Riding the train and stepping out of the station, he was on the street heading home.
Izumi Chihiro saw that familiar figure.
"Eriri."
He greeted her, then ran over.
…
"Auntie, a pearl milk tea, please."
The blonde twin-tailed girl took the milk tea from the proprietress, aimed the straw at the opening, and took a sip.
"You mean… you've already decided on two songs for the game?"
Eriri pursed her thin lips.
"Really? Are you that amazing? I remember Chihiro wasn't that good at music, was he?"
She asked with a suspicious tone.
Having known each other since elementary school, the two could be said to know everything about each other.
What they were good at and what they weren't good at was very clear.
Except for writing novels, which was something that surprised her.
"By myself, it's really not possible. I've only come up with lyrics and a certain melody. I'm not quite clear on the whole composition process… So I enlisted outside help."
Izumi Chihiro said with a hint of meaning.
"Outside help?"
Eriri's eyebrows furrowed.
"Nishikino, she has already agreed to help me complete those two songs. With her ability, it should be no problem, but the other BGMs will have to be handled by your team…"
"Wait, wait… Who did you say? Nishikino? Nishikino Maki?"
"Yes, you heard right, it's her."
"That reclusive, seemingly cold person would agree to something like this?"
"Eriri, you're still not very good at judging people. Nishikino should be the type who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside."
"Heh heh…"
Eriri scoffed.
"How did you get in touch with her… Oh, I almost forgot, you're in the same class as her now."
Eriri slightly tightened her grip on the milk tea in her hand.
Remembering this, she felt displeased.
"I'm her deskmate now."
Izumi Chihiro replied.
"Huh? I've never heard you mention this before."
Eriri looked over with an expression that seemed to demand an explanation.
"You never asked me."
He said innocently.
"Tch, forget it."
The girl muttered to herself softly.
Although it was very surprising that person would agree to such a thing, since she was willing to help, her ability could indeed be trusted.
"You've talked so much about other people's affairs, don't you want to talk about yourself?"
Seeing that they were almost at Detective Slope, Eriri suddenly spoke.
"Me? I estimate it will take some time. Game scripts and light novel writing styles are different. I plan to understand it first before starting to create."
He replied.
"Do you think that's what I wanted to ask?"
Eriri pouted.
"Oh?"
Izumi Chihiro let out a soft exclamation.
"Don't play dumb, Chihiro! You definitely know what I want to ask?"
The girl's eyes glowed as she locked onto the boy.
"Uh, I can only reveal a little. The ending definitely has a Sword , but I will let them all… die a worthy death?"
Izumi Chihiro carefully weighed his words.
"How can you say something so terrifying so casually! Chihiro, you're getting more and more perverted!" Eriri exclaimed.
"No way, compared to perverted, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei is definitely superior, right? Degradation, confinement, and so on… what I said is just a small matter." Izumi Chihiro said with a puzzled expression.
Eriri stopped, lowered her head, clenched her fists, and after brewing her emotions for a while, she looked up and pointed at him, saying, "How can that be the same? Although the scenes are cruel, I bring happiness and beauty to everyone…"
"But Chihiro, you're completely the opposite, aren't you? What seems beautiful is all preparation for a Sword ! So, on this point, I disagree!" Izumi Chihiro's expression froze.
Then.
"Pfft…!" He couldn't hold it in.
"Even if Eriri you talk until the sky breaks, you're just someone who draws doujinshi. No matter how righteous you act, it won't change the world's perception!"
"That's arrogance and prejudice!"
"That's called common sense."
"Chihiro, you're determined to argue with me today, aren't you! Fine, just you wait…!" Eriri chugged the rest of her milk tea, threw it into the trash can, and then rolled up her sleeves.
"Today, I'll show you what the truth is!"
"Eriri, you're getting more and more barbaric… What kind of logic is it to resort to violence when you can't win an argument?"
"Shut up! Take that!"
Chasing and playing, the two ran several laps around the long, sparsely populated street.
"How youthful, how wonderful."
"To think, we were also that age once." Next to them, an old man and an old woman passed by, and seeing this scene, they couldn't help but look nostalgic.
…
"Ha… ah… ha…" It wasn't until the girl was breathless that the chase stopped.
"What, not chasing anymore?" Izumi Chihiro stood about half a meter in front of her, almost within reach, with a triumphant expression.
The girl, bent at the waist, gritted her teeth and reached out to grab him, but missed.
"I'm not playing anymore! I'm not playing anymore! It's not fair, it's not fair… I'm so mad! From childhood until now, I've never once caught you!" Eriri stomped her foot, expressing her indignation.
"It's just that Eriri you're too weak." He chuckled softly.
"My body has always been weak; you're taking an unfair advantage!" Eriri retorted angrily.
"By the way, the 38 games of hide-and-seek were also 38 to 0." Izumi Chihiro added. This has nothing to do with stamina, does it?
But several seconds passed, and no one responded.
"Eriri?" Seeing her silent with her head down, he prompted her.
"Ah, did you just say something?" Eriri looked up, her gaze confused as she looked left and right.
She acted it out quite realistically. As expected of the daughter of a diplomat, she has mastered quite a bit of this skill. However, resorting to feigning ignorance indicated that the girl had reached the end of her rope. Any further, and she might genuinely get upset with him.
"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going. I still need to go home and draw. I just finished the character designs for Toma and Ogiso. If there's nothing important, don't bother me… Move aside." Eriri said to herself, calmly walking past him.
The two had arrived at the intersection of Detective Slope, the point where they would part ways.
"Oh, right, Eriri, remember to send me the character designs after you finish drawing them. I want to…"
"You're such a pain! Are you making the game, or am I making the game?! So many demands for something like this! If you don't like it, draw it yourself…!" The girl grumbled and walked away.
That evening, Izumi Chihiro still received the character designs the girl had drawn.
----------
Some Power stones