"Maybe it's a two-dimensional drawing."
High school students are truly perceptive about trivial matters.
He vaguely remembered Eriri saying she usually did her main work—drawing doujinshi—at school… wasn't that really bad?
Kiyono sat down, thought for a moment, then sent Eriri a message anyway, telling her to be careful—there might actually be a creep sneaking around to stalk her.
Eriri walked forward with her head down, face expressionless, having made up her mind.
They were childhood friends—supposed to be the closest of relationships—yet Aki Tomoya treated her like this!
She knew that ever since that incident in elementary school, their relationship had entered this ambiguous state. Even so, Eriri still held an extraordinary affection for this childhood friend, like a little girl clinging to an old treasure chest.
It was a hazy, youthful feeling—the joy that bloomed when a once-lonely girl found her only playmate, a youth built from precious memories. Perhaps it wasn't fervent, but given warmth and time, it would grow vigorously and might even become true love.
She stubbornly believed she, too, was special in his heart.
Only now, it seemed, that wasn't the case.
A melancholic evening breeze drifted in through the window, stirring her hair. She reached up to hold it in place.
A sudden ringtone cut through Eriri's thoughts.
The blonde stopped, opened her phone, and when she saw the sender, she couldn't help but smile.
[Kiyono: Sawamura, what are you doing right now?]
[Eriri: Just finished work.]
She didn't mention Aki Tomoya.
[Kiyono: I heard today's TV horoscope says Pisces has the worst luck. Be careful: don't forget to lock your private room, and don't forget your things…]
Kiyono's reminder was relatively subtle. He didn't want her to worry too much—anonymous forums were mostly for fun anyway.
[Eriri: Eh? You're actually interested in horoscopes… Wait—how do you even know my sign?! And you checked it specifically!]
At this moment, his memory worked like an exam ace—digging up small details came naturally.
[Kiyono: That's the kind of reason a certain trend-chasing young lady often uses—like "it's all because Pisces luck is bad."]
[Eriri: Hmph, eh…]
This—this guy knows every little detail about me!
Eriri's pretty face flushed in an instant, and her twin tails bounced like living things. Being held constantly in someone's mind sent a little tingle through her.
She arched a brow and texted back: What else did the horoscope say?
[Kiyono: Ripples have appeared in the river where Pisces resides—it means something around you has stirred different emotions and thoughts. Although it seems bad for now, you'll eventually meet your fated person…]
As a writer of several books, Kiyono didn't even need to think; he casually spun out universally applicable lines.
—It's incredibly accurate!
Eriri gripped her phone with both hands, eyes wide, eager to ask where he'd seen the horoscope. She was determined to study it carefully—and to ask his sign…
But just then, something felt wrong.
Eriri lowered her phone and instinctively looked behind her. She was in the second school building, used for storage and clubs. All around were deserted club rooms; the corridor was empty, with only the wind ensemble's distant music drifting over.
Was it an illusion?
As if someone were peeking at her… No, not an illusion! Someone was following her! She could hear footsteps!
Eriri stopped. It was school, so she didn't feel afraid; she simply frowned and quickened her pace.
The footsteps behind her also picked up, faint and indistinct. Just as she reached the corner, she suddenly turned—and saw a short-haired senior from the Art Club, hesitating, holding several… manuscript sheets?
Those were her doujinshi pages.
Her identity… exposed!?
Realizing she'd been discovered, the senior looked conflicted and tentatively began, "Sawamura, that…"
Before he could finish, Eriri sprang up like a startled rabbit, eyes twitching, heart pounding. A flood of images flashed through her mind: her identity exposed, classmates' exclamations, the discovery that the school's young lady was actually an otaku—followed by bullying…
No! Not only that! There might be threats like, "If you don't want me to tell, you'll do as I say," and a tongue-licking "Come out, my servants…" Even if she resisted, she wouldn't be able to fight back against men!
Panic and dread swallowed her; her eyes even turned to little spirals. Faced with such a scene, she chose what she did best—avoidance and escape.
She bolted down the stairs without hesitation.
"Ah—wait a minute!"
Don't—don't chase me! I don't know anyone who draws things like that!
Her steps quickened. In her frantic descent, she twisted her ankle, but there was no time to care—she fled at light speed.
She was caught anyway.
"Sawamura, wait… Is this yours?"
In the first-floor corridor, the senior quickened his pace and blocked her path. She instinctively retreated a step.
To her surprise, he didn't coerce or disdain her. He simply, gently, held out the pages.
"I found this while cleaning the club room two days ago. You must have accidentally mixed it with other sheets. I've been wondering how to return it to you…"
So that's how it was…
Seeing his sincere expression, Eriri realized her misunderstanding and coughed, cheeks flushing.
"But, that aside—Sawamura's art is really excellent. Even the… the… the girls drawn like this are so cute."
The short-haired senior marveled, shyly flipping through the originals, then moved to return them to the blonde young lady.
Rustle.
A strong wind blew in from the window. The senior didn't hold tight, and Eriri watched helplessly as the exposed close-up of her meticulously drawn heroine fluttered forward, drifting down to land atop the small leather shoes of several girls carrying instruments as they approached.
The whole world went silent.
The girl gasped.
Only two words echoed in her mind:
It's over.
Her school life was finished.
In that moment, the world before her turned gray, and she dared not raise her head.
She couldn't bear to see her classmates' expressions, nor imagine the outcome.
"Hm? What's this…?"
As one girl bent to pick it up, Eriri felt all her blood turn to ice.
—Just then.
The scent of grass and sunshine brushed past her nose. A familiar voice sounded.
"I'm truly sorry—these are my treasured belongings. May I have them back, please?"
Eriri looked up blankly to see a boy run in from the side. He dropped to one knee and swiftly gathered the fallen manuscript first. The exposed beauty had already been seen, drawing strange looks.
He… took the blame for her?
The blonde's heart quickened, pounding unevenly.
"Ah, um… But—maybe don't bring things like that to school anymore, okay?"
The Light Music Club girl gave him an awkward smile—Eriri could read it: She looks good, but what a pervert. Guilt pricked her—that should have been her burden.
"I'll be careful," Kiyono replied with a bright smile.
The girl nodded, a complex look in her eyes, then whispered to her companions and disappeared into the stairwell. The Art Club senior glanced at Kiyono with admiration, then at the two of them with a knowing look, and tactfully left as well.
At last, only Kiyono and Eriri remained.
The corridor was quiet, tinged with desolation.
Soft sunset spilled across the floor, casting mottled light that tinted the girl's uniform red. Their shadows stretched long.
Eriri reached out and pinched the corner of his sleeve.
"Um… I'm sorry…"
She pursed her cherry lips and lifted her sky-blue eyes to whisper. Kiyono had been misunderstood because of her—and the rumor might spread to other classes by tomorrow. High-schoolers could be that bored.
"It's fine. This is much better than you being exposed."
Though he usually joked regardless of occasion, Kiyono was gentle now, doing his best to protect her pride.
After reading the anonymous forum, he felt he could somewhat understand Eriri's situation. With her looks and family background, she naturally drew attention. Being well-liked was better than being besieged on all sides.
"By the way—why are you here?" Eriri asked, cheeks slightly flushed as she looked straight at him.
Because you read my message but didn't reply, and I felt something was off, so I came to check… But as a GALGAME master, he knew he couldn't choose that flag.
"Just… wandering around."
"Oh…" The blonde didn't press further, nor did she lash out with her usual sharp words—there was a tender girlishness about her.
"Then I'll head home first. Be careful next time."
Kiyono turned away.
His sleeve was caught again.
"What is it now?" He raised an eyebrow.
"My foot… I twisted it just now. I can't walk much."
Eriri turned her face aside in embarrassment; her earlobes and neck felt hot. Even so, she peeked at him hopefully, imagining he would crouch like a shōjo-manga protagonist and then, and then…
"Ah, got it."
This is an unavoidable event, right?
Under Eriri's subtle gaze, Kiyono took off his backpack, let her hold it, and said, quite grandly:
"The infirmary's private room awaits."
"…Huh? Shouldn't a normal guy carry the girl on his back in this situation?!" The blonde was dumbfounded.
"That's normal people. I'm Kiyono," he said, smug.
Well… it is this guy, after all…
Ignoring her little grumbles, Kiyono opened the infirmary door. The room was classically empty, which he found a bit disappointing. He led Eriri to the bed and gently helped her sit.
"Wait, I'll take off my shoes…"
Eriri deftly kicked off one indoor shoe, but the other foot couldn't bear weight. She looked up at him with watery eyes like a golden retriever. Kiyono's mouth twitched; he squatted to help remove the other shoe, then picked up the first one she'd flung aside and set them neatly by the bed.
This guy really is gentle.
Kiyono stayed calm, but when his warm hand touched her foot, it felt like a tingling current spread from that point through her entire body; her cheeks flushed and her heart hammered.
"Showing off the innocent side of a doujinshi artist, are we?" Kiyono shot her a sidelong glance.
"N-no, I'm not!"
Face burning, Eriri lay back on the bed, grabbed the blanket, and covered her head.
Kiyono turned to the medicine cabinet. After rummaging, he found ointment for swelling, pain relief, and circulation.
"Apply it yourself."
The girl flung off the blanket. "I can't do it myself!"
"Hmph. That'll be fifty thousand yen."
Having come this far, Kiyono didn't hesitate. He pulled up a stool and sat beside the bed like an emotionless doctor.
"Which foot is injured? Stick it out."
"You—you won't use this chance to secretly touch my foot, will you?!"