Chapter 141: Gossip Always Varies
(I don't have a stock chapters of this book, so I can only post this one chapter for now)
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"Good morning, President, Uchimaki, and Usami."
Seeing all three had arrived, Kaede said with a smile, "Especially you, President, I thought you might come a little later."
"Ah, I couldn't help it. Uchimaki and Usami kept calling and texting me early in the morning, so I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to." The President scratched his head helplessly as he spoke. "But it's just for today, so it's not a big problem."
Inviting the three inside and setting down the snacks they brought, everyone noticed the large pile of ingredients being prepared in the kitchen.
"Wow, that's a lot of stuff!"
Especially after seeing the slab of ribs about to be put into the oven, Usami couldn't help but exclaim.
Understanding the situation, the President was finally no longer sleepy and said with a chuckle, "Hehe, now it seems that getting up early wasn't such a bad thing after all."
Afterward, the standard procedure followed: Kaede and Eriri showed the three guests around the new apartment. Since Takasu Ryuji had already had a tour, he continued working on the barbecue sauce.
After the tour, the President and Uchimaki, who had no cooking experience, started playing games in the living room. As for Usami, Eriri took her to see her bedroom.
"Eriri, how does it feel living in the new place?"
Sitting on a chair, Usami asked curiously.
If it were just an ordinary move, Usami wouldn't ask this, but Eriri's situation was completely different. It was the first time in Usami's life that someone her age had moved out to cohabit.
Eriri thought for a moment and said, "The new place? Actually, there's not much difference. Kaede-kun's home and mine weren't smaller than this place, and what about you, Mizuki? Your house is a detached home too."
"Hehe, that's not what I meant. I'm asking how it feels to live with Asakura-kun."
As if sharing a secret, Usami couldn't help but lower her voice, blushing as she whispered, "Has anything heart-pounding happened? Or even..."
As a former doujin artist who had drawn countless adult comics, Eriri instantly understood Usami's implication. She also blushed and retorted, "Nothing like what you're thinking has happened! We sleep in separate rooms!"
"Hehehe, that's how it is now, but that might not be the case later, right?"
Although Usami was shy, she rarely got a chance to talk about topics like this. She immediately grabbed Eriri, who was about to slip away, and pressed her: "I don't believe it, Eriri, you haven't thought about this kind of thing even once!"
"Ugh..."
Eriri should have realized sooner. Although Usami usually seemed like a normal girl, she became extremely excited when discussing such private topics.
Luckily, Eriri recalled something that had happened previously in the Art Club and immediately said, "Since you're so curious, why don't you get a boyfriend yourself, Mizuki? You'd get a much more comprehensive understanding than asking me."
"Eh? I, I, I, I don't have any thoughts about romance!"
A certain person flashed through Usami's mind, the temperature on her face soared, and her hands flailed in panic.
It must be said that after spending so much time with Kaede and witnessing how he interacted with his two troublesome friends, Eriri had unconsciously picked up many ways to deliver a finishing blow. She instantly turned the tables and said, "Hehe, Mizuki, are you really saying you haven't thought about this kind of thing? Then why are you asking me so many questions about it? That doesn't make sense. In my opinion, you only seek knowledge about what you desire."
"Of course! My life is plenty fulfilling just with daily studying and Art Club practice!" Usami insisted stubbornly, continuing to hold her ground.
Narrowing her eyes, Eriri said with a smile, "Is that so? That's good. I heard someone say they were going to confess to Uchimaki-san recently."
"Eh? Who?" As soon as Usami heard this, she immediately pressed for details, her face full of anxiety.
"Hmph hmph~~~"
Seeing that her opponent had taken the bait, Eriri chuckled mischievously and said, "Mizuki, why are you so anxious?"
"I... I'm not anxious! I was just asking out of curiosity!"
"I can't tell you. It's someone else's private matter, and I only found out by chance, so I can't spread rumors. But we can go watch when it happens. That girl is really cute. Even Uchimaki-san would probably have a hard time refusing her."
Eriri spoke with such conviction that Usami couldn't tell if she was lying. She grew even more anxious but didn't know what to say.
"Ah! This... I..."
Seeing that the timing was right, Eriri knew she shouldn't push too hard. She leaned in slightly and said with a smile, "Hehe, I was just teasing you!"
"...Eh?"
"Oh my, I didn't expect you to get so worried, Mizuki. Come on, tell me, when exactly did you start liking Uchimaki-san?"
Staring blankly at Eriri for a few seconds, Usami realized she had been tricked. All the anxiety she had felt immediately turned into angry embarrassment and burst out all at once.
"Eriri!!!!"
Seeing the situation was bad, Eriri laughed, got up, and fled the bedroom, with Usami following close behind her.
"Eriri, don't run! I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
"Hahaha, I'd be an idiot not to run right now, wouldn't I?"
As she spoke, Eriri quickly rushed toward the kitchen, grabbed the bewildered Kaede, and hid behind him.
"Kaede-kun, save me!"
Not only Kaede but also Takasu Ryuji next to him was confused, and he even felt that Eriri's words sounded familiar.
Then, everyone saw Usami rush out, her face bright red.
Seeing Usami in this state, Kaede turned his head to look at Eriri behind him: "What did you do to provoke her?"
"Hehe, just a normal chat between girls!"
"That was not a normal chat!" Usami shouted, then said, "Asakura-san, please move aside! My fists have no eyes!"
"Uh..."
Kaede looked at Usami helplessly and said, "Well, Usami, why don't you tell us exactly what happened, and then I'll decide whether to step aside and let you and Eriri have a 1v1? How about that?"
Eriri couldn't help but praise Kaede inwardly and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Exactly, Mizuki, why don't you tell everyone so we can all judge? That's fair."
Fair? Fair my foot! Especially now that everyone was there, and Uchimaki Subaru was also looking this way, it was impossible for Usami to reveal their conversation.
In other words, it was impossible for Usami to get her revenge at this moment.
Helpless, she could only glare at Eriri and huffily say, "Hmph, Eriri, you've also learned bad habits. I'll remember this!"
Eriri, however, remained hidden behind Kaede, happily sticking out her tongue.
Watching Usami huffily go and sit on the living room sofa, Kaede asked Eriri, who had emerged from behind him, "What was it about? Usami seems genuinely angry."
Eriri whispered, "Hehe, I'll tell you tonight. It's fine with Mizuki, don't I know her? Just a little coaxing will do. I'm off!"
With that, she skipped away.