By the time both of them had finished reading the plan—no, the story of White Album—over half an hour had passed.
When they reached the final page and saw that the rest was blank, Eriri suddenly shouted out:
"Where's the rest?! The continuation of the story! There has to be more, right? Hurry up and give it to me!"
Yukima Azuma could only rub his temples in helplessness.
"There is a White Album 2… but," he began patiently, "Eriri, this is still just a plan for a game. Right now, it's nothing more than ideas—cold, intangible data stored on a hard drive."
"The first part hasn't even been made yet, and you're already demanding the sequel. Don't you think you're jumping the gun a little?"
Realizing her excitement had gotten the better of her, Eriri finally calmed down.
The plan had been so detailed, so vividly written, that she had genuinely felt like she was playing the actual game.
After all, she was an illustrator—just reading the text alone was enough to spark full-color scenes in her mind.
"Guess that old saying, 'big chest, small brain,' really is just a rumor," Kasumigaoka Utaha quipped casually. "Though in your case, Sawamura-san, it doesn't make much difference either way."
"You proud of those black stockings of yours?" Eriri fired back. "Just wait a few years, when everything starts sagging—then we'll see who's laughing!"
"Hmm. Well, at least I have something that can sag," Utaha replied with a shrug.
Eriri ground her teeth in frustration.
Just as the tension flared up again, Yukima Azuma flopped dramatically onto the podium.
"Can't either of you feel any sympathy for me?"
"My masterpiece, the story I poured my soul into, is right here—and all you two do is bicker. I'm seriously about to cry here!"
His exaggerated expression of despair somehow diffused the tension.
Both girls snickered despite themselves.
"Alright, alright," Kasumigaoka finally said with a soft sigh. "I'll start working on a detailed script. With how fleshed out this plan is, it shouldn't be hard."
"Thanks, senpai," Yukima said warmly. "But don't push yourself too hard, okay? Even if you have to stay up late, remember to pace yourself."
At that, Kasumigaoka instinctively touched the wrist support tucked inside her pocket. Her eyes flickered briefly—softly, almost wistfully.
"I'll start the character designs soon too," Eriri chimed in, trying to sound casual. "I've still got other projects, but I'll make time for this."
"Thanks, Eriri," Azuma said with a genuine smile. "I'm counting on you. And if you run into any trouble, don't hesitate to talk to me—we'll figure it out together."
Eriri's lips curved into a soft smile, almost involuntarily.
Outside Toyonozaki Academy.
"Alright, see you tomorrow, Eriri," Yukima Azuma waved.
He needed to head toward the bus station, while Eriri's house was in the opposite direction—up the hill near the detective slope.
The two began to part ways.
"Hehe, see you tomorrow!" Eriri waved back, smiling like a lovestruck idiot.
And that should've been the end of the day—
Until:
"Let's go home together,"
—Kasumigaoka Utaha said sweetly, suddenly hooking her arm around Yukima's. And she said it loudly enough to make sure Eriri heard.
Eriri, who had just turned around, spun back with a screech and rushed to wedge herself between them.
"Wait, what?! What do you mean, 'go home together'? Did I just get isekai'd by Truck-sama without noticing?!"
She shoved herself between them like a living barrier, ready to intercept any further flirting or emotional damage.
"Oh? You didn't know?" Kasumigaoka blinked innocently. "I'm living with Azuma."
Eriri nearly fainted on the spot.
"HOW would I know that?! And why are you blushing when you say it?!"
"Didn't Azuma tell you?" Kasumigaoka said slyly. "I guess you two aren't that close after all."
"You're the one who's not close! Your whole family isn't close!"
"Childhood friend, huh?" Utaha said with an arched brow. "Funny—I don't recall Azuma ever mentioning you."
"That's my line! I've never seen you with him either!"
Before things could escalate into an all-out war, Yukima placed a gentle hand on each of their heads.
Golden twin tails and sleek black hair—both silky soft beneath his palms.
And surprisingly, the action worked.
The girls both froze.
Then, wordlessly, stepped on his feet from opposite sides.
"Ow," Yukima winced. "Okay, okay—let's calm down for a sec."
"Let me reintroduce you two, properly."
"Kasumigaoka-senpai—she and I met through our literature club circles. She's renting the second floor of my house. A tenant."
"Eriri—my classmate from elementary and middle school. Childhood friend."
At last, Eriri's volcano of jealousy started to cool.
But her gaze toward Kasumigaoka remained laced with suspicion.
High school students, living together? That was way too suggestive.
A thousand doujinshi scenarios ran through her mind.
Meanwhile, Kasumigaoka glanced sideways at Yukima.
There were things he wasn't saying.
Just like how he hadn't explained her identity clearly before.
This blonde twintail tsundere—so she was the one who had come up in his past…
The relaxing, quiet life she'd had in Azuma's house suddenly felt a little less secure.
"Well then," Utaha said breezily, "Sawamura-san, hello. Sawamura-san, goodbye. Let's go, Azuma."
Eriri: !
She watched them start to walk away—toward the train station, toward home.
Then, as if on instinct, she chased after them.
"I'M COMING TOO!"
Hearing that, Kasumigaoka's eyes widened in mock surprise.
"Wait, Sawamura-san plans to voluntarily go to a boy's house? And throw herself at him? How scandalous!"
Eriri's face turned bright red.
Even though the words weren't technically rude, the images they conjured in her mind…
'No, no, no, think, Eriri, think!'
Then—
'Ah! Got it!'
Her eyes lit up.
"Shiratamaru!" she shouted. "That's right—I'm going to visit Shiratamaru! This has nothing to do with Kasumigaoka-san!"
Kasumigaoka's eyes narrowed slightly.
It wasn't a bad excuse. One she couldn't refute.
But her mind drifted back to yesterday.
Back to the mysterious slippers.
Cherry blossom-colored.
Left at the entrance of the second floor.