Cute and Quiet

After arranging for Saeko Busujima and Esdeath, Eriri didn't linger in the Akame ga Kill world.

When she returned to the Oregairu world, Akino and the others were still waiting for her in the apartment, and the group now included Haruno.

Upon reuniting with Haruno, Eriri was warmly and sincerely thanked. At this point, Eriri was undoubtedly the greatest benefactor to the Yukinoshita family.

That evening, Mrs. Yukinoshita even held a small appreciation banquet at the Yukinoshita family home just for Eriri and Alice. It was a private event attended only by the Yukinoshita family and Eriri, totaling seven people.

"Miss Eriri, thank you so much for helping Yukino," Mrs. Yukinoshita said, looking sincerely grateful.

Mrs. Yukinoshita had a striking resemblance to both Akino and Yukino. She wore an elegant kimono printed with floral designs, her black hair swept up in a sophisticated style, exuding a calm and composed aura.

Yukino's mother had heard the whole story from Haruno, so she set aside her usual authoritative demeanor and, for once, had an air of warmth and cordiality.

"Mother…" Yukino looked at her mother with a complex expression.

In Yukino's eyes, her mother had always been a strong and stern woman. This gentle side was something she had never seen.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all," Eriri replied casually, "With the bond I share with Akino, this was something I should do anyway. Plus, Yukino is adorable—I like her a lot."

Mrs. Yukinoshita simply thought Eriri's words were about friendship with Akino and her liking of Yukino was in a friendly sense.

Meanwhile, Yukino's expression turned a little unnatural, with a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

Haruno, however, wore a subtly different expression. She had been there yesterday when Eriri and Akino had openly confirmed their feelings for each other, even sharing a passionate kiss right before her. Though she had her own admiration for Eriri, seeing her little sisters fall for Eriri one by one made her quite conflicted.

"If you and my daughters get along well, I can rest assured as a mother," Mrs. Yukinoshita continued, with a hint of loving fondness in her eyes as she looked at her daughters, Akino and Yukino.

"Of course." Eriri nodded firmly. Then, after a slight pause, she added, "And since you're Akino's mother, please, no need for formalities—just call me Eriri."

"In that case, I'll do just that," Mrs. Yukinoshita said with a warm smile, accepting Eriri's suggestion.

Seeing her mother's kimono reminded Eriri of Ms. Hanamura, who also wore traditional Japanese attire every day. "Mrs. Yukinoshita, do you also love wearing kimonos?"

"Yes, I do. Do you like them as well, Eriri?" she asked, clearly interested.

"Not so much myself, but my mom absolutely loves them—she wears one every day! And, like you, she's also the head of our family's business empire. I have a feeling you and she would get along well."

"Really? Then I'd love to meet her someday!" Mrs. Yukinoshita's smile grew brighter, and her gaze toward Eriri became all the more approving.

She had learned of Eriri's impressive powers and origins from another world. Now, knowing Eriri also came from a well-established family made a solid impression. Although business cooperation wasn't feasible across worlds, Mrs. Yukinoshita felt exchanging ideas with another family head would be refreshing.

"There'll be a chance," Eriri said with a smile. "Just a world away. When we get the chance, I'll introduce you."

"I'll look forward to it then."

Watching this exchange, the Yukinoshita sisters were left slightly stunned. They had never seen their mother this cheerful before.

Meanwhile, Mr. Yukinoshita sat beside his wife but felt like an outsider. Neither Eriri nor his daughters acknowledged him, leaving him no choice but to quietly focus on his food. He tried his best to avoid looking out of place and felt somewhat consoled when little Alice joined him at the table.

After the banquet, Eriri and the others lingered at the Yukinoshita family home for about two hours before Eriri gently declined Mrs. Yukinoshita's offer to stay the night and returned with Alice and the Yukino sisters to their shared apartment.

It was a three-bedroom setup: one room each for Yukino and Akino, with an extra room reserved for Haruno.

Now, there was a bit of debate about who Eriri would room with. Eriri preferred staying with Akino, leaving Yukino and Alice in their own rooms. However, Yukino seemed visibly dissatisfied with the arrangement. Alice, too, was eager to room with Eriri, though both knew it was a bit unreasonable.

So, their objections were kindly but decisively overruled by Eriri and Akino. Since the two had only confirmed their relationship the day before, they hadn't yet had much time alone.

After the others settled in, Eriri and Akino enjoyed a half-hour-long soak in the bath, then headed to bed together for a comfortable night's rest.

"Akino, what's your plan from here? Are you coming with me back to the Saekano world, or staying here in the Oregairu world for now?"

Eriri turned to her, their faces so close that Eriri could admire every detail of Akino's glowing, flawless skin.

Their hands were clasped tightly under the covers, and their bodies, close together, each could feel the other's warmth.

"Mmm… I've already let Yukino and the others know everything, so I don't plan on pausing time here any longer." Akino nuzzled closer to Eriri, took in her unique scent, and her mind drifted for a moment.

Returning from her reverie, she continued, "So I think I'll stay here for a while. I'll come visit you later."

"That's fine; with the system, crossing universes is simple enough."

Akino shifted, slipping on top of Eriri. Both were wrapped in the bedcovers, skin against skin. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink as she leaned into Eriri, fully aware of their bare bodies.

"Eriri," she murmured, close to Eriri's ear, "do you… also have feelings for Yukino?"

Akino knew Eriri well by now, especially after observing her interactions with Yukino in the Highschool of the Dead world. It was quite clear that her feelings were anything but ordinary.

"Aha, so you've noticed?" Eriri replied with a mischievous grin, not attempting to deny it.

To Eriri, love was straightforward—she liked who she liked, and didn't hide it to please anyone.

"Who could resist, with Yukino as cute as you are?"

"Well, of course."Akino's face lit up, her tone smug and self-assured.

Instead of anger, she felt more resigned. She had many sisters in the group already, so adding her real sister wasn't a big stretch. More importantly, Yukino and Akino had similar faces and body types. The thought of Yukino getting involved with any other person—especially a man—made Akino cringe, so having Eriri as the choice felt comforting.

Just then, Eriri swiftly flipped over, pinning Akino down. With both of them wrapped in nothing but the covers, their bodies pressed close together.

"Alright then… My cute Akino, shall we have some fun?"

Without waiting for an answer, Eriri leaned down and captured Akino's lips with her own.

...

The next morning, Eriri and Akino, their expressions tender, left the room together and found Yukino reading a book in the living room.

"Good morning, Yukino."

"Good morning." Yukino set her book down, looking up at Eriri and Akino with a hint of what seemed to be a wistful expression.

It was a weekend, so Yukino wasn't attending school. Although she was an early riser, she had been up since dawn.

Not long after, the apartment door opened, and Haruno walked in with a large bag of breakfast.

Beside her stood a tall, elegant woman with long black hair wearing a white shirt and a stylish black vest.

"Good morning, little Akino, little Yukino, and Eriri! I brought breakfast. By the way, where's Alice?"

After the dinner last night, Haruno was clearly more relaxed around Eriri, without the initial awe and fear.

"Good morning, Haruno," Eriri replied with a smile, then turned her gaze to the woman beside her.

But before Eriri could say anything, the elegant woman nudged Haruno's elbow.

"Hey, hey, Haruno, is this adorable girl your relative? She's absolutely precious! Isn't that a bit unfair?" The woman looked at Eriri with open admiration.

"Shizuka, mind your image a bit," Haruno teased, laughing as she spoke to her friend.

Judging by Haruno's tone and the woman's attire, Eriri quickly recognized her. This was none other than Shizuka Hiratsuka, the beloved teacher who taught Japanese at Sobu High School and was also Haruno's close friend.

"Hello there, Shizuka, pleased to meet you. I'm Eriri Spencer Sawamura, but you can just call me Eriri."

Eriri eyed Shizuka, amused, thinking of how countless men had rejected the beautiful, sweet-natured, and wealthy woman, leaving her nearly desperate for marriage.

"Ah… Hello! Hello." Shizuka was suddenly uncharacteristically nervous when Eriri addressed her directly.

Seeing this, Yukino snapped her book shut and walked over to Haruno and Shizuka. As she took the breakfast bags from Haruno, she looked at her teacher. "Shizuka-sensei, why are you here?"

"Well, since you and Akino were missing for three days, I was worried. Now that I know you're safe, I wanted to come by and check on you." Her tone was full of concern.

After glancing from Yukino to Akino and then to Eriri, Shizuka finally looked satisfied.

"Yukino, Akino, you two seem even more beautiful than usual."

"We're at the age when people get prettier every day, aren't we, Shizuka-sensei?" Akino said, looking confident and pleased.

"Ha-ha, perhaps so."

With Eriri's stunning presence before her, Shizuka set aside any lingering curiosity about the Yukino sisters' appearance.

Meanwhile, Yukino had unpacked the food and arranged it on the table—sandwiches and rice balls, enough for six.

Without hesitation, Shizuka sat down, grabbed a sandwich, and started eating along with a bottle of yogurt, completely unconcerned about appearances.

Everyone was already used to Shizuka's behavior, so they didn't say much.

At this moment, Alice, rubbing her eyes groggily, wandered out of her room. Seeing everyone in the living room, her face lit up with joy, and she bounced over to greet them all with her usual cheer.

Throughout breakfast, Shizuka didn't ask Yukino or Akino about the last few days. On the way here, Haruno had already made up a plausible explanation to satisfy her curiosity.

Once breakfast was over, both Haruno and Shizuka didn't linger at the apartment for long and soon took their leave together.

"Eriri, where are we going to hang out later?" Akino rested her head on Eriri's shoulder, sounding sweetly playful, a sight that even made Yukino glance sideways.

So, this is what a girl in love looks like? How terrifying. Thank goodness I didn't end up like that.

Yukino muttered inwardly, but she continued to keep her eyes on the two of them, unable to focus on the book she was holding.

"Well, you know this place better than I do, so why don't you take me somewhere?" Eriri replied.

"Then let's go to the marine park! Yukino and I went once, and it was really nice," Akino suggested.

"Alright, marine park it is," Eriri agreed without hesitation. For her, the fun came from being with people she enjoyed, not so much the place itself.

She then turned to Yukino and invited, "Yukino, would you like to come with us?"

Yukino froze, startled, thinking she had been caught secretly observing them. Quickly she composed herself and answered, deadpan, "I can, I suppose. I don't have anything better to do."

"Great, then it's decided. It's getting late, so get ready and we'll head out," Eriri said, glancing at the clock.

It was already past nine in the morning—perfect timing to start the day.

The marine park was about ten kilometers from the apartment, not too far, but not exactly close, either.

Since Akino and Yukino had moved out to live near Sobu High School, their family hadn't arranged a dedicated car for them. And Eriri had no intention of taking public transportation.

Although Eriri could easily teleport them directly to the marine park, that would take some of the fun out of it.

So instead, she summoned the car she had used in the Highschool of the Dead world. Although it had plowed through a lot of zombies, there wasn't a single trace of blood or grime on its exterior, looking as pristine as a brand-new car.

After setting the navigation for the marine park, Eriri drove them toward their destination, with Akino, Yukino, and Alice in tow.

When they arrived, about half an hour had passed. Since it was the weekend, the park was packed with high school couples on dates, and the line to buy tickets had already turned into a long queue.

Eriri and her group instantly drew attention at the ticket booth, stirring up quite a commotion. Many guys who had come with their girlfriends were given a hard time by their dates for looking.

However, the commotion was short-lived. Most people, after all, had the good sense not to openly stare, though a few impulsive guys who tried to approach them were quickly and decisively rebuffed. After they were turned away, no one else dared to try.

After about ten minutes, they finally purchased their tickets and entered the marine park.

This particular marine park covered a vast area, featuring several distinct zones: an aquarium, an amusement park, a theater for live performances, and more.

The first dolphin show was scheduled to start at eleven, leaving them about an hour. So they decided to visit the aquarium and check out the marine life first.

Most of the aquarium was built underground within a large artificial ocean, with intricate pathways lined by durable glass walls.

"Wow, so pretty!" Alice's eyes sparkled as she watched the fish swimming overhead.

The artificial ocean was intricately crafted, complete with various reefs and aquatic plants. It really felt like being at the bottom of the sea.

"It really is beautiful," Eriri agreed, nodding. She had seen landscapes far more spectacular than this underwater scene, yet she could still appreciate its beauty.

"Right? The last time I came here with Yukino was in middle school. Yukino was just as excited back then as Alice is now." Akino gave Yukino a playful smile.

"Akino…" Yukino's cheeks turned pink as she shot a glare at her sister, feeling slightly embarrassed at having her past brought up like that.

Just then, a voice behind them called out in excitement.

"Yukino! Akino!"

Hearing someone call their names, Yukino and Akino quickly turned around. Eriri and Alice also looked over to see who it was.

It was a cute girl with shoulder-length pink hair styled in a playful, somewhat flashy manner. Her right side was tied into a bun, secured with a black hairband.

However, her smile looked a bit goofy, making her seem a little…simple-minded.

Akino quickly recognized the girl, though Yukino looked slightly puzzled, clearly not remembering her.

"Um, and you are?" Yukino asked.

"Ahaha, Akino, come on, we're in the same class! I'm Yui Yuigahama. We even talked in the classroom once, remember?" The bun-haired girl—Yui Yuigahama—flashed an embarrassed smile.

"I'm Yukino Yukinoshita," Yukino replied flatly, showing little sympathy for her classmate's awkwardness.

At the name, Yukino did remember there was indeed such a bun-haired girl in her class.

"Ah! Sorry, Yukino. You and Akino look so alike that I couldn't tell the difference," Yui apologized, blushing.

Seeing her so flustered, Akino suddenly got playful.

Imitating Yukino's usual expression, she said coolly, "No, I am Yukino Yukinoshita."

"Wait, what…?" Yui looked back and forth between them, utterly confused, unable to tell who was who.

Seeing her bewilderment, Akino couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Just kidding! I'm Akino Yukinoshita," she said with a grin.

"Oh, come on, Akino! Don't tease me like that…" Yui pouted, though her expression showed she didn't actually mind.

"So, Yui, are you here with your boyfriend today?" Akino asked, giving her a teasing look.

"No way! I don't have a boyfriend," Yui replied, her face turning red. "I'm here with Yumiko Miura and the others."

Eriri watched Yui with interest. Despite her flashy, trendy appearance, she seemed surprisingly innocent—though Eriri already knew as much from the original story.

Because Akino had taken care of Yukino's childhood bullying issue, Yukino never experienced the trauma that would have led her to study abroad. Instead, the two sisters had been classmates since grade school and were now in the same high school class as well.

Yui, who was also in their class, had gotten to know Yukino a year earlier than in the original story.

"So, where's Yumiko? I don't see her anywhere," Akino asked, glancing around Yui's empty surroundings.

"I was just staring at the fish above, and before I knew it, I'd lost track of them. Hehe…" Yui admitted, her face flushing in embarrassment.

Suddenly, her expression turned serious. "Akino, Yukino, are you guys okay?"

"Okay?" Akinolooked puzzled, but then she remembered Shizuka's explanation from breakfast and immediately understood. "Oh…yeah, we're fine now. Thanks for asking!"

Though the two sisters had missed three days of class due to their mission in the Lord God's Dimension, Shizuka had told their classmates they were just home sick with a cold, sparing everyone from worry.

"That's good to hear. I even thought of coming to check on you two at home, but Shizuka-sensei wouldn't give me your address," Yui said, looking slightly disappointed.

"No worries, we appreciate the thought!" Akino replied. She quite liked Yui and wouldn't mind becoming friends.

At that moment, Yui turned toward Eriri, looking intrigued. "Um, Akino, who's your friend? She's so beautiful!"

Yui had noticed Eriri's radiant presence immediately, but she had put her curiosity aside to check on Yukino and Akino.

"Hello, Yui! I'm Eriri Spencer Sawamura. I'm not a student at Sobu High School," Eriri said with a smile.

"H-Hi, I'm Yui Yuigahama, Akino and Yukino's classmate," Yui stammered, a bit flustered by Eriri's breathtaking smile.

"No need to be nervous, Yui. Would you like to join us?" Eriri invited.

Yui hesitated, tempted, but then thought of her lost companions and reluctantly declined.

"Next time, okay? I should find Yumiko and the others. Bye!" she said, giving Eriri an apologetic smile before leaving.

"Aw, she left…" Alice muttered, breaking her silence for the first time.

"Well, she's a cute girl," Eriri said, watching Yui leave.

Though not as stunning as Yukino and Akino, Yui's charm lay in her sweet personality—and she had a great figure, too.

Afterwards, they continued exploring the aquarium, stopping for photos of particularly beautiful sights and snapping some group shots.

Since they didn't dawdle, they were able to finish touring the entire aquarium in about forty minutes. However, despite seeing plenty of people, they didn't spot Yui again.

…

Soon, it was eleven o'clock, and Eriri and her group had taken their seats for the sea lion show.

Being the first weekend show of the day, the theater was packed. Eriri and her friends were seated in the middle of the back row, and next to Eriri sat a slender, cute-looking girl.

The girl had short black hair, with a single, long strand sticking up like an antenna and a cute little fang showing when she smiled.

"Wow! You're really pretty! Prettier than any TV star!" The short-haired girl, full of energy, struck up a conversation with Eriri, instantly giving off a friendly vibe.

"Mhm, mhm, you're very cute yourself," Eriri replied, glancing at the dead-eyed boy sitting beside her, which confirmed her guess about the girl's identity.

And as if to confirm her suspicions, the girl introduced herself.

"My name is Komachi Hikigaya. Could I know your name, pretty lady?"

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