Megumi Kato's Little Thoughts

Just as Ishimaki was not someone who liked to dig deeper, she did not dwell on this matter either. She immediately moved on from the topic and then asked Eriri, who was beside her, "By the way, are you planning to join any clubs, Sawamura?"

"Well, I don't intend to participate in any club activities," Eriri said straightforwardly, resting her chin on her hands on Megumi Kato's desk. She didn't want to waste her time on meaningless club activities.

"Ah… Why is that? I was hoping to join the same club as you, Sawamura…" Upon hearing Eriri's answer, Ishimaki's face fell with disappointment.

After a slight pause, Ishimaki turned her gaze to Megumi Kato: "Then… What about you, Kato?"

"I, like Eriri, don't plan on joining any club activities," Megumi Kato replied, glancing at Eriri and speaking in a light tone.

In the past, she might have had a little fantasy about clubs due to her weak sense of presence, but ever since being with Eriri, she no longer had any interest in those collective activities. Of course, if Eriri joined a club, she might follow suit.

"Oh… Are you sure you won't reconsider? Joining a club can help you make more new friends, and some club activities are quite fun," Ishimaki tried to persuade them, still not entirely giving up.

"Of course, there's no need to reconsider. I've never participated in club activities before, and I don't plan to do so in the future," Eriri said proudly, nodding.

"What's there to be proud of?" Ishimaki said, rubbing her forehead, "Doesn't that sound sad? Didn't Sawamura have any friends before…?"

"Well…" Eriri was momentarily speechless when it came to having no friends.

Sakamakiko was right. Due to Eriri's attitude towards others in elementary and middle school, she had many fans but no friends, not even one.

Megumi Kato was also a bit surprised, originally thinking that Eriri, as a rich young lady, would have a broad social circle and many friends. But she found that, like her, Eriri was similar in friendship, which secretly made her proud: Look, this beautiful, lovely, and charming girl belongs to me, Megumi Kato.

"Alright, Kiyo, Sawamura and Kato have their reasons for not joining club activities," said Azusa Satomi, who had been quiet, stepping in to stop Ishimaki from saying more.

"Ah, you're right, Azusa. I wasn't considerate enough. I'm sorry, Sawamura."

"It's okay. You're just thinking of us, and what you said is true. I didn't have many friends before," Eriri said nonchalantly, waving her hand. "But this was deliberate. I don't care much, and now you and Satomi are my friends, aren't you?"

"Of course," Ishimaki and Satomi said in unison, upon hearing Eriri's words.

Then, Ishimaki shyly said to Eriri with anticipation: "Well… Sawamura, can we call you by your first name like Kato does? I hope you can call us by our first names too."

Azusa Satomi, who hadn't spoken, also looked at Eriri with hopeful eyes.

"Of course, that's fine, Kiyo, Azusa."

"Hooray!"

Having received the answer they wanted, Ishimaki jumped up happily, drawing curious attention from the rest of the class.

Noticing the gazes directed at her, Ishimaki realized her actions were conspicuous, so she lowered her blushing face and grabbed Azusa Satomi's hand to return to their seats.

…

The bell signaling the end of the morning's last class rang quietly. Kanoko Hasumi on the podium gently closed the textbook and left the classroom after instructing the students.

The classroom immediately became noisy as it was lunchtime. Some people took out their prepared bento boxes from their desks, while others rushed out of the classroom toward the school cafeteria, as if afraid they wouldn't get a hot meal.

Megumi Kato reached her left hand into the drawer of her desk, touching the bento she had carefully prepared that morning.

When Eriri entered the classroom earlier, Megumi focused her attention entirely on her. She was sure that Eriri didn't have a bento in her bag, but she was uncertain if someone from the Sawamura household would bring lunch for Eriri.

Taking a breath, Megumi poked Eriri's back gently, asking softly, "Eriri, did you bring a bento?"

Eriri had just put her textbook into the desk and felt the soft touch on her back. Megumi's light voice came from behind.

Turning around slowly and seeing Megumi's hand still outstretched, Eriri grasped it with her own, showing a charming smile as she replied softly, "No, I plan to eat something at the cafeteria. Would you like to join me?"

"Well… I made too much bento today and can't finish it alone. Why don't we eat together?" Megumi proposed calmly, wrapping a finger around her hair, but her eyes revealed her delight and anticipation.

Eriri gave Megumi a meaningful look, gently playing with her hand, and nodded with a smile, "Alright."

Not far away, Ishimaki took out her bento and gently pushed Azusa Satomi's shoulder, intending to bring her along to join Eriri and Megumi. But Satomi stopped her, knowing her intention.

"What's wrong, Azusa?" Ishimaki asked softly, puzzled.

"We shouldn't disturb them," Satomi said, subtly pointing toward Eriri and Megumi.

Looking at them and feeling the sweet atmosphere between them, Ishimaki decided against intruding and sat back down.