Chapter 37: Eriri's Outburst

When Hachiman arrived at school, he found Kasumigaoka-senpai treating him as she usually did—teasing him the moment she sat down, as if she'd completely forgotten that he'd rejected her confession the day before.

Hachiman played along, pretending as if nothing had happened. Truthfully, he appreciated this. It spared both of them the awkwardness.

Initially, he'd thought they might not even remain friends after yesterday, but it seemed they could at least... be acquaintances? Friends, maybe?

As Hachiman was dealing with Kasumigaoka, a blonde twin-tailed girl walked in quietly through the back door of the classroom, head lowered.

Wait, Eriri's here already!

If he had to pick one girl to talk to right now, Hachiman would undoubtedly choose Eriri. No way would he willingly engage with the senpai he'd turned down just yesterday.

Kasumigaoka-senpai seemed calm on the surface, but who knew what she was really thinking? Talking to her always felt like being on the edge of a minefield.

"Good morning, Sawamura-san," Hachiman greeted without hesitation as Eriri walked past his desk.

"!!"

Eriri, who had just been about to sit down, froze in place when she heard him.

She turned to look at him hesitantly. When her gaze met his, her cheeks flushed slightly as she stammered, "G-Good morning, Hachiman-kun."

Blushing?

So cute.

Could she still be dwelling on what she'd said to me yesterday?

Well, Hachiman didn't mind. He was a forgiving guy. He didn't take her words to heart at all.

Besides, she wasn't wrong—he was a dead fish-eyed guy. No normal girl would ever like someone like him.

But just as Hachiman was considering saying something to ease Eriri's apparent unease, the person behind him seemed to have other plans.

"Hey, Air-kun, I was talking to you. How dare you ignore me and start chatting with someone else? And with Sawamura-san, of all people. That makes me mad, you know?"

Kasumigaoka leaned her chin on her hand and smiled sweetly, but under the desk, her black stocking-clad foot poked at Hachiman's leg a few times, expressing her displeasure.

Hachiman sighed inwardly.

Kasumigaoka kept smiling and then added teasingly, "Hachiman-kun, don't tell me you're interested in Sawamura-san?"

"Eh?"

Hachiman immediately felt alarmed by her bright smile.

I already have a girlfriend!

Why would I be interested in someone else?

The only reason I greeted Eriri was to try to make friends.

After all, Yukinoshita had specifically assigned me this task for the week. If I didn't show any progress, I was pretty sure she'd be furious.

Meanwhile, Eriri, who had just sat down, suddenly tensed up again when she heard Kasumigaoka's words. She glanced over at Hachiman nervously, and when their eyes met again, her face turned even redder.

Flustered, she quickly blurted out, "Kasumigaoka, I've already said—I can't possibly like someone like him! He's just a..."

But as she was about to throw out her usual "dead fish-eyed loser" insult, something stopped her. Her expression shifted awkwardly, and she quickly shut her mouth.

Don't worry, Eriri. I can take it.

Insult me all you want—it doesn't bother me.

Kasumigaoka, unfazed, gave a sly smile. "Oh, I wasn't saying you like him. I was saying he might like you. Why are you getting so worked up?"

Hearing this, Eriri's gaze darted around, and she stammered, "I... I just misspoke, okay?"

Kasumigaoka chuckled softly, completely ignoring Eriri as she turned back to Hachiman. "Now then, Hachiman-kun, let's get back to discussing our plans for the weekend. Are you coming to my place on Saturday or Sunday?"

After a brief pause, Hachiman answered, "Saturday, I guess."

Kasumigaoka's smile widened. "Oh my, you're so eager! I'll make sure to entertain you properly, Hachiman-kun~"

"Uh..."

"Huh?!"

Eriri, who had been resolutely trying to ignore the two of them, suddenly froze.

Turning to Hachiman, she exclaimed, "You're going to Kasumigaoka's house tomorrow?!"

Before Hachiman could respond, Kasumigaoka cut in. "That's right. Hachiman-kun is coming to my place tomorrow. Is there a problem with that, Sawamura-san?"

Eriri's face paled as she glanced between Hachiman and Kasumigaoka. A terrible realization seemed to dawn on her.

"You two are—"

Kasumigaoka ignored her and smiled playfully at Hachiman. "I just hope you don't disappoint me when you come over, Hachiman-kun. If you can't keep up, I might have to mock you~"

Hachiman winced.

What kind of innuendo-laden threat is that, senpai?!

While Hachiman understood what Kasumigaoka actually meant, Eriri was clearly interpreting things in a much more scandalous way.

A boy going to a girl's house on the weekend? There was only one way to interpret that!

Under normal circumstances, Eriri wouldn't have cared what Kasumigaoka did. But now, every time she looked at Hachiman's face, memories of that dream from last night surfaced unbidden. Coupled with her mother's teasing earlier about "Hachiman as her future son-in-law," Eriri couldn't stand it anymore.

Seeing Hachiman about to spend the weekend with Kasumigaoka, Eriri panicked.

She instinctively grabbed Hachiman's arm, her tone urgent. "Hachiman-kun, you can't! Don't let her trick you! Kasumigaoka's no good—you mustn't go to her house! Please, don't go!"

"Eh?"

Hachiman froze, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

At first, he'd thought Eriri was a harmless tsundere. But now, seeing her gripping his arm so tightly, she suddenly seemed just as dangerous as Kasumigaoka.

Wait a second... Sawamura-san, you don't have feelings for me too, do you?!

Lately, Hachiman couldn't help but notice how often he unintentionally attracted attention from girls. As someone with a girlfriend, all he wanted was to avoid unnecessary complications.

Damn it, Yukinoshita! Why'd you make me take on this stupid "make friends" assignment?! Isn't having you enough? Why do I need other friends? This is just bringing me more trouble!

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