Chapter 29: You're Truly Cute, Eriri
The reception room door opened, and Editor Nakajima entered, saying with a smile, "Alright, alright, everyone is finally here."
Behind him, Kaede also walked in smiling.
But the moment he entered, Eriri, who had been smiling, instantly froze.
Jumping up abruptly, Eriri pointed at the incoming Kaede and asked incredulously, "Asakura, what are you doing here?"
"Hm? Didn't you want me to come?"
Kaede smiled, took a bite of a croquette, and said while eating, "Don't worry, I'll definitely give you an autograph later. I already have a sample of the new volume of the light novel, I'll get you one later. You'll be the first one to see it!"
"Eh? Really? That's great... no, wait!"
Eriri almost got carried away. Her already overworked brain finally caught up, and she said indignantly, "So, you're the teacher Kurenai Momiji, who wrote 'konosuba', never holds autograph sessions, and has never appeared in public?"
Editor Nakajima looked at their conversation and asked in confusion, "You two know each other?"
Kaede smiled and nodded, "Yes, we're both members of the Art Club at the same school."
Machida Sonoko also understood and guessed, "So, Kaede-kun, you've known for a long time that Sawamura-san is Kashiwagi Eri?"
"Well, I guess I did."
Eriri was a bit stiff. Recalling their previous discussions about anime and light novels, she immediately got angry: "So... you actually knew all along and deliberately didn't tell me, right?"
"You can't say that, Sawamura. After all, everyone has their own little secrets, don't they? I didn't say anything, and you didn't tell me you were Kashiwagi Eri either."
"I don't know anyone by that name!"
"Please, don't pretend to be Izumi Sagiri at this point, okay?" Kaede helplessly glanced at Eriri, who was clearly too late to play ostrich, and pulled another croquette from his bag, handing it to Eriri, "Here, a freshly made croquette. Calm down."
Looking at the golden, tempting croquette in front of her, Eriri instinctively wanted to reach for it, but remembering the expression Kaede had when he came in, she immediately turned her head away, pouting.
"Grumble~~~~~"
"..."
Eriri's cheeks instantly flushed red with the rumbling sound from her stomach. Kaede also said with an "I knew it" expression, "I knew it. You never eat much for lunch, and you have gym class this afternoon. You must be hungry by now. Eat first, and I'll apologize after you're done."
Having no choice, Eriri took the croquette and bit into it fiercely.
It was delicious.
Watching Kaede share the remaining croquettes with the other three, Eriri suddenly noticed something: Senior Kasumigaoka had been smiling and watching the entire time, without saying a single word. This was completely different from when the two of them first met.
"Wait!" Pointing at Utaha, Eriri asked, "So, you also knew Asakura's identity all along?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Utaha looked at Eriri and smiled, "I already met Asakura-kun last weekend at the Bunko, right here. We had a very pleasant conversation, I'd say. However, regarding your identity, Sawamura-san, I only found out today. Yes, it was quite a surprise."
"..."
Eriri silently finished the croquette in her hand, bite by bite. After throwing the wrapper into the trash can, she turned to Kaede, grabbed his clothes, and walked out.
"Come out with me!"
Pulled by Eriri like that, Kaede had no choice but to shrug at Editor Nakajima and then leave the reception room.
After the two left, Machida Sonoko rubbed her chin and asked, "Senior, what do you think is going on with those two?"
"I'm not sure."
Shaking his head, Editor Nakajima's face also broke into a smile, "But I think this collaboration should be solid. While they're talking things over, Utako Kasumi-sensei, please start thinking about any requirements you have for the character designs."
"Understood."
Utaha had already taken out her small notebook and pen, which she always carried with her, and began writing little by little.
On the other side, Eriri forcefully dragged Kaede out of the reception room, and the two went directly to the empty pantry outside the editorial department.
Once they stopped, Eriri crossed her arms and stared at Kaede, saying, "So, when exactly did you find out my identity?"
"Hmm... I knew from the beginning, but it was just by chance. Sawamura, you don't need to worry about your identity being exposed or anything. I'm very good at keeping secrets."
Hearing Kaede say that, Eriri looked enlightened and somewhat nervously at Kaede, saying, "From the beginning... you already knew back then?"
"Back then?" Kaede was a bit confused, "When?"
"???"
Eriri realized she had overthought it; Kaede definitely hadn't recognized her then. That was good; her identity being exposed was much better than him seeing the doujinshi she bought.
Eriri quickly shook her head and said, "It's nothing, just assume I was talking nonsense. In any case, you absolutely cannot reveal my identity as Kashiwagi Eri, understand?"
Although a bit puzzled by what Eriri had just said, Kaede didn't think too much of it and agreed, "Don't worry, haven't I been doing a good job of it all this time?"
"Hmph, who knows?" Eriri pouted, then looked at Kaede with shame and anger, "I've known you for a few days now, and I know your personality. You definitely came here today to see me make a fool of myself, didn't you?"
"Hahaha, my apologies, my apologies."
Kaede said apologetically, "On Sunday at the Bunko, when I heard Senior Kasumigaoka say she wanted to collaborate with Kashiwagi Eri, I was also surprised. I originally thought I wouldn't have anything to do today, but then Editor Nakajima mentioned it, and you agreed."
"..."
Eriri put her hand on her forehead, feeling extremely embarrassed. The light novel author whose autograph she wanted turned out to be a classmate from the same club, with whom she usually played games.
If this got out, people would probably die laughing.
"In any case, I won't forgive you for this so easily. Be prepared."
Kaede smiled and nodded, "Alright, you can make any request. As long as I can do it, even if you want me to repay you with my body, it's no problem."
"Body, body, body... repay with my body? No way, you wish!"
Eriri, with her rich theoretical knowledge, naturally imagined a series of indescribable scenes, and her small foot in a leather shoe kicked towards Kaede.
Kaede wouldn't just stand there and get kicked. He dodged while pulling out his phone, searched for something, and showed a page to Eriri: "A new Maid Cafe just opened in Akihabara. My treat, how about it?"
Sure enough, Eriri immediately stopped her actions.