Chapter 274: Eriri: Now I'm Full!
As a high school romance manga of the youthful kind...
The setup of the heroines can either make or break the entire story.
Eriri felt that if she used the transgender version of Yukima Azuma as the heroine...
This manga might just sell out in no time!
But—the problem is.
A bishoujo onee-san who is both gentle and strong, initiates conversations...
Is calm in the face of adversity, and gives people a sense of security.
With max EQ and IQ, and even remembers the small things that you like.
Someone like that...
Why on earth would they like a... golden retriever?
૮⍝• ᴥ •⍝ა
Eriri felt that the plot was a bit... illogical, you know—
And this led to a bigger question—one that made her doubt herself.
So in the end, why does he like me... for what reason?
(҂ ꒦ິヮ꒦ິ)
Before, Eriri, the ever-optimistic girl, never thought too much about it, and she never felt confused or worried.
But now, after becoming aware of the issue...
Her two blonde pigtails immediately drooped like wilted noodles.
The bowl of ramen, once aromatic and tempting, now suddenly tasted salty.
૮(˶╥︿╥)ა
Seeing that Eriri was clearly in a bad mood,
Yukima Azuma reached out and gently pinched her cute cheek.
"Why the sudden sulking face?"
Eriri chewed on a noodle, muttering with her words unclear:
"Azuma... why do you like me?"
Yukima Azuma was slightly taken aback.
Then he immediately realized—what kind of storyline was running through that little golden head of hers.
"Do you need a reason to love someone?"
Yukima Azuma raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead with his finger.
Eriri put the bowl of noodles down and held her forehead.
"Do I not need a reason...?"
"Do you need a reason?"
"Do I not need a reason...?"
"Do you need a reason?"
After Yukima Azuma played his psychological game, Eriri... gave up.
Because after thinking about it, the reason she liked Yukima Azuma couldn't be explained so simply.
Although the two of them had known each other and become close since the incident where she was isolated in elementary school...
But from merely having feelings for him, to not being able to think of anyone else but Yukima Azuma.
Eriri didn't like just a momentary sense of security—she liked Yukima Azuma as a person.
Once again, being comforted by Azuma deep in her heart.
Just like so many times before.
Eriri's eyes once again sparkled with light.
( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )
This feeling.
If she could capture this feeling in her art—it would surely touch every reader's heart.
However... she still felt like something was missing.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma spoke up to add:
"You could set up the heroine as the shy type, who gets flustered when attacked directly."
"And the male lead could reduce the tsundere traits, keep the otaku nature, and add a setup where if pushed to his limit, he'd immediately counterattack with a direct approach."
Eriri slapped her palm against her forehead in realization.
"That's it! This way, the interactions between the characters will be more natural!"
But right after, Eriri felt something was a bit off...
What do you mean 'reduce tsundere traits'?
Who's the tsundere here!?
You're the tsundere!!
I—Sawamura Eriri—am absolutely not a tsundere!!
(💢,,>﹏<,,) b-baka!
"So... what should we name the manga?" Eriri asked curiously.
"Hmm... let's call it 'Sawamura-san Teasing Master,'"
Yukima Azuma replied without hesitation.
After all, the character setup he mentioned earlier was based on the style of the manga Takagi-san from his memories.
Silently committing that name to her heart.
Eriri nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.
It felt like... if this kind of manga were drawn, it would surely feel like recording the love diary of the two of them.
She finished the last bit of noodles in her bowl.
Eriri realized... there was another soft-boiled egg at the bottom of the bowl.
She ate the egg too.
Eriri contentedly rubbed her small belly.
(っ˘ڡ˘ς)
Then, those emerald green eyes—staring intently at Yukima Azuma without blinking.
( ≖‿ ≖ )Heehee
Yukima Azuma froze under her gaze.
Mainly because... the tsundere Eriri of the past certainly didn't have such a bold presence.
But at this moment—Eriri had only one thought in her mind.
That was: she had to prove, beyond a doubt—she was absolutely not a tsundere!
Eriri suddenly leapt up from her seat and charged straight at Yukima Azuma.
With Yukima Azuma's physical abilities, he of course easily caught Eriri's rush.
But seeing the "hehe boi~" expression clearly on Eriri's face...
Yukima Azuma decided to play along with her, not resisting as she rushed toward him.
Azuma: (っ-,-)つ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Hold on, let her cook!
As a result—both of them "fell" to the ground as planned.
Beside them was the large bed in Eriri's room.
Although Eriri slept alone, her bed was surprisingly spacious.
It wasn't clear whether she chose a large bed because she had poor sleeping posture...
Or if she had simply gotten used to a big bed and that's why she slept poorly.
The two fell onto the soft bed, one on top, the other below.
Eriri was on top, smiling as if she had just executed a successful scheme.
"E-Eriri-san... W-What are you planning to do?" Yukima Azuma played along, deliberately looking surprised and timid.
(｡Ó﹏Ò｡)
Hearing that, Eriri placed her hands on Yukima Azuma's chest.
Her small pink tongue lightly licked her lips.
"Azuma-chan, there's an old saying: after a full stomach, you start thinking about... other things."
"And now, I'm full!"
(≖⩊≖)
Who said Sawamura Eriri couldn't be the one to take the lead?
Yukima Azuma hesitated slightly at Eriri's "attack."
Could it be... that Eriri really had the potential to take the initiative?
Was it just that her tsundere façade had been covering it all along?
...
...
...
Two hours later.
Looking at Eriri sleeping soundly, with the corner of her eye still wet with a few tears.
Yukima Azuma smirked disdainfully.
"Hmph... Really overthinking it."
She was just weak and liked to put on airs!
...
The next morning.
It was unclear when Sayuri had returned.
All Yukima Azuma knew was that when he went downstairs, he bumped into Sayuri right at the staircase.
Seeing Sayuri smile... with that very distinct "ara ara mama~" grin.
( ∩´͈ ᐜ `͈∩)
Yukima Azuma really wanted to throw a sarcastic comment.
But he held back.
"Well, since it's spring break, why not stay here for a few days?" Sayuri suggested.
The final exams were over, and the parent-teacher meeting had finished.
Next up was the much-anticipated spring break.
"But today I have to visit Shuchiin," Yukima Azuma replied.
If there were nothing important, he would've actually been quite willing to stay at the Sawamura house for a couple of days.
After all, with Eriri's changing personality... it was definitely very enticing.
However, as an exchange student, today Yukima Azuma had to go to Shuchiin to complete the formalities for the end of the exchange program.
The school life at Shuchiin—this chapter was about to come to a close.
Additionally, he had to return Suou Yuki home as well.
Knowing Yukima Azuma had something to do, Sayuri didn't tease him any further and simply asked if he needed a ride.
Recently, it had always been Haruno who was in charge of taking Yukima Azuma to Shuchiin.
Now that he was at the Sawamura household, Yukima Azuma felt a little out of place.
Finally, he nodded and accepted Sayuri's offer.
He got into the Sawamura family car and set off toward Shuchiin Academy.
...
Unlike the usual calm and quiet atmosphere,
Shuchiin today—after the end of the semester—was very lively.
The results of the final exams were posted on the bulletin board in the corridor.
The list only showed the top 50 students from each grade.
A large crowd of students had gathered in front of the hallway, chatting excitedly.
Outside the crowd, Shinomiya Kaguya was tiptoeing, trying to peek inside.
The red ribbon tied in her hair swayed slightly with her movements.
This scene was truly a vivid portrayal of youth.
Yukima Azuma, standing outside, saw the scene and...
Couldn't help but pull out his phone and sneakily take a picture.
Looking back at the photo he just took—beautiful as a painting.
(づ˶•༝•˶)づ[◉°] (❀❛ ֊ ❛„)♡ = ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧
Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
Though his photography skills weren't great, as long as the subject was beautiful, any photo would turn out well.
"Here's a picture of President Shinomiya checking the semester results from the previous term~"
A mischievous voice sounded from beside him.
Yukima Azuma immediately became interested.
He turned to look.
The person who shared this interest, of course, was Suou Yuki.
Seeing Yukima Azuma turn toward her, Suou Yuki smiled lightly and shook the phone in her hand.
She swiped through her photo album and, in no time, used the date filter to find a picture from the entrance exam period of the previous semester.
In the photo, a young girl with flowing black hair stood in the middle of the crowd.
Her deep red, wine-colored eyes—bereft of any emotion.
Just by looking at the photo, one could feel the cold, distant aura of a flower at the top of a mountain.
Even the other students in the photo unconsciously avoided her, leaving a small space around her.
Looking at that picture, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Indeed, Ice Kaguya.
When they first met, Shinomiya Kaguya in Yukima Azuma's memory had exactly this same image.
And now—
"What... What are you two doing?"
(｡•̀ ⤙ •́ ｡ꐦ) !!!
Shinomiya Kaguya, who had turned around after hearing the "click" of a camera, now saw Yukima Azuma and Suou Yuki openly exchanging pictures of her right in front of her…
She instantly felt embarrassed and frustrated, puffing her cheeks and glaring at them.
Kaguya-chan, O' kawai koto~~
ฅ^>⩊<^ ฅ