27: The Corrupted Friendship

"Don't cry... People might think I'm bullying you."

'You are bullying me. Normally, would a guy really be so petty as to cut off a girl just like that?'

Eriri wanted to say this, but because she felt she was in the wrong, she remained silent.

"…"

Chisato, looking helpless, took out a tissue and wiped away the tears from Eriri's flower-like face.

Eriri kept sniffling, her beautiful blue eyes now rimmed in red, making her look very pitiable.

"And, now that you're at my house, you can let go of me."

"...I won't let go. What if you run away?"

"I won't run away. This is my house. Where could I go?"

After some negotiation, Eriri finally released her grip, albeit reluctantly.

Chisato hung his coat in the closet and said he'd go make some tea before heading downstairs.

Eriri didn't stop him. She needed some time alone to sort out her thoughts, even if just temporarily.

After their conversation outside, she had instinctively grabbed Chisato's hand to keep him from leaving. She was determined not to let go and followed him all the way to his house.

Luckily, his mother wasn't home; otherwise, Eriri would have been too embarrassed to show her face.

In the more private setting of his home, Eriri's sense of embarrassment finally kicked in.

It was embarrassing, but things weren't too bad. At least, considering the recent events, her relationship with Chisato seemed to be improving slightly.

It had been a while since she last visited his room. She had come over twice before but didn't stay long enough to really observe.

Eriri stood up and began to look around.

The room was clean and tidy, with no strange items or odors. The desk was filled with books, mostly art instruction books.

Seeing the neatly arranged art supplies on the desk, Eriri walked over and lightly touched them. This was where he studied and drew every day. 

She noticed a small lock on the desk drawer, but the lock wasn't fastened. 

'If it's locked, there must be something important inside, like a diary recording his feelings?'

Rationally, Eriri knew it was wrong to invade someone's privacy, but her hand reached out toward the drawer on its own.

Chisato was becoming more and more unfamiliar to her. Even though he unilaterally declared that their friendship could no longer continue, she didn't want to give up just like that.

If she could see his diary, maybe she could understand his inner thoughts better. Perhaps their friendship could find a new chance.

Eriri's fingers were gently on the delicate little lock.

"Caw!—" Suddenly, a sharp and unpleasant sound filled the room.

Before Eriri could react, a black crow landed on the desk.

It flapped its dark wings frantically, causing Eriri to retreat in fear and sit on the bed.

"What's wrong?"

At this moment, Chisato walked in with a cup of tea.

He saw the black wings standing in the middle of the desk and the frightened Eriri and vaguely understood what was happening.

He handed the tea to Eriri without changing his expression.

"Sorry for scaring you. This is my pet. I should have mentioned it before."

"It's a bird..."

Eriri instinctively started to say something, then realized that a crow is indeed a type of bird.

"Finish your tea and then go back." Chisato had resumed his indifferent demeanor from earlier. 

Eriri held the tea cup tightly. The journey here had solidified her determination.

"I'm not going back just like that. Unless you agree to be friends with me again."

Chisato sighed. "Didn't you understand what I just said, Eriri? Do I need to repeat it?"

"I don't care…"

"What?"

"I don't care about that. I don't want to end our friendship like this. Didn't we agree to participate in the art competition together this year?"

"The situation is different now…"

"What's different! It's no different from before. Forget the unhappy things. Chisato, aren't you a man?"

"Are you still saying that now…"

Facing the increasingly agitated Eriri, Chisato stood up and walked to her, meeting her defiant gaze.

"Being favored really makes you bold. You can say such things easily because you know that, being someone I like, you always have the right to be capricious." 

"For you, I'm just a distraction to prevent you from feeling lonely, right?"

"That's not... not how I think."

Eriri's hard-won courage and determination faded away in the face of Chisato's cold expression.

The gap between them was widening.

Things couldn't go on like this. She needed to do something to change the situation.

Though she knew she had to, her body felt cold, and her mind stopped working, leaving her unable to act.

Was she really being this foolish and dumb?

'Ah, it's so frustrating…'

She couldn't help but start crying again…

"Stop crying already…"

"Waa, what did you think... I'm crying because of..?!." The words she wanted to say to save face lost their strength and grew weaker.

Chisato used his thumb to wipe away Eriri's tears, feeling her tender skin, and finally softened.

"I understand now."

"Huh?" Eriri was somewhat incredulous.

Did his words mean...

"Let's make up." Without pretending to hesitate, Chisato said directly.

He looked at Eriri's eyes, which were slowly brightening, and repeated, "After all, I'm just a hopeless fool who likes you. If it makes you happy, then let's reconcile."

"Chisato... are you not just saying this to comfort me?"

'Please don't let it be just that!!!' Eriri silently prayed in her heart.

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