"So writing a love letter was your method to lure out Eriri Sawamura?"
On Toyogasaki High School's rooftop, Luo Shu sat on a bench eating the pork cutlet lunch Utaha Kasumigaoka had bought, having just finished the morning's tedious classes.
Beside him, Utaha stirred her tuna salad with a fork, wearing a pleased 'mischief accomplished' expression:
"You only said getting her to come out was my responsibility, without specifying the method, right?"
"I did say that." Luo Shu could only admit he hadn't been careful enough, letting Utaha find a shortcut. "So whose name did you use for the letter? Surely not mine?"
"Of course not you." Utaha said matter-of-factly, adding humorously: "If I'd written Senior Luo's name, Sawamura-kun probably wouldn't dare show up at all."
Hearing this, Luo Shu responded with a wry smile: "I just beat up some bullies when I transferred here. Has that story really been circulating for three years without stopping?"
"Please try to understand Japan's seniority system, oh noble transfer student."
Utaha took a bite of salad, pursing her lips slightly:
"For students raised in Japan, your act of defying seniors carries the same intimidation as storming a kindergarten with a gun."
Luo Shu's expression turned utterly speechless.
Just then, his awakened abilities suddenly detected approaching footsteps.
"Someone's coming up the stairs."
Utaha paused, then smiled slightly:
"It seems our future club member has arrived."
...
At the same time, on the staircase leading to the rooftop, Eriri held the envelope with mixed resignation and pride:
"Honestly, another confession letter. Whether middle school or high school, these boring boys are always the same."
Though secretly an R-18 doujinshi artist, outwardly Eriri Spencer Sawamura was the acknowledged unattainable flower of both middle and high school.
Her father was a member of the British Foreign Office, from the minor aristocratic Spencer family, while her mother came from the prestigious local Sawamura clan.
A British-Japanese mix with natural blonde hair, delicate features, and a perfectly crafted image of an elite young lady.
Despite poor English, she excelled academically with talents like painting.
Truly, Eriri had always stood at the pinnacle of school social circles - the ultimate social butterfly.
Under such circumstances, Eriri naturally had no shortage of female friends flocking to her side, nor was she lacking in boys who tried to confess, believing it was love at first sight, when in reality, they were just drawn to her looks.
As for how to reject these people, Eriri had already developed a detailed routine.
"So should I say 'You're very kind, but I don't think we're compatible' or 'Sorry, I don't want to date until after university?'"
Eriri idly waved the so-called confession letter as she turned the corner, glancing at the rooftop door at the top before muttering:
"But speaking of which, why the rooftop? I heard this place was taken over by the seniors, right? Choosing to confess here? Is the other party a senior?"
Thinking this, Eriri felt slightly uneasy, worried the person might do something dangerous after being rejected on the rooftop.
"Whatever, I'll just take a look. If there aren't many people, I'll leave straight away."
With that, Eriri stepped onto the stairs and peered through the glass on the door to check the rooftop.
However, upon seeing the boy and girl sitting on the rooftop bench, Eriri couldn't help but widen her eyes:
"That girl is... second-year Utaha Kasumigaoka? And there's a boy sitting with her?"
"Eh?! So the boys' noisy chatter during morning break about 'Senior Utaha is no longer single' was actually true?"
"Who's the boy? Ah, I can't really see his face from this angle. That senior is blocking the view."
Just as Eriri tried to get a better look, Luo Shu's voice carried over from the rooftop:
"Since you're already here, come over."
"Eek!" Eriri startled, nearly tripping at the doorway.
After barely steadying herself, she pushed open the stairwell door, half her body now exposed on the rooftop.
At this point, Eriri was in a real pickle.
What to do when caught spying on a couple? Answers needed ASAP!
As Eriri panicked, Luo Shu's calm voice reached her:
"Eriri Spencer Sawamura."
"Close the door and come sit."
"Ah..." Eriri instinctively looked up at Luo Shu and Utaha before bowing her head apologetically: "My deepest apologies, Seniors. I didn't mean to spy."
"Spy on us doing what?" Luo Shu paused, then turned to Utaha: "Did word about this morning's subway incident spread that fast?"
Hearing this, Utaha teased: "Seems you don't have a single friend in class."
After all, if he had friends, they'd surely come asking out of curiosity. Since Luo Shu was unaware, it meant his classmates hadn't dared mention it to him.
Understanding Utaha's implication, Luo Shu couldn't help but complain: "Why do I feel like I've become the delinquent boss of Toyogasaki High or something?"
Shaking his head, Luo Shu pointed to the empty bench nearby and said to Eriri:
"Alright, take a seat there. And don't wonder where the person who wrote that confession letter is – we arranged it."
Luo Shu emphasised the word 'we', thanks to Utaha Kasumigaoka's reminder. Knowing he was being seen as a school terrorist, he was a little worried that saying he wrote it would scare Eriri off directly.
Unfortunately, Utaha Kasumigaoka was too cunning—the love letter was entirely written in masculine phrasing and vocabulary. Otherwise, Luo Shu would definitely have said she wrote it.
"You arranged this?" Eriri was stunned by these words.
How did a perfectly good love letter become something arranged by a guy and a girl together?
After hesitating, since Utaha was also present, Eriri obediently walked over and sat on the bench next to them, asking:
"So, Seniors, what brings you to me?"
Seeing Eriri sit down, Luo Shu smiled and said:
"The two of us want to organise an Astronomy Club at school, and we're currently short one member."
"Huh?" Eriri was dumbfounded by this.
'For something like this, you lured me here with a love letter? Have you lost your mind?'
At this thought, Eriri instinctively wanted to refuse. After all, she was already a member of the Art Club. Although students could join up to three clubs, she didn't think she had the energy for it.
But just as Eriri was about to decline, Luo Shu casually remarked:
"Such a small matter, I don't think Eri Kashiwagi would refuse, would she?"