"Sorry for making this decision on my own without notifying Eriri in advance. Are you angry?"
The two sat on the school rooftop - a place they had come to once during lunch break on a previous day.
At that time, Murakami Yuu still had no particular views about Eriri. After their conversation ended, he even felt that she and Aki Tomoya had a relationship of one willing to hit and one willing to be hit, which made him have thoughts of distancing himself from her.
But after that rainy day, the relationship between them began to slowly transform.
Eriri planted a seed in his heart. Watered with sincerity, he had no room to resist. He let it grow wildly, exceeding his control, disturbing his rationality.
"I'm not angry. Yuu just did something I've always wanted to do, and in the way that considers me most."
Eriri lowered her head, her toes tracing the ground. Today she was rarely this honest.
She could feel Murakami Yuu's gradual approach. That unconcealed desire for control not only didn't make her feel resistant, but added a share of excitement. She exerted all her strength to not let herself become moved to the point of losing composure.
At the same time, today's events also allowed her to thoroughly see Aki Tomoya's true colors.
From disbelief to exasperation, then to bitter pleading, then to resentful cursing.
That kind of emotional transformation completely disregarding former companions made her feel cold. She probably never wanted to have anything to do with him again.
What she was thinking about now wasn't entirely herself, but also Kasumigaoka Utaha who remained in the doujin game club and had a good relationship with her.
She didn't know what choice she would make next after she left.
Emotionally, she hoped Kasumigaoka Utaha would also leave that club, but rationally she knew that the proud Kasumigaoka Utaha wouldn't do that. When her novel was first published, she truly received Aki Tomoya's help. Before repaying that favor was complete, she wouldn't leave that club.
"Then why do your emotions not look very high?"
"No, I just suddenly became free and feel somewhat unaccustomed to it."
Eriri glanced at Murakami Yuu sideways. After being dazzled by his smile, she hurriedly lowered her head to not look at him.
"You'll get used to it. By the way, tonight you should also organize the doujin game club's artwork materials. Tomorrow, formally hand them to Uchimaki Subaru - only then will it truly be finished."
Murakami Yuu stood up indifferently and stretched.
Eriri nodded.
"By the way, Yuu, how did you persuade Uchimaki-san to willingly come help the doujin game club?"
Eriri had been very concerned about this matter. Bringing up Uchimaki Subaru, she naturally asked.
"It was actually quite simple. Reita and he are friends with a good relationship. I just asked him a small favor, then..."
Murakami Yuu didn't continue, leaving her in suspense with a smile.
"Then he agreed?"
Eriri guessed.
Are guys all this easy to talk to?
"Of course not. He and I aren't familiar originally. How could he so simply agree to my request just because of one sentence?"
"Then why?"
"It's not impossible to tell Eriri, but you have to promise to keep it secret from me."
Murakami Yuu placed his index finger on his lips. His mysterious manner made Eriri couldn't help but laugh lightly, bright like sunrise sunlight:
"Okay, I promise Yuu."
"Then I'll tell you. Eriri knows I became student council vice president, right?"
"Mm! I haven't had time to congratulate Yuu yet!"
Eriri nodded vigorously, then was puzzled:
"But what does this have to do with Uchimaki Subaru? Did you threaten him with your position to assist you?"
"It's not that scary. Do I seem like that kind of despicable villain?"
Murakami Yuu laughed and stopped beating around the bush:
"It's club funding. I promised him that if he helps me, I can use the convenience of my student council vice president position to allocate more club funding for him to purchase the art materials he needs.
Although it's art materials, based on that guy's preferences, he'll probably only buy figurines or cosplay costumes.
In short, he helps me and I'll help him - a kind of transactional behavior in a sense."
"Yuu entered the student council because of me - is it really okay to do this?"
Eriri's brow showed worry.
"Don't worry. The student council vice president originally has the authority to allocate club funding. Besides, Uchimaki Subaru's drawing skills are superb. He's won gold awards in art competitions multiple times. This can also be considered obviously bringing glory to the school.
Such a meaningful and positive club - giving more funding, even if people find out afterward, won't cause any trouble."
"That's good then..."
Eriri nodded.
"Although I really want to keep you company longer, I still have other matters and need to go to the student council room. What will you do, Eriri? Will you wait for me or..."
"I'll go back first. I'll organize the artwork and bring it to school tomorrow to completely end the club matter."
"Okay."
Murakami Yuu and Eriri walked downstairs together.
That watch I bought before - using the reason of congratulating Yuu for becoming vice president, it seems I can perfectly give it to him now. I just need a good opportunity...
Eriri had her own little thoughts.
...
The next day's lunch break.
"Sorry, stop for a moment. I want to ask what you're saying. Why can I completely not understand? What do you mean by a scene that highlights aesthetic romance? Can't you be more specific?"
Uchimaki Subaru finally couldn't help but interrupt Aki Tomoya's speaking process.
Eriri had already handed all the completed artwork to Uchimaki Subaru. Originally Aki Tomoya still didn't believe his drawing skills, until Uchimaki Subaru picked up his pen and in just a moment completed a lifelike beautiful girl drawing - only then did he put down his heart doubting the other's level.
Because the original activity classroom had already become the recitation club's territory, the doujin game club members could only come to Aki Tomoya's classroom to conduct activities.
Although the classroom was noisy with voices, which would more or less interfere, there was no other way. They could only temporarily endure it.
"So what I'm saying is, when the male and female protagonists kiss, that kind of aesthetic scene that highlights the atmosphere between the two - a scene that makes people feel heart-fluttering at first glance."
Aki Tomoya sat across from Uchimaki Subaru and impatiently repeated what he said before.
"Huh? Are you joking with me? Only giving these kinds of conditions - do you want me to improvise?"
Uchimaki Subaru tilted his head.
"It's not improvising. I want you to show that heart-fluttering budding affection between the male and female protagonists - that very innocent kind of emotional expression."
This inexplicable condition made Uchimaki Subaru somewhat helpless. He looked toward Kasumigaoka Utaha and Katou Megumi to the side with seeking eyes, hoping they could translate the meaning in Aki Tomoya's words.
"Hey! Where are you looking!"
Aki Tomoya, already feeling manic from the previous matter with Eriri, saw Uchimaki Subaru's head-turning action and stood up like a conditioned reflex to block before him.
"No, what's wrong with you?"
Uchimaki Subaru was startled by his action. After reacting, he laughed coldly and just felt speechless:
"If it weren't because Murakami-san asked me, do you think I'd want to stay here with you guys to complete some boring romance game?"
Sensing Uchimaki Subaru's displeasure, Aki Tomoya also immediately calmed down. The other party was their club's only artist. If he offended him now, his club activities would truly be declared over. After all, the only character artist he knew no longer belonged to the doujin game club.
That damn traitor!
Aki Tomoya clenched his fist with one hand. Thinking of yesterday's events, his breathing became rapid again. The stuffiness in his heart had nowhere to vent, yet he had to lower his posture toward this strange, disliked person:
"I'm sorry, Uchimaki-san. My tone wasn't very good. I apologize to you."
Uchimaki Subaru glanced at Aki Tomoya bowing to him, heard the unwilling emotion in his words, gave him a look, and didn't say more:
"Forget it. Let's continue discussing the background art problem."
"Okay..."
Aki Tomoya sat back down.
Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't stand the noisy environment of the classroom. She impatiently closed the novel collection in her hands, threw down "I'm leaving first," and left the classroom.
After that, Katou Megumi also made an apologetic gesture and left following her. She also wasn't accustomed to staying in someone else's classroom. Even with her weak presence, she always felt a sense of being watched and examined.
"Uchimaki-san, I want to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"For future club activities, can you try not to look at Kasumigaoka-senpai or Katou-san?"
After hearing this sentence, Uchimaki Subaru didn't speak, only snorted coldly and showed that contemptuous expression again.
As if he hadn't seen his expression, Aki Tomoya put his hands together with a sincere attitude:
"If you look at them, I'll have bad feelings and won't be able to concentrate. So please, please don't look at them or have close contact with them."
"Murakami-san was right after all. He told me that interacting with you might be somewhat uncomfortable. I originally didn't take it seriously, but now I believe it. He wasn't wrong at all. I probably know the reason your relationships with guys at school are so poor."
Uchimaki Subaru took the sketchbook in his hands.
"Wait, where are you going? The background art hasn't been decided yet. At least wait..."
"Go take a piss and look at yourself. 3D pig - truly disgusting."
Uchimaki Subaru's expression turned cold. He shook off the hand pressing on his sketchbook and walked out of the classroom without looking back.
Only Aki Tomoya remained alone in his seat, burying his head to endure the laughing and pointing of classmates around him who had witnessed everything.
...
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