131. Encounter.

Eriri seemed unaccustomed to the candid attitude displayed by Jiang Yu and Tomoya Aki. Consequently, she offered no retort to Kasumigaoka Utaha’s latest jab, instead fidgeting bashfully as she murmured, "I... I will do my best."

Though she didn't voice it, Eriri was genuinely grateful for the help Jiang Yu and Tomoya had provided yesterday, even if the process had been excruciatingly awkward for all three of them.

"Alright then, since club activities are concluded, I’ll head back now, shall I?" Jiang Yu looked toward Tomoya and the others, feeling his presence was no longer required, and tentatively asked.

"How heartless of you~ Kouhai-kun," Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled as she seized the conversation.

"...Don't make it sound like I've done something to wrong you, Kasumigaoka-senpai!" Jiang Yu, nearly choked by her remark, retorted with a touch of annoyance.

"One never knows~" Kasumigaoka Utaha’s smile deepened, her tone heavy with implication.

"...Ahem. Well then, Yu, you should head back for today! And please say hello to Umaru for me!" Sensing that Kasumigaoka Utaha was looking to stir up trouble, Tomoya Aki, who understood her temperament to a degree, interjected while casting a meaningful glance at Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu caught the signal, nodded, and after bidding the group farewell, hurried away as if fleeing from some terrifying beast. He was genuinely afraid that the girl with the long, straight black hair sitting in the classroom might come out with another startling remark.

Watching Jiang Yu’s retreating figure, Kasumigaoka Utaha’s smile faded. Her eyes narrowed, and a playful expression took its place as she whispered to herself, "See you later, then~ Kou-hai-kun."

...

Because club activities had run a bit late, when Jiang Yu reached home and opened the door, two pairs of identical shoes were already neatly arranged in the foyer.

*Does this mean Ebina-chan is visiting?* Jiang Yu understood the situation in an instant.

"I'm home!" he called out into the house while bending down to remove his shoes.

As expected, Umaru Doma, still in her school uniform, greeted him with a quick "Welcome back!" as she hurried to meet him.

Seeing Umaru looking as if she had something to say, Jiang Yu blinked to signal he understood, then followed her into the living room.

The first thing to catch his eye was Nana Ebina, who sat at the edge of the dining table with her head bowed, looking rather nervous.

"Welcome, Ebina-chan!" Jiang Yu walked over, sat down, and softened his tone with a smile.

A visible blush spread across Nana Ebina’s face, though she kept her head lowered, leaving both Jiang Yu and Umaru unaware of her expression. She stuttered, "Th-thank you for having me, O-Onii-san..."

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum; Jiang Yu had to concentrate intently just to hear her. Glancing at the open workbook on the table, he realized what was happening. Just as he was about to speak, Umaru, who had gone to the refrigerator to retrieve the juice Jiang Yu had bought specifically to host guests (primarily the club members), returned to place it on the table. She nudged Jiang Yu and urged, "Oh, big brother, go make dinner! Umaru and Ebina-chan are already starving!"

Jiang Yu stood up in response to his sister’s prodding, gave a resigned smile, patted her head, and replied, "Yes, yes."

Watching Jiang Yu walk away, Nana Ebina bit her lip and sighed with a hint of chagrin. Beside her, Umaru sat down and said excitedly, "Hurry up and write! I’m telling you, big brother’s cooking is amazing!"

A faint glimmer of envy flashed in Nana Ebina’s eyes, but she smiled and nodded at Umaru, signaling that she understood.

...

After serving several dishes, Jiang Yu joined Umaru and Nana Ebina for a dinner that, while not extravagant, was pleasant. As for the atmosphere... he wasn't one for conversation during meals—a habit formed from years of eating alone that he likely wouldn't shake.

Lately, Umaru had grown accustomed to eating in silence under his influence, though Jiang Yu suspected she mostly did it to finish quickly so she could return to her games.

Nana Ebina, however, ate with such an expression of pure enjoyment that Jiang Yu began to wonder if his culinary skills had suddenly skyrocketed, a thought he found quite gratifying.

After dinner, Umaru unexpectedly volunteered to wash the dishes. Jiang Yu, just about to make a quip, was defeated by his sister’s well-meaning smile and let her be. Nana Ebina, looking as if she felt bad, flushed and insisted on helping.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu, who had been about to decline, surrendered to her shy, earnest gaze and stepped aside to let the two girls enter the kitchen.

...

Arriving at Kyoko Kato’s café, Jiang Yu knocked on the office door. Upon receiving permission, he pushed it open and stepped inside, only to see a figure in a maid outfit that seemed vaguely familiar.

"Ka... Kato?" Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow, asking with a look of hesitant uncertainty.

The girl turned, her bob-cut hair tracing a graceful arc in the air, and looked at Jiang Yu standing in the doorway with equal surprise.

However... the surprise on the girl’s face didn't seem to stem from Jiang Yu’s presence, but rather from the fact that she wasn't prepared to encounter him there.

Kyoko Kato looked back and forth between the two surprised individuals. Sensing the sudden, subtle shift in the air between them, she wore a playful smile as if she had discovered a secret. "Oh~ so you and Megumi know each other, Jiang-kun? What a coincidence~"

Jiang Yu’s mouth twitched slightly as he forcibly suppressed the retort he was about to blurt out. He explained in a deflated tone, "We are classmates..."

"Oh~ at that budding, youthful age, are you? How wonderful, a pure, innocent love story between a boy and a girl~"

Kyoko Kato spoke with the nostalgic expression and tone of a middle-aged adult marveling at how nice it is to be young.

Megumi Kato, who had been standing there blankly, seemed to have regained her composure during those few sentences. Ignoring the bewildered Jiang Yu, she said quite calmly to Kyoko, "I’m going to start work now. You two go ahead and chat."

With that, she didn't wait for a response from Kyoko and hurried toward Jiang Yu, though she appeared... perhaps not as calm as her words suggested.

Seeing Megumi about to collide with him, Jiang Yu, words caught in his throat, quickly stepped aside and watched as the girl hurried past him with her head bowed.

Kyoko Kato continued to watch them with a playful glint in her eyes, making no move to stop Megumi.