigaoka Utaha intently in the gymnasium filled with Aki Tomoya's voice.
And at this moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head and looked over, scaring the library committee member into immediately shrinking her head back.
"So scary!"
When she looked up again, the other person had already fixed her gaze on Aki Tomoya, who was giving his speech on stage.
Looking at Aki Tomoya on stage, Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression was extremely calm, but her eyes flickered, thinking about who knows what.
"Is he just going to become such a boring man?"
Boring...
Kasumigaoka Utaha really wanted to use this word to describe Aki Tomoya, who was giving his speech on stage at this moment.
However, remembering the hint of fatigue in Aki Tomoya's eyes when he passed by the third-year formation just now, Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't bring herself to be angry.
She wanted to be angry but couldn't. She didn't want to see this face, but when he appeared before her, she couldn't help but care.
"As expected, I should have just given that scoundrel a slap back then!"
It seemed it was because she hadn't gotten revenge on him yet that her heart was so restless.
But just as a sentence in Aki Tomoya's speech said, the third-year seniors will be leaving next year.
People who seem to have no connection in the future should not be bothered with now.
"Our work has been half successful, but I will never admit that it is to prove something to you."
Saying this somewhat stubbornly in her heart, Kasumigaoka Utaha, for some reason, looked towards Eriri in the second-year section at this moment.
Like most people, everyone would look at the person on stage, but many had never thought that the person standing on stage at this moment would be Aki Tomoya.
When he first became famous, it was definitely not for a good reputation.
To reach that position in just eight months, one has to admit that when his drive was used for this, the effect was equally outstanding.
The closing ceremony quickly ended after the student representative Aki Tomoya finished his speech.
"Tomorrow is Christmas, huh."
While others were leaving school one after another, Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha remained in the school's multimedia room after the closing ceremony.
She looked at the somewhat dim sky, pushed open the window, and the whistling cold wind blew in, making her instinctively hug herself tighter.
"It's a pity it doesn't snow much in Tokyo. If we're lucky this year, we might only see a light snowfall."
Kasumigaoka Utaha propped her head with her hand and said to Eriri by the window.
Christmas, it's a pity it won't be a white Christmas.
"Speaking of which, that guy Aki Tomoya rushed off to the Academy immediately after the closing ceremony. I wonder if he'll be free on New Year's Day."
New Year's Day in Japan, which is the New Year here.
On that day, many people will queue up to visit shrines. Traditional festivals like this are usually very lively.
"Your relationship with that guy is really good now."
"Just childhood friends."
"Just..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha softly repeated the three words in Eriri's sentence.
"Hurry up and let a snowflake fall! Since it's Christmas, it should be in season!"
Eriri complained to the gray sky.
She didn't notice the look in Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes behind her, which seemed to be filled with emotion.
And at this moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Let's go to Hongzaka Akane's place together."
"Eh? Have you decided? Didn't you have no interest at all before?"
Eriri turned back and looked at her in surprise.
You know, every time Kasumigaoka Utaha mentioned Hongzaka Akane before, except for the very beginning, she was very indifferent at other times.
Now, suddenly saying she wanted to accept the New Year's invitation made Eriri a little confused about what she was thinking.
"It's just an opportunity to get to know her. It's still five hundred years too early if she wants me and you to join her circle. Maintaining things as they are now is enough."
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