25: A New Script

[After that day, you and Eriri's relationship became temporarily distant due to your deliberate avoidance.]

[But to your surprise, she didn't express any dissatisfaction or seek retribution.]

[Curious, you had your friend, the Black Wing, keep an eye on Eriri from outside her window.]

[You noticed that after that incident, she often seemed lost in thought at home.]

[When studying or drawing at her desk, she frequently picked up the figurine you had given her, holding and gently playing with it.]

[If she disliked someone, she wouldn't keep their gift so prominently displayed.]

[You've learned more about Eriri. Although she appears proud and childish on the surface, she is fundamentally a very kind person.] 

[She can't harbor ill feelings towards a friend, even if that friend did something against her wishes.]

[As a result, you completely revised your previous plans for Eriri. With the dark card revealed, you realized that a rough approach wouldn't work with her.] 

[Being an artist of adult content doesn't break any rules since the law only restricts minors from accessing such materials, not from creating them.]

[You vaguely understand that the friendship you've built with Eriri over the years is the key to your success.]

[After much thought, considering Eriri's character and her subtle feelings for Tomoya Aki, a new script that is subtle and unlikely to raise alarms forms in your mind…]

Let's see what other clever moves he can come up with.

Chisato gets up, takes milk and bread from the fridge, and continues reading while having a late-night snack.

[In the club, you and Eriri act as usual, so no one notices that your relationship has changed.]

[One day, Eriri no longer wants to pretend to be reserved. She doesn't have many friends. The people she chats and laughs with at school are just acquaintances, not true friends.]

[With Tomoya Aki busy with game development and part-time work, Eriri, left undisturbed, spends several days re-evaluating your relationship.] 

[She reflects on your interactions over the years, the many small, seemingly ordinary things that, upon closer examination, reveal deeper feelings.]

[Eriri clearly realizes your affection for her. After putting herself in your shoes, she begins to understand your actions from that day.] 

[She interprets your behavior as a momentary impulse that she can forgive.]

[She wants to move past it and continue being good friends, as you, with your artistic talent and kindness, are an irreplaceable friend, just like Tomoya Aki.]

[She decides not to continue interacting with you as she did before. After the club meeting that day, she approaches you…]

First-Person Perspective

"Even though we're just a high school club and don't have the manpower, resources, or funding of a commercial company, I still believe that with our passion and effort, we can create a game that will amaze the industry and players! Let's all work towards our dreams!"

"Hehe!"

"Oh!"

After Tomoya Aki's stirring speech, the club members gather in a circle, extending their arms and stacking them together. 

They all shout a powerful, rallying phrase and lift their arms high.

From Chisato's perspective, Tomoya Aki's enthusiasm is unique and truly infectious. It motivates those around him to willingly work towards his dream.

Without this, he wouldn't have created such a cohesive club in such a short time.

After the meeting, as usual, Chisato says goodbye to everyone and leaves the club alone.

Eriri watches Tomoya Aki, surrounded by several members and unable to attend to anything else, and sighs softly. 

She grabs her bag and hurries to catch up with him, heading towards the school gate.

"Suzumiya!"

The voice comes first, followed by the sound of her footsteps growing clearer. Eriri runs up beside Chisato, walking next to him.

"..."

Chisato glances at her briefly, without responding, and quickened his pace as he exits the school.

"Hey, wait up!"

Eriri, with shorter legs, can only jog to keep up.

"Stop avoiding me. We need to talk!"

At the street corner, with the green light about to turn red in five seconds, she grabs Chisato's bag to make him stop. She releases him once the light turns red.

Good, at least we have a minute to talk.

Seeing Eriri panting slightly, Chisato looks away awkwardly.

"What do you want to say? If it's about the game's CG background, I can send it to you tonight so you can work on the character design."

"That's not the point! Also, why have you been ignoring my messages on Line? It's so rude!"

"..."

"Why aren't you speaking?"

"...Sawamura, what do you want me to say?"

Chisato's response makes Eriri's words catch in her throat, unable to come out. She sees the pain and disappointment in his eyes and bites her lip.

'Yes, these days, he must be feeling worse than I am.'

'He's the one who acted on uncontrolled feelings of affection. His guilt must be much stronger than the troubles I've been facing…'

But just as this thought crosses her mind, Chisato takes a deep breath and slowly says to Eriri,

"I won't apologize and I've never regretted what I did to you that day, Eriri."

This time, he uses her first name directly instead of the more distant surname.