Chapter 348: Third Wheel, You're Here?
Eriri, of course, added the two girls on Line. Kaede naturally didn't add Hachiman Hikigaya, and the other party didn't have that intention either.
Yukino looked at the new friend added to her phone, feeling a sense of inexplicable emotion.
After saying goodbye to the three, Kaede and Eriri returned to their room.
"Hoo~~~"
After changing her clothes, Eriri jumped onto the sofa and said with a smile, "Yay~~~ Today was so much fun! We met a few interesting people. Kaede-kun, should we invite Yui and Yukino-san to hang out with us this weekend?"
Hanging the clothes he had taken off onto a hanger, Kaede said, "I don't mind. If Eriri wants to invite them, of course, you can. But have you thought about where we should go?"
"How about Disneyland? It would be lively if everyone went together!"
"Disneyland? We'd have to go to Urayasu."
"Exactly! It's not far anyway!"
Seeing Kaede sit down, Eriri pulled on his arm and said, "Please? Let's go to Disneyland! It's been quite a while since we went last time!"
"Alright, I didn't say we couldn't go. Go if you want to."
"Yay!!!" After happily raising her hands and cheering, Eriri said, "Kaede-kun, should we invite Mizuki and the others too?"
"Hmm... If we invite them, I think Yui Yuigahama would probably be fine, but Yukino isn't the type of person who can quickly get familiar with others. She might not have fun then."
"Oh right, that's a problem."
Hugging her legs and curling up on the sofa, Eriri said, "In that case, let's not invite them, just to avoid awkwardness later."
Holding his phone and looking at the online comments, Kaede said, "It feels like things will calm down in another two days. The interviews we sent to several media outlets have been released, and the effect is quite good. Most people now know the gossip they wanted to know."
"That's good. I just hope we don't get swarmed when we go back."
"We probably won't be swarmed, but we will definitely be stared at in school."
"Hehe, I'm already used to that."
They were done resting and had played for two days. Since they still had some time tonight, the two simply opened their laptops and prepared to work for a while. They couldn't let their backlog run out, otherwise, it would be awkward if they suddenly needed to take a day off.
While they were busy working until 11:30, Eriri noticed a new email had arrived from Utaha, and she also received a message from her on her phone.
Utaha: [The first volume of the new book is finished. Which day are you free? I want to come over and talk to you about the character designs; there are a few things I want to modify.]
Holding her phone and nodding, Eriri quickly sent a reply.
[No problem. We both took time off anyway. Just pick a day and come over in the next couple of days. The hotel we're staying at has a great environment. Since the first volume of your new book is finished, why don't you just come and play for two days to relax?]
"Eriri, what is it?"
"Ah, it's a message from Utaha. She finished the first volume and wants to discuss modifying the character designs with me. I told her to just come over in the next couple of days."
As she was speaking, Eriri paused, and a smile spread across her face.
Too many people might not work, but adding one Utaha should be fine, and... "I've decided! I must get Utaha to come quickly, and then we'll go to Disneyland!"
She then quickly started sending messages.
Watching Eriri's actions and the gradually twisted smile on her face, Kaede felt a sense of foreboding.
"Uh... Eriri?"
"Hmm?"
Eriri raised her head and showed Kaede a brilliant smile: "Is something wrong?"
"N-nothing."
Shaking his head, Kaede took a deep breath and continued to busy himself with the task at hand.
Forget it, never mind. What trouble could this girl possibly cause?
Just like that, the time came to the evening of the third day since arriving in Chiba.
Kaede and Eriri, who hadn't eaten dinner yet, left the hotel and took a car to Chiba Station, where they waited for Utaha, who had just gotten off the train.
"Over here, over here!!!"
Seeing Eriri waving continuously in the distance, Utaha also waved back and walked over, pulling her small suitcase.
"You actually came to pick me up? I could have just taken a taxi to the hotel myself."
"Hehe, it's fine. Besides, we booked a restaurant outside for dinner, so it's better to eat first and then go to the hotel."
"That was thoughtful of you?" Smiling as she walked beside the two, Utaha said, "Do I feel like I'm suffering the consequences of my own actions? I originally thought about not coming to be a third wheel, but in the end, I came anyway."
"It must be because you felt lonely since we weren't around?"
Utaha smiled without replying. In fact, there was a little bit of truth to that. Although her relationship with Usami and the others was good, Utaha was closer to Eriri and Kaede and had more to talk about with them.
The restaurant they booked was a Japanese cuisine establishment with a lovely atmosphere. Barbecue places were too smoky and loud, and most didn't have private rooms, so they chose a quiet restaurant with a private room.
After enjoying a comfortable meal, the three arrived at the hotel.
After learning which hotel Kaede and Eriri were staying at, Utaha also booked a room there, specifically the suite right next door to theirs.
Although staying in a luxury room alone felt a bit wasteful, she had come specifically to hang out with friends, and it would be boring if she stayed on a different floor.
Furthermore, Utaha wasn't short on money, so she just booked it.
Pushing the door open and entering, Utaha was quite satisfied with the room; she had already seen the pictures Eriri took of her own room beforehand.
After putting down her suitcase, she asked the two who had followed her in, "Do you have any plans for the evening?"
"Not yet." Shaking her head, Eriri pointed a finger upwards. "But there's a really nice little bar on the top floor of the hotel. It's great for listening to music and relaxing. Want to go?"
"Have you been?"
"We went yesterday, but of course, we didn't drink alcohol, just beverages."
Utaha had never been to a place like that and was quite curious: "Sounds good. Let's go check it out. Having more experiences is nice."
But just as Utaha was about to leave with them, Eriri waved her hand and said, "Not yet. They have a dress code there. Kaede-kun, contact someone."
Kaede smiled helplessly: "Do we really have to go?"
"Hehe, we can talk about business anywhere, right?"
It seemed Eriri really liked the atmosphere there. It wasn't crowded, and it was indeed a good place to relax and talk business.
Thus, Kaede had no choice but to contact the hotel staff again to have them prepare the clothes.