RNP Page 100
Page 100
She didn't believe it was just a coincidence.
"Perhaps it's just my imagination," she said softly, as if explaining to herself.
“Maybe,” Yuto agreed.
However, Mai Sakurajima clearly had no intention of giving up on Tsubasa Maisaki Sugimoto.
She gazed at Yuto, as if having made up her mind, and spoke again: "Then, Itsuka-kun."
She called out his name, "Now that we're 'acquainted' alumni, can we exchange contact information?"
Yuto Itsuka was taken aback.
Do you want to refuse?
'Sorry, I don't give my contact information to strangers'?
The other person is a senior student who is highly regarded throughout the school, and we just had a friendly exchange. Such a rejection seems rude and deliberate.
“…Okay.” He took out his phone and added the other person as a Line friend.
Mai Sakurajima finally smiled.
"Thank you, Itsuka-kun. Please take care of me in the future." She put away her phone, stood up, nodded slightly to Yuto, then picked up her almost untouched plate and turned to leave.
She left decisively, leaving Itsuka Yuuto with only her back view, the sound of hearts breaking for all the boys in the cafeteria, and the burning gossip spirits of the girls.
"My youth...is over..." Not far away, Yoshihiko Uego lay on the table, letting out a mournful cry.
Kohei Onodera also clutched his chest, looking pained.
Yuto Itsuka scratched his hair in frustration, staring at the contact in his phone's contact list labeled "Sakurajima-senpai," and remained silent for a moment.
……
After school, when he walked into the club activity room, he was greeted by two sharp eyes.
"Oh my? Isn't this our 'Beautiful Knight' who captured the heart of the nation's actress on his very first day of school? He's truly charming."
Kasumigaoka Utaha sat by the window, a playful smile on her lips.
Meanwhile, Eriri, who was sitting in front of her easel but hadn't started drawing, suddenly turned around.
“Yuto…is what they said true? You…you and that Sakurajima Mai…” Her voice trembled slightly, and her twin tails hung listlessly.
Yuto Itsuka sighed; he knew it would turn out this way.
This is the speed at which Toyosaki spreads gossip.
"We just bumped into each other in the cafeteria and he asked for my contact information," he explained, trying to sound nonchalant, as he placed his bag on his seat.
Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, Sakurajima-senpai is quite famous as a 'high-class beauty,' and she keeps her distance from anyone who tries to befriend her."
Why is it that they show such special favor to our ordinary junior, Wuhe?
Nothing special...
Yuto Itsuka replied helplessly, "I don't know either."
“You…” Eriri bit her lower lip, her fingers gripping the paintbrush tightly until her knuckles turned white.
She looked at Yuto, wanting to say something, but not knowing where to begin.
Is this a question?
In what capacity should one raise this question?
Are you angry?
What right do they have to be angry?
During the summer vacation, they had just experienced a huge upheaval.
To protect her paintings, he confronted industry giants and shouldered all the pressure alone.
They are partners, comrades-in-arms fighting side by side, and this trust and tacit understanding is her most cherished treasure.
But now, an enemy so powerful it suffocates her has appeared.
The other party is not only a household name celebrity, but also a truly fulfilling and beautiful person.
And Yuto's attitude towards her seemed so...unusual.
Eriri knows Yuto very well. Although he usually seems a bit carefree, he usually rejects girls' advances in a polite and distant way.
He wouldn't be showing such a troubled and helpless expression like he is now.
This unusual situation made her feel uneasy.
"Sawamura-kun," Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice rang out again, "it seems your partner has found some new collaborators. Shouldn't you be feeling a little threatened in your position as an exclusive illustrator?"
Eriri instantly bristled: "Yuto isn't that kind of person! We are...we are the best partners!"
She shouted loudly, as if she were refuting Kasumigaoka Utaha, or as if she were trying to convince herself.
"Is that so?" Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled softly, picked up her book again, and stopped looking at her. "I hope so."
Yuto Itsuki was caught in the middle of the two, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
Just then, the door to the activity room was gently pulled open.
"Um... I'm coming in."
Kato Megumi peeked in, saw the tense atmosphere in the room, and blinked.
"Ah, everyone's here. I'm here to deliver the application forms for today's club activities." She walked in, placed the documents on the table, and then looked at Yuto quite naturally. "Itsuka-kun, you seem to be quite popular today."
It was like saying "The weather is nice today," but it miraculously diluted the tense atmosphere in the activity room.
"Kato-kun, even you..." Yuto smiled bitterly.
“Yes, because everyone’s talking about it.” Kato Megumi nodded, then looked at Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha. “Eri and Kasumigaoka-senpai seem to care about this a lot too.”
Her words were always so direct, yet never offensive.
Eriri blushed slightly after hearing what she said and didn't say anything more.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gave Kato Megumi a meaningful look.
Yuto Itsuka sighed and stepped forward. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, I'll tell you the truth. It's not what you think."
"We met Sakurajima-senpai during summer vacation in Atami. She was filming at the time, right? Today in the cafeteria, she probably recognized me, so she came over to say hello." Yuto paused, trying to make his tone sound more casual.
"As for asking for her contact information... to be honest, I was quite surprised too. Maybe... it's just that she's a very straightforward person."
This explanation sounds reasonable, but it cannot completely smooth out the creases in Eriri's heart.
She knew Yuto; he wasn't someone who would passively accept things.
If he is truly bothered, there are a hundred ways to politely decline.
The fact that he didn't speak for himself is itself telling.
"Is that so..." Eriri lowered her head and muttered softly, no longer asking any further questions.
She picked up a paintbrush, but stared blankly at the blank canvas, clearly not having heard a word.
Kasumigaoka Utaha gave Yuto a deep look and stopped provoking him with words.
……
Volume 1: Chapter 113: Before the Cultural Festival
Back at his apartment that evening, Yuto Itsuka threw his backpack on a chair, then collapsed onto the bed, too lazy to even turn on the light.
The last rays of the setting sun shone through the window, casting long shadows in the room.
He rolled over, took out his phone, and opened the LINE group that only contained him, Eriri, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Kato Megumi.
The latest message in the group is still "Good morning, everyone" posted by Megumi Kato this morning.
He wanted to say something, so he typed a line, deleted it, typed it again, and deleted it again.
An apology? An explanation? Neither seems quite appropriate.
Just as he was about to turn off his phone in frustration, a new LINE message notification popped up at the top of the screen.
It came from a contact he had just added today—Sakurajima Mai, whose nickname is "Sakurajima-senpai".
He frowned and opened the message.
"Sakurajima-senpai: Itsuka-senpai, excuse me."
A very polite opening.
Yuto composed himself and replied:
"Who's more handsome than me? Senior, what's up?"
The other party replied almost instantly after the message was sent.
"Sakurajima-senpai: It's nothing serious, I just wanted to ask if you know when the deadline is for clubs to apply for booths at our school's cultural festival? I just returned to school and I'm not very clear about the procedures yet."
There was no choice but to ask other questions.
Yudou pondered for a moment, recalled something briefly, and then told her the information he knew.
"Who's more handsome than me: I need to submit the application form and the activity plan to the student union by next Friday."
Sakurajima-senpai: Really? Thank you, Itsuka-senpai, you've been a great help.
"Who's more handsome than me? You're welcome."
The conversation seemed to be coming to an end.
Yuto breathed a sigh of relief, his finger hovering over the lock screen button, ready to toss the phone aside.
However, another message popped up from the other party.
"Sakurajima-senpai: To express my gratitude, could I treat you to dinner this Saturday?"
Wuhe Yuuto: "..."
At that moment, two little figures were locked in a fierce battle in his mind.
A rational little voice told him: Reject her! Stay away from her! You and she are strangers, don't cause trouble for yourself and those around you! The feelings in the simulator are fake, the troubles in reality are real!
Another, more sentimental voice says: Why not? Aren't you curious? Aren't you curious why she found you? Aren't you curious whether she has simulated memories? Running away won't solve anything. Going to see her and making things clear face-to-face might be the best choice.
After a long while, emotion prevailed over reason.
He couldn't truly treat Mai Sakurajima as a complete stranger.
Instead of wasting your time guessing and dodging, you should just go and keep the appointment.
Go and see what she really wants to do, and also confront the wavering within yourself.
This may be the best way to sever that false bond.
Yuto Itsuka took a deep breath and typed a word on the screen.
"Who's more handsome than me? Okay."
Message sent successfully.
The other party quickly replied with a smiley face emoji and agreed on a time and place.
Putting down his phone, Yuto leaned against the headboard, watching the last glimmer of light outside the window being swallowed by the night.
For some reason, after making the decision, the restlessness and unease in his heart subsided considerably.
Avoiding problems won't solve anything.
there is always a solution to a problem.
……
……
Thursday morning.
The school bell rang, and the homeroom teacher, Yoshiko Hasumi, walked in wearing high heels.
She was dressed in a smart business suit today, with a gentle smile on her face.
"Alright, students, quiet down." She patted the podium. "Before we begin class, I have two things to announce."