In short, Kasumigaoka Utaha had managed to regain her dignity, earned someone's approval, and was set for a brighter future.
After all, with Izumi Masamune's current standing, his standards would naturally be higher; he wouldn't praise just any random work.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: I'll reluctantly accept Izumi-sensei's praise.
Their conversation eventually fizzled out.
Although Kasumigaoka Utaha harbored a desire to surpass him, she didn't plan to openly challenge him.
Currently, she was just an ordinary person who hadn't even debuted yet, with no promising future in sight. Speaking such words would be overly arrogant.
Though, she had never been humble to begin with.
"I'll work steadily, catch up to your pace. Just you wait, Izumi Old Thief."
Kasumigaoka Utaha put down her phone, turned, and plunged back into work. The sound of keyboard clacking echoed from her room...
With the arrival of spring, the temperature was gradually changing.
"Ah... ah, the "White Album" season is finally over. I can finally wear a little less."
Eriri stretched, saying lazily.
The feeling of always being tied up by a scarf made her very uncomfortable.
That wasn't even the worst of it.
If she wasn't careful, she'd sneeze, which was a major blow to her image and very annoying.
"Indeed, finally no need to worry about a runny nose."
Izumi Chihiro said, seemingly agreeing.
"Huh? Runny nose? How is that possible! Chihiro, do you know what you're saying? Beautiful girls don't get runny noses!"
Eriri turned her head, her gaze furious.
Can you even talk?!
"Right, right, right, right, beautiful girls are indeed like that!"
Izumi Chihiro slapped his forehead, agreeing wholeheartedly.
"That's enough, you idiot! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Seeing his clumsy acting, Eriri flew into a rage and delivered a 'Divine Fist Shockwave' to his chest!
Did he really think that level of acting could fool anyone?
Watching the boy stumble, the girl blew on her fist, as if flames were burning on it.
"Ouch...! Eriri, you're attacking an innocent civilian! Be careful, I'll take you to court!"
Izumi Chihiro clutched his chest, speaking in a grave tone.
"Go on, sue me! I'll have people on the inside and outside. Let's see how you fight me!"
Eriri stood with her hands on her hips, looking arrogant.
They stopped walking. He looked up, and their eyes met. With a 'poof,' they suddenly burst out laughing.
"You childish brat!"
"You're the childish one!"
"Idiot."
"You're the idiot!"
...
As they walked, the two chatted.
"We're going into third year soon. I wonder what Eriri's thoughts are...?"
He suddenly asked.
"Me? What thoughts do I have? It doesn't matter if we get reshuffled or not. This is fine as it is."
Eriri mumbled.
"I wasn't asking about class reshuffling..."
Izumi Chihiro raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? Then what exactly do you want to say!?"
Eriri's expression changed.
Was that an admission of guilt?
"Actually, it's nothing much. I was thinking that since it's the last year of middle school, it's about time to consider high school, right? Because Eriri's grades don't seem ideal, so it's good to plan early."
Izumi Chihiro felt he had used a very high-EQ way of speaking.
However, Eriri immediately bristled.
"You're trying to say my grades are too bad to get into a good high school, aren't you!"
She pouted.
"You could interpret it that way..."
Izumi Chihiro nodded, then quietly muttered to himself, "She's a half-blood, but her foreign language grades are the worst. That's quite a unique characteristic."
"I can hear you, Chihiro-kun...!"
Eriri's expression was distorted, her voice sharp, and she clenched her fists.
He's poking at her weaknesses again! Does he really think I, Eriri, am easy to mess with? If I don't teach him a lesson, he'll really think I'm a pushover!
"Wait, Eriri! Violence can't solve problems! Calm down."
Izumi Chihiro extended his hand, signaling her to calm down.
"Violence can't solve problems, but it can solve the person who causes the problems...! Don't even think about escaping!"
Eriri snorted.
The elevator door opened just then, and Izumi Chihiro ran out first, which made her realize that he had just been stalling for time, so she quickly chased after him.
Then, the defeat was re-enacted.
"Ha… Ha…"
Eriri lowered her head in a sorry state, panting heavily, then stomped her foot in annoyance, "Again, again with that trick… Next time… I won't chase you anymore!"
Izumi Chihiro once again stood by as the victor.
"How about this, next time I'll let Eriri catch me, okay?"
He said in a negotiating tone.
This must be humiliation, right?
Extreme humiliation!
"Who wants you to let me! I won't accept your charity!"
Eriri looked up, her face flushed.
She panted for a while before recovering.
"Tomorrow afternoon is the holiday. Eriri, do you want to come to my house during the break? It's been a while since Sagiri saw you, right?"
Izumi Chihiro tried to extend an invitation.
"Hmm…"
Eriri's eyes lifted, her sky-blue gaze flickering slightly, "It's not impossible. It has been a long time since I chatted with Sagiri, and I don't have much work lately."
After returning home in the evening.
Eriri had time to properly ponder the question he had raised today.
Her current grades were only average, not outstanding at all, which didn't fit her status. A large part of the reason was that she had invested too much in drawing.
Everything can't be solved by pulling strings, right?
So, this year she needed to put a little more effort into her studies. Not to say she could get into a famous high school, but at least not the kind where she just drifted along, right?
"Chihiro's grades always seem to be good, even though writing novels takes up a lot of his energy, right? But it doesn't seem to affect him much, it's strange… If that's the case, then I'll make him tutor me then, and work that guy to death!"
Eriri gritted her teeth secretly and made a decision.
…
"Ah, it's over!"
"After the holiday, we'll be third-year students!"
"That's good, finally we don't have to call people 'senpai' anymore…"
"I hope everyone can be in the same class in third year!"
As the teacher left the classroom, the students below finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Time to go home…"
"Nishikino, goodbye."
Izumi Chihiro waved at her.
"Mm, goodbye, Izumi-kun."
Nishikino Maki watched his back as he left, her gaze distant.
This past year seemed more meaningful than before.