Chapter 24: On the Photo
During the day's outing for cherry blossom viewing and sketching, the Club President never actually put pen to paper, sleeping straight until the afternoon.
Everyone had truly given up hope for this Club President; they, at least, felt their trip today was worthwhile.
Facing the speechless looks directed at him, the Club President awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Ahaha, next time for sure, next time for sure."
It was getting late; it was time to go back.
However, before they started packing up to leave, the Club President said to everyone, "Everyone, wait a moment."
After speaking, he got up and ran to a cherry tree not far from them, found the male head of a family of four who was also there for cherry blossom viewing, said a few words, and the other party readily agreed, following him back.
Upon returning, the Club President took out his phone and said, "To commemorate today's club activity, let's take a group photo!"
Usami suddenly realized, clapping her hands and laughing, "I knew something felt missing, so it was this!"
During the outing, although they had each taken some photos with their phones, they hadn't taken a group photo together.
Today was an outdoor club activity, so they definitely needed to leave some mementos.
Uchimaki Subaru also nodded in surprise, saying, "Club President, it seems you still have some use after all."
"Don't talk as if I'm useless, okay?"
After glaring at Uchimaki Subaru, the Club President said something to the middle-aged man who had come to help, then went behind the two girls who were already seated, pulling Kaede and Uchimaki Subaru.
"Stand properly, stand properly, this is our first outdoor club activity."
The middle-aged man also smiled at the students, held the Club President's phone, aimed it, and said, "Remember to smile, ready, 1, 2, 3!"
Accompanied by the click of the shutter, today's Art Club activity came to a successful conclusion.
Under the glow of the setting sun, Kaede rode his bicycle home.
As soon as he entered and had just changed his shoes, he saw his mother coming out of the kitchen, holding a spatula.
"You're back? How was your day?"
"Hmm, not bad, I had a good time."
Kaede smiled as he walked in, then took out the bento box from his bag and handed it to his mother, "Everyone said the sushi and fried chicken were delicious."
"That's good!"
Asakura Reiko was also very happy.
Taking the bento box, she said, "Dinner will take a little longer, Kaede, you go take a bath first."
"Okay, I'll go upstairs then."
Going upstairs, after putting down his bag, Kaede went straight to take a comfortable bath.
After dinner, Kaede didn't go straight back to his room but was pulled by his parents to stay in the living room.
Facing the gazes from his parents sitting on either side of him, Kaede felt uncomfortable all over and said cautiously, "Are you trying to ask something?"
Asakura Reiko smiled and said, "We just want to know about your club activity today, Kaede, since you never joined a club during middle school."
"I see, you two aren't asking about that at all."
Both parents showed straightforward smiles, and his father patted Kaede's shoulder, saying, "You should know that we don't object to you dating in high school.
After all, you've been sensible since childhood, and you're very disciplined.
Now you're already a bestselling light novel author.
We don't need to worry about your future career, so the only other aspect we can consider for you is naturally just one."
Although Kaede understood all this, and such a family atmosphere was quite relaxed and comfortable, without any so-called generation gap, being constantly questioned by his parents in such an indirect way gave Kaede a headache.
And as luck would have it, his phone rang at that moment, not just once, but several times in a row.
Sighing deeply, Kaede took out his phone and glanced at it.
Sure enough, it was messages from Usami in the chat group.
She had said before they parted that she would organize and send the photos taken today to the group after she got home.
One by one, the photos from their afternoon cherry blossom viewing were displayed before Kaede and his parents.
As soon as Asakura Reiko saw Eriri in the photos, her eyes were immediately drawn to her.
From her appearance alone, Eriri was indeed the very cute type.
Although she was a blonde hāfu, she didn't have the usual tall feeling of hāfus.
Judging from her sitting posture and comparison with Kaede next to her, her height should be just over five feet.
With an "as expected" expression on Kaede's face, she pulled her son's arm and asked curiously, "Kaede, who is this child?
Your interactions look very good, you're both smiling and chatting."
In the photo, Kaede was chatting with Eriri, who was eating wagashi, and both their faces were smiling.
"Ah, she's one of the two girls in the club.
Her name is Sawamura Spencer Eriri, she's half-British, half-Japanese."
Asakura Kiichi on the other side paused when he heard Eriri's name and said, "Spencer? Could it be Spencer the diplomat?"
"Dad, you know him? She is indeed the daughter of that diplomat Spencer."
Asakura Kiichi nodded and said, "Last year, I think, I saw him at a dinner party.
Mr. Spencer came with his wife, but I didn't see their daughter.
I didn't expect her to be in the same school and grade as you, Kaede."
Kaede understood.
His father was a manager at a foreign trade company, so it wasn't strange for him to meet the diplomat at some events.
Alas! And she's the daughter of a diplomat."
After hearing this, Reiko was even more satisfied with Eriri. Her appearance was completely acceptable, and her family background was impeccable.
"What about her personality?"
"Uh… it's quite good."
Hearing Kaede say this, Reiko immediately said, "Kaede-kun, go for it! Try to win her over, then we'll have a daughter-in-law!"
Kaede rolled his eyes in response: "…Mom, I just met her not long ago, aren't you thinking too much?"
"I'm not thinking too much," Reiko said. "A girl like her will definitely be liked by many people. Getting in early is the right thing to do!"
"Your mother is right," Asakura Kiichi also said. "Kaede-kun, this girl must be very popular at school, right?"
"Emmm… that's true."
After all, she received a love letter not long after school started.
"Then do you have a good impression of her? Don't lie to us!"
"…Alright, I do have some good feelings."
"Then isn't that perfect?" Asakura Kiichi put his arm around his son's shoulder and said with a smile, "Your dad has been through it all. Back in college, your mother was one of the most popular girls in school, and it took me a lot of effort to win her over. Now that you've met a girl you like, don't hesitate, be brave and go for it. Our son will definitely succeed!"
"…Why does it feel like you're making it sound like a hot-blooded manga, Dad?"
Kaede also grumbled speechlessly, then put away his phone and stood up.
"Alright, alright, I get it. You don't need to worry about this. I know what I'm doing."
In the afternoon, he did have some ideas, but it wasn't the right time yet. He would take it one step at a time.