"Pfft!!! Cough, cough! Cough cough… Wh-What did you say?"
Completely shocked, Eriri spat out her drink on the spot.
"The reason goes back to a month ago," Utaha said calmly, ignoring Eriri's extreme reaction. "Sawamura-san, you know about the Asai family, right?"
"Cough, cough, of course I know!"
"Then this'll be easier to explain. Here's what happened…"
Utaha wasn't the type to confide in others—not just because she wasn't good at socializing, but because she felt talking about it would accomplish nothing and only earn her pitying looks.
However, since she had already been caught, and having decided to give up anyway, she chose to share it in this space that genuinely felt like one of companionship.
It did feel lighter. Being cared for… wasn't such a bad feeling.
She told them everything—starting from when the young master first pursued her, to the sudden rejection of her manuscript, and finally to Akira proposing a deal.
Of course, she skipped over a few parts, like how Akira calmed her anger with some carefully chosen words, and what exactly had pushed her to call that number over the weekend.
As Tomoya listened, his face grew paler and paler, until he couldn't hold it in anymore and blurted out, "This past weekend, Utaha-senpai, did you…"
Utaha's gaze turned cold. She immediately understood what Tomoya was implying.
After making such a huge decision to give up, to be misunderstood in this way was naturally frustrating.
But then again, his reaction also showed how deeply he cared. That thought made her feel a little better, and she managed to suppress her irritation.
"No matter what, Mr. Akira at least helped me out of a tough spot at the time. So yesterday, I invited him for coffee to thank him, and I formally turned down his offer."
Utaha gave a brief explanation.
It wasn't entirely the truth—originally, she'd been impulsively leaning toward accepting it.
But seeing both Eriri and Tomoya visibly relax made a strange thought pop into her mind.
Why are they relieved?
From now on, I won't be able to pick up a pen again.
I won't be able to write under my own name. To you, is protecting my purity more important than my dreams and future?
Utaha knew this thought was full of dark and twisted resentment.
In fact, she'd been stuck in that kind of mindset ever since sinking into darkness over the past month.
Even if she could recognize how irrational it was, she couldn't stop these thoughts from surfacing, nor could she keep them from affecting her.
Like now—even though she knew her friends were just happy she didn't take the wrong path, that they were relieved she turned him down, that dark thought still lingered, refusing to go away.
Tomoya slammed his fists hard against the back wall of the classroom and shouted angrily, "Utaha-senpai did the right thing not to accept! People like that can't be trusted! For all we know, they're working together!"
A note of aggression appeared in his voice.
Utaha, someone who had long dealt in the subtle art of language, immediately picked up on his tone.
That previously mentioned dark thought now pressed even more heavily on her chest.
At the same time, however, she was glad that Tomoya had shown clear hostility. Conflicting emotions churned inside her—she no longer knew what she was feeling.
Still, there was one thing she felt she had to clarify.
"Mr. Akira…I don't think Mr. Ogiwara was lying to me. And I don't think he's working with that Asai boy. He merely offered a deal. Even without that deal, things would've ended up just as badly."
Noticing the darkening expression on Tomoya's face, Utaha changed the way she addressed Akira midway.
But Tomoya's expression only worsened.
Megumi quietly placed another glass of water in front of Utaha. No one had noticed when she'd poured a second cup, but at least while speaking, it managed to redirect the attention.
"Senpai, are you planning to give up?" she asked.
Looking at the usually invisible Megumi, Utaha gave a bitter smile. "At this point, it's impossible not to, right…"
"No! There's still a way!" Tomoya suddenly turned around and grabbed Eriri by the shoulders.
"Eriri! You can help, right? Your father's a British diplomat, and your mother has high status too. You can get in contact with those kinds of people, right?!"
Suddenly being grabbed, Eriri blushed. "Uh, yeah, I guess I can… but…"
"Please help! Even just a little! At least give us a chance to apologize!
Utaha-senpai didn't do anything that terrible! This shouldn't be happening to her! If we just apologize sincerely, I know it'll be okay!"
Tomoya said passionately.
Although Eriri had grown up with both her parents being rather… unconventional, she wasn't completely clueless about those social circles.
At least during parties hosted at her house, she had to make appearances. Through exposure, she'd picked up on a few things.
And she knew—this wasn't something that could be fixed by "just apologizing sincerely."
Utaha had come to understand this herself lately. It wasn't that she hadn't tried to apologize.
When the incident first occurred, she had softly said sorry.
It had done absolutely nothing.
Later, when Akira apologized to Tomoya, the way he reacted made it even clearer.
Not every mistake can be forgiven. Not everyone is capable of forgiving. Thinking you can fix everything just by apologizing sincerely isn't just unrealistic—it's outright naive.
"Tomoya-kun…"
Utaha tried to pull Tomoya back. But he didn't move. His eyes blazed as he stared straight into Eriri's.
In the end, she didn't pull harder.
Even knowing how slim the chances were, even knowing it would likely end in humiliation, when a dream you've poured passion into is validated, it's not something you can give up so easily.
A drowning person will cling to anything.
Even if it drags others down.
Meeting Tomoya's fervent eyes—and catching a glimmer of hope in Utaha's—Eriri couldn't help but nod.
"Wait a moment. Let me make a call."
Freed from Tomoya's grasp, Eriri dialed her home number.
"Hello? Mom…"
"Oh? What's the occasion? Why the sudden call?" came a cheerful, refined voice on the other end of the line.
"Um… could you arrange for me to meet the young master of the Asai family? A friend of mine got into a conflict with him and wants to apologize."
"The Asai family? I heard that young master got his forehead cut… Eriri, your friend isn't…"
"…Yeah."
Eriri's confirmation was met with a brief silence.
When the voice returned, there was a noticeable shift in tone—a trace of seriousness beneath the warmth.
"Is it a very close friend, Eriri?"
"…Yes. A very important friend."
Even though she hesitated for a moment—perhaps recalling their usual bickering—Eriri ultimately answered with a firm nod.
"I understand. Then… the day after tomorrow, we'll be hosting a party at home. I'll send the young master an invitation.
But our family doesn't have close ties with the Asais. He might not come. And even if he does, there's no guarantee he'll accept the apology. Be mentally prepared."
"Yeah, I understand. Thank you, Mom."
"No need to thank me. After all, it's Eriri's request~"
At the end, her voice returned to that gently cheerful tone.
Eriri ended the call and turned around to say something—only to see the always proud and aloof Utaha, lowering her head and straightening her back in a rare display of humility.
Eriri was stunned.
Completely speechless.
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