Sagiri's body stiffened, but when she looked up and saw a tall girl with a high ponytail, doll-like features, and a stunningly pretty face, she was momentarily stunned.
"Are you Eromanga-sensei?" Shirogane Kei looked down in disbelief at the small, potato-like girl who was somehow the famous doujin artist.
She had imagined someone greasy, slovenly, and middle-aged — not this.
"I-I am."
Sagiri lowered her head and instinctively glanced at Kei's white dress.
'Such a pure and cute girl… her panties must be white under that dress.'
Kei instinctively took a step back and covered her skirt with her hands, glaring warily. "I get the feeling you're thinking something really inappropriate right now."
"S-Sorry!"
Sagiri bowed deeply, embarrassed that her dirty thoughts had been noticed.
"It's a professional habit. Whenever I see a cute girl, I can't help but imagine what's under her skirt."
"National Marseille!"
Shirogane Kei: "..."
This girl...
How do I put it — at least she's honest.
"Whatever."
Kei didn't really mind.
She couldn't control what others thought of her.
And honestly, this girl was so cute she didn't feel much disgust.
"Let's go. I'll take you to meet Senpai."
"Thanks for your help."
…
'So Sagiri actually has friends.'
From a distance, hiding in the bushes, Izumi Masamune looked on with relief.
He was happy that his sister had made a good friend.
And Shirogane Kei looked like a serious and well-behaved kid.
If Sagiri had gone to meet someone like Takashi — someone who gave off a full-on bad boy vibe — Masamune would've jumped out immediately.
Looks really can fool people.
Even if a girl smokes and drinks and lives wildly, if she looks sweet and innocent, people will often assume she's a "good girl."
Meanwhile, near a utility pole on the other side, Shirogane Miyuki also breathed a sigh of relief.
'So she really was meeting a friend.'
That morning, he'd seen Kei wake up early, get dressed, and do a "natural makeup" look before heading out.
He thought she was going to meet Takashi and secretly followed.
But seeing her meet a small girl, he decided to head back.
If he kept tailing and got caught, Kei would blow up at him again.
"Time to go." x2
Both big brothers, now reassured, returned home in peace.
Had they known who their sweet cabbage-like little sisters were actually meeting, they'd have deeply regretted leaving so soon.
…
Tokyo – Yakiniku Tonya
"No cakey base, no smudged shadow, lashes are fine…"
In front of the private dining room, Shirogane Kei suddenly stopped and took out a small mirror, checking her makeup carefully.
Sagiri was confused.
Wasn't she here to help solve a problem?
Why was she fixing her makeup?
She looked like she was about to meet her crush.
And indeed — that's exactly what was happening.
Helping Sagiri was just an excuse for Kei to see Takashi.
She wasn't tsundere — she was just prideful, like her brother, and didn't want to lose face.
She felt like approaching Takashi without a reason would weaken her position in the relationship.
And for someone as proud as Kei, that was absolutely unacceptable.
So she would never contact Takashi first. Even when they chatted, she kept things minimal.
But as long as Takashi didn't end the conversation, she was willing to keep chatting all night.
Even if it meant dozing off during class the next day.
'I have to make him confess first.' That was Kei's resolve.
'No problem.'
After finishing her check, she opened the private room door, her expression calm and collected, nothing like the nervousness she'd shown a moment ago.
"Senpai, sorry to keep you waiting."
At that moment, Takashi, who was placing meat on the grill, heard the voice and looked up with a smile.
"Not really waiti…ng…"
Her silver hair was tied into a high ponytail like starlight, her blue eyes were deep, her eyelashes curled slightly, her nose elegantly arched, and her lips soft and rosy even without lipstick.
Looking at the girl before him, Takashi momentarily couldn't tell if she was Shirogane Kei or Hitomi.
'Heh, just as I thought.'
Kei grinned inwardly.
'Senpai has no resistance to high ponytails.'
She had once seen Hitomi chatting with Takashi at the school festival. In that moment, she saw the affection hidden in his eyes.
That's when she suspected he liked that "type."
And since she had silver hair too, she decided to try it out today.
She didn't expect such a strong reaction from him.
Total victory.
Kei was beaming inside — unaware that Takashi, looking at her face, was actually missing someone else.
Even though they video-chatted every night, a phone screen couldn't compare to the real thing.
That's why so many long-distance relationships fall apart — because when you need someone the most, they're not there.
Takashi realized Hitomi was terrifying.
He might've once believed in "one person forever," but not anymore. He wasn't some devoted romantic now — he was fickle and indulgent.
Yet during this time without Hitomi around, instead of feeling free, he found himself starting to miss her.
'I'll fly to see her tonight,' he decided.
"Senpai, what's wrong?"
Shirogane Kei was delighted that Takashi was completely charmed by her, but she still pretended not to notice, acting all innocent as she asked:
"Stupid little sister, your acting is terrible," Takashi saw right through her little game in a single glance.
She was probably thrilled inside right now.
"You're just too pretty today, Little Kei. I'm nearly ready to fall at your feet," Takashi said with a casual grin.
This was how he dealt with girls who liked to play hard to get—just say outright that he was head over heels for them.
"Se-senpai, w-what nonsense are you spouting?"
His bluntness completely threw Shirogane Kei off. She had expected him to deny it, or change the subject—anything but this full-frontal attack.
And yet... she really had no way to deal with it.
Sagiri watched Shirogane Kei blushing furiously and fidgeting in place, then glanced at Takashi, who was smirking and gazing at her with affection.
Sagiri felt like she shouldn't be here—she should be under a truck.
Also... "Little Kei," do you even remember what you came here for?
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