Aki Tomoya knew that man—Murakami Yuu.
In terms of appearance and physique, he was a perfect existence that was somewhat dazzling, quite popular with girls at school.
He still remembered that about a few months ago, Murakami Yuu had come to their club during lunch break to bring a bento for Eriri.
At that time, besides feeling some psychological discomfort, he didn't have any other feelings because Eriri's reaction was somewhat awkward and troubled.
To him then, it was an obvious signal that Eriri was clearly not interested in this guy, so he didn't need to worry too much.
After that, he rarely saw any interaction between the two, which once again confirmed his viewpoint.
But what was happening now?
Murakami Yuu was handing a menu to Eriri with an almost doting smile right in front of him.
No, that wasn't simply handing it over. From his perspective, it was more like flirting between members of the opposite sex—a favorability-increasing event that neither party would resist.
Having played countless bishoujo romance games, he could be certain of this.
A feeling of frustration welled up in his heart. Aki Tomoya didn't quite understand why this feeling appeared in him, but it didn't prevent his impression of Murakami Yuu from worsening, even reaching a level of dislike without him realizing it.
Although somewhat inaccurate, this was indeed a concrete manifestation of something like territorial consciousness.
The club was his territory, and the members were objects he unilaterally categorized within it. He allowed them to do as they pleased within his territory but wouldn't allow another male presence that could threaten the territory he had constructed.
This was food-guarding instinct.
"Ah, thank you."
Aki Tomoya overstepped by reaching out his hand and taking the menu before the blushing Eriri could react.
Murakami Yuu maintained his gentle smile. Facing this situation, he didn't make any other moves, said "you're welcome," and calmly sat back down.
"Eriri, here you go."
Aki Tomoya ingratiatingly handed the menu to Eriri, but what he received wasn't the gratitude he expected, but rather a dangerous expression where he could vaguely detect negative and extreme emotions.
Eriri snorted and took the menu from his hands. She hated when others presumed to make decisions for her. Originally angry and wanting to say something, but thinking that Murakami Yuu and his friends were sitting right there, she held back.
Stay calm, can't lose face in front of Yuu and his friends.
She took a deep breath and shifted her gaze to the menu.
"Your relationship really is quite good."
Iizuka Takeya took in everyone's expressions at the table. After glancing at Murakami Yuu and receiving the message, he smiled and teased with calculation in his heart.
"That's certainly true."
No matter how foolish Aki Tomoya was, he now understood that this guy who had just claimed to be his fellow enthusiast was Murakami Yuu's friend. Compared to his previous casualness, this time his answer was much more cautious:
"Because Eriri and I are childhood friends who grew up together, we're very familiar with each other."
He said this while looking at Murakami Yuu. Seeing that the other party showed no moved expression, he felt somewhat disappointed while inconspicuously glancing at Kato Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha beside him.
The former maintained her usual indifferent expressionless face, while the latter showed that kind of careless indifference of someone uninvolved.
This made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"Bang!"
The sound came from Eriri's palm hitting the table. She was glaring angrily at Aki Tomoya.
Then, seemingly thinking her action was undignified, she hastily sat up straight and looked up anxiously to meet Murakami Yuu's gaze.
She explained:
"Um, it's just because our families live relatively close, so there were more opportunities for contact when we were children. It's not..."
"Yeah, I understand."
Murakami Yuu interrupted her, his tone as gentle as the first ray of sunlight entering a bedroom in the morning.
He really didn't mind such things.
But this answer obviously couldn't put Eriri at ease. She had already decided to explain things properly to Murakami Yuu privately later.
Iizuka Takeya looked at Aki Tomoya's increasingly livid face and struggled to suppress his laughter from escaping.
It seemed the main unit had already completed the mission ahead of schedule without the wingman needing to do anything special.
That was somewhat unexpected.
Well then, next was his time to have some fun.
After all, Aki Tomoya was quite unpopular among the boys at school—really not a likeable guy.
Of course, there was also the most important point—his words just now were full of provocation.
"So Sawamura-san and Aki-san are childhood friends."
Iizuka Takeya feigned sudden realization, then turned to look at the other two women present with a curious expression:
"What about these two? Besides being club companions, do they have any other special relationships with Aki-san? Perhaps something more intimate, like boyfriend-girlfriend relationships?"
The sentence Iizuka Takeya spoke was like dropping a powerful bomb into a calm lake. Ripples spread outward from one point, instantly involving those who had previously been outside the situation.
Kasumigaoka Utaha nonchalantly picked up her drink and took a sip, then turned her gaze toward the window.
Kato Megumi, who had been motionless until now, raised her head. Those eyes that had never shown much emotion looked toward Aki Tomoya and showed some curiosity.
"How could that be! A 2D otaku like me, how could I possibly get a girlfriend!
Kasumigaoka Utaha is a wonderful senpai, and Kato-san is a very wonderful classmate. That's all."
After brief surprise, Aki Tomoya hurriedly shook his head in denial, then used that disdainful tone to deprecate himself to worthlessness:
"As long as 2D bishoujo are always with me, I'm very satisfied, hahaha."
The two who were somewhat concerned about his answer were simultaneously disappointed.
Still the same evasive, vague answer that missed the point.
"Eh, is that so? I think Aki-san underestimates his own charm."
Iizuka Takeya touched his chin:
"If—I'm saying if—there was such a beautiful real girl who confessed to you, would you choose to accept her?"
"Don't, don't joke around. Real life isn't a romance game. There aren't so many 'what ifs'!"
Aki Tomoya's gaze flickered, unwilling to answer this question directly.
"Sorry, sorry. Did I ask a question that Aki-san found difficult to answer?"
Iizuka Takeya smiled and turned to look at Torizuka Reita:
"But I think this is just a completely normal question. If it were me, I would choose to accept, because I really like pretty girls."
"Me too! Being confessed to would be incredibly happy."
Torizuka Reita chimed in with a grin.
Iizuka Takeya glanced at Murakami Yuu, and sensing that his mood seemed quite good, continued speaking to the unpredictable-expressioned Aki Tomoya:
"Some things become more obvious the more you try to hide them.
Some questions too—when you choose not to answer, you've actually already given an answer."
"Completely meaningless! What exactly are you trying to say?"
Aki Tomoya gritted his teeth, anger already present in his tone.
"I do have something to say, but not to you."
Iizuka Takeya licked his lips, showing a dangerous smile as his mischievous malice finally stopped hiding.
He turned to face Kato Megumi with a sincere expression and made the provocative statement he had already drafted:
"Kato Megumi-san, if it's possible, may I pursue you?"
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