chapter 356: The Matured Eriri
Swallowing hard, Takasu Ryuji truly couldn't connect the Kawashima Ami he was seeing now with the one from before.
"Is this for real?"
Kitamura Yusaku nodded, saying, "Of course, this Ami now is the real her."
Just then, another conversation started over there.
Kawashima Ami shook her empty drink cup and said, "Ah, my drink is finished. Can one of you go get me another cup."
Upon hearing this, Eriri couldn't help but narrow her eyes.
Although she had already guessed that the girl's personality would differ from the persona she had just shown, she hadn't expected the contrast to be this huge.
Of course, the result was obvious; neither she nor Aisaka Taiga had any intention of responding.
Originally, Eriri had expected Aisaka Taiga to be a bit more volatile, but surprisingly, she was exceptionally calm, just quietly flipping through a magazine.
Turning a page and spotting a handbag, Aisaka Taiga finally reacted. She took the magazine, handed it to Eriri, pointed, and asked, "Eriri, what do you think of this one?"
"Hmm, let me see. It looks quite nice, a new model."
"That's right, it's a new model." Aisaka Taiga said with a smile, "Are you free later? Let's go shopping together. We'll make Ryuji and Asakura carry the bags while we shop!"
"Oh my, you're already bossing Takasu around?"
"Hmph, he lost several times to me playing video games before. This counts as a penalty game!"
Watching the two girls chat happily, complementing each other, Kawashima Ami experienced the long-forgotten feeling of being ignored. She slammed her cup onto the table with a "bang" and said, "Ah, in that case, I'll just have your boyfriends help me later. Since Ami is so cute, if I ask them, they will definitely agree."
Aisaka Taiga's eyelid twitched, and she calmly stated, "Ryuji is not my boyfriend."
However, as she spoke, Aisaka Taiga involuntarily clenched her fist.
Eriri, on the other hand, was much sharper.
After all, since middle school, Eriri had been the center of the girl's circle in school and class. What kind of girl's personality hadn't she seen? Kawashima Ami's type was just basic.
Shaking her head lightly, Eriri chuckled and said, "Ah, sorry, Kaede-kun probably won't agree. Instead, he'll tell Kitamura to do it for you."
"Also, let me add this: Kaede-kun is my fiancé. Saying 'boyfriend' might be inaccurate. Of course, saying 'husband' is close enough, since we only lack the registration."
Looking at Kawashima Ami's stiff expression, Eriri said with a bright smile, "Girls, it's better not to be too petty."
"Having personality isn't a bad thing, but you shouldn't act recklessly just because you're pretty."
"It's fine if you meet someone nice, but if you run into someone with a bad personality, you can easily end up being lectured in return."
Although she didn't say it outright, Aisaka Taiga, standing nearby, understood that the "person with a bad personality" Eriri was referring to was actually Utaha.
Honestly, if she hadn't interacted so much with Kasumigaoka-senpai Utaha and subsequently met many other strange people, Aisaka Taiga might have already blown up by now.
But now, adhering to the idea that the tallest person catches the falling sky, it definitely wasn't her turn to intervene.
After all, if she truly intervened, it would involve her wooden sword.
Hmm... wait, the tallest person catches it? When did I start making fun of my own height?
Aisaka Taiga, recalling her own height, clicked her tongue, discontentedly picked up a chicken nugget with her fork, and took a small bite.
Facing Eriri's "advice," Kawashima Ami took a deep breath and said, "Are you saying Ami has a bad personality?"
"But I'm sorry, Ami is just this kind of person. Of course, the fact that people around me like Ami so much isn't something Ami can control."
"Also, Sawamura-san's words just now sound like she trusts her fiancé very much? But isn't getting engaged this early a little unwise? What if something happens..."
"Hmm, I understand what you mean."
Eriri still wasn't angry. She calmly sipped her drink and said, "You... probably don't have any dating experience, do you? Don't bother arguing, I can tell you definitely don't. Otherwise, you wouldn't say such provocative things."
The corner of Kawashima Ami's mouth twitched, speechless.
Eriri, however, seemed to be in high spirits, as it was rare for her to be able to suppress someone verbally. In her daily interactions with Utaha, she usually lost more than she won.
"Are you perhaps underestimating Kaede-kun too much? I can understand, since you just met him."
"Although I don't consider myself the most perfect person, Kaede-kun isn't someone anyone can snatch away. At least, Kawashima-san, you can't do it yet."
"And don't think about using reverse psychology to argue with me; it won't work."
"Kaede-kun knows plenty of excellent girls, but he still only has one relationship history, and that's me."
Narrowing her eyes, Eriri smiled and said, "Of course, Kawashima-san, your little devil personality isn't a bad thing. As long as you tone down the way you speak and don't provoke people casually, you'll still be popular."
"Just like when you were putting on your actno, you might even be more popular."
"You should know, men all love the darkness."
Listening to Eriri's smooth, comprehensive arguments, Kawashima Ami didn't know what to say. Even Aisaka Taiga looked at Eriri in shock: "Have you evolved to this level?"
"It's just ordinary experience."
Eriri propped her chin with one hand and said, "If you two want to learn, I'd be happy to teach you."
"Of course, the techniques are only meant for good boys. If you run into a scumbag, I don't have any good solutions."
"I imagine that Kawashima-san, having worked as a model, has encountered many exasperating men? But at least while you're in school, you don't need to put on too much of an act, nor do you need too many worries."
"..."
Taking a deep breath, Kawashima Ami looked at Eriri and said, "You can't seriously think someone would like this personality of mine, right? I know much more clearly than you what boys are like."
"Hmm~~~ Is that so?"
Eriri nodded noncommittally: "But you haven't dated anyone."
"I..."
"You haven't dated anyone."
"I never said I wanted to date!"
"So you like being a single dog?"
"Of course not! I also want to date... wait..."
Realizing what she had said, Kawashima Ami saw both girls across from her wearing expressions that clearly said they had figured her out.
Looking at Kawashima Ami, Eriri said to Aisaka Taiga, "Taiga, I think I know why Kitamura asked us to come over. It seems he wanted us to help this person who has a personality problem and no friends."
"Mhm, I see it too." Aisaka Taiga nodded, looking at Kawashima Ami with great sympathy, "Always being so two-faced and bad-tempered, you probably don't have any friends, right? It's okay, we'll help you!"
"..."
In the distance, Kitamura Yusaku watched this scene and gasped.
"Asakura, is Sawamura-san's ability this strong now?"
Shrugging, Kaede said, "After all, Eriri's usual opponent is Kasumigaoka-senpai."