"By the way, Eriri, don't you have art club today?"
It was just a casual question, but it made the little blonde who had been happily humming while studying the menu freeze mid-motion.
Eriri lifted the menu slightly to cover half her face, turned her body away from the girl sitting next to her, and pouted as she blurted out:
"I don't go to the club every single day, you know. Sometimes I have… other things to do."
Saying this, the truant artist snuck a glance at the boy across from her and the sharp-eyed detective-like girl sitting beside her.
"Ahh, it's that so." Megumi nodded knowingly, then casually followed up with, "Come to think of it, Eriri, what brings you to this restaurant?"
"Uh…"
The blonde princess let out a strangled whimper, like someone who'd just had the scruff of her neck grabbed by fate.
The very question she'd been dreading had arrived.
"That's…"
"Right, right! What's so strange about coming to a restaurant when you're hungry? Hahaha…"
Her sapphire-blue eyes darted around wildly, and she shot frantic signals at the boy across the table, desperately urging him to step in and cover for her.
Unfortunately, the "big star" still hadn't taken off his sunglasses, so no one noticed her SOS look.
"It's that so.."
Megumi nodded again as if she'd bought the excuse.
Just as Eriri was about to breathe in relief, a calm voice chimed in:
"That really is quite a coincidence, isn't it…"
"Y-yes, exactly! Just coincidence!" Eriri forced a grin, her mouth twitching like a cartoon chick's beak as she bobbed her head furiously.
"…Because this isn't the direction of the dorms, nor the way to the Old Furukawa Gardens. Meeting here really is a miracle of coincidence, huh."
"..!!"
Eriri snapped her head toward the girl beside her, her sapphire eyes suddenly sharp like blades.
"This is why I can't stand girls with sharp intuition!"
"Eh—??"
"You don't believe me? It's true! I said coincidence, so it's coincidence! What's so weird about skipping club, picking a random new restaurant, and just happening to run into a friend? Happens all the time! Didn't your cousin show up here by chance too?!"
Everyone knew the blonde princess's signature move—when words failed, she simply covered the other person's ears and stole away their doubts.
"Eh? My case wasn't coincidence. I was the one who gave Megumi those meal vouchers for this place." Keiichi cut in proudly.
"Uhh…" Eriri felt that merciless hand of fate clutch the back of her neck again.
Watching Eriri get cornered into standing rigid like a soldier by just a few words from Megumi, Kyousuke sighed, half amused and half exasperated.
Then he spoke:
"I'm the one who invited Eriri."
"Exactly! I came here for the study session too! B-because, um… well, I've been busy preparing for my art exhibition, so I fell behind a little in my studies. I thought it'd be perfect to catch up by studying with you guys!"
She threw the boy across from her a discreet nice save look, her quick mind immediately spinning a flawless excuse.
"Oooh, so it really was coincidence after all."
Megumi's clear face softened with a smile, and Eriri quickly followed suit.
The mood lightened instantly.
"Though, when I saw you standing outside earlier and not coming in, I thought maybe you were worried about Hojou-kun's safety. Like you were waiting until the tutoring session ended so you could escort him home."
"..."
"???"
Kyousuke blinked in shock at the calm girl across from him.
He hadn't realized she'd noticed Eriri out there all along.
Eriri whipped off her oversized sunglasses and glared at the girl beside her, eyes wide in disbelief.
So it wasn't just paranoia—Katou Megumi really was dangerous!
Not in the same way as Kasumigaoka Utaha, but dangerous nonetheless.
She could strike straight at the heart, then play it off so naturally it dulled your guard.
A sly, effortless kind of cunning.
Eriri's eyes sharpened—like a wolf's.
"So you really noticed her earlier?" Kyousuke asked, genuinely puzzled.
He hadn't seen Eriri at all.
Sure, her outfit today would've turned heads on the street, but she hadn't even registered in his information radar.
"Mhm~ I probably spotted her about ten minutes ago. As for you, Hojou-kun, I guess you just happened to have your back to that side of the window." Megumi explained, her tone perfectly calm, as if she hadn't just gutted Eriri with words.
"..."
Eriri bit down on her lip hard enough to crush her teeth, but all she could do was glare at Kyousuke with wounded indignation.
'See?! This really isn't safe!'
'I was genuinely worried Kyousuke would get lured away—he's always been so hopelessly careless!'
"That's why I said it was just coincidence! I wasn't even sure if the two people sitting so close inside were actually you and her, so I had to watch for a while!"
"Oi, what do you mean 'so close'? From the very first second we sat down, Megumi and I have been studying!"
If he hadn't already set down the ruler and eraser in his hands, Kyousuke would've raised his arm in a French salute to prove his innocence.
Not that Eriri didn't already know.
If she truly believed otherwise, she would've exploded in fury the moment she saw them.
Which was why, despite puffing out her cheeks like a sulking chick, all she could do was mutter at the window:
"…From outside it really did look like that. I know it was a misunderstanding. Sorry."
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz—inaudible to anyone but herself.
Which was why Megumi tilted her head, puzzled:
"Hm? What was that, Eriri?"
"I said! For a so-called manga artist, your composition and perspective are all over the place. Did I ever teach you to be this sloppy?!"
This time she aimed her sharp words at her fellow manga creator, tone full of mock disappointment, as if she regretted ever letting him graduate from her tutelage.
"..."
Right, right.
Totally my fault for not making the sofa backs transparent, so Her Highness could spy more comfortably from outside.
With his sharp ears, Kyousuke had caught her earlier muttering just fine.
He only chuckled softly, not minding at all.
"Anyway, you really should study properly. Otherwise, next time we meet, Aunt Sayuri and Uncle Robin will definitely scold me again." He said it with a smile.
Hearing him step in to cover for her once more, Eriri's eyes flickered evasively—this time avoiding Kyousuke's gaze.
"…Even without the studying, if you come to my house again, you'll probably still get scolded."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Did you go home just to tattle on me?!" Kyousuke exclaimed.
"Menu, menu—I'm starving." Eriri quickly grabbed the menu and buried her whole face behind it, refusing to elaborate.
After smoothing over that little storm, Megumi shifted her gaze lightly toward her cousin.
The meal vouchers had been his doing, and he'd oh-so-kindly suggested she invite Hojou along.
Obviously, he'd been scheming something.
So when they'd sat down, Megumi had deliberately kept an eye on the restaurant entrance.
To her surprise, she'd spotted not just her cousin trying to sneak around, but the even more conspicuous Eriri…
Megumi knew their quiet study date was bound to be interrupted, and though a little annoyed, she chose not to tell Kyousuke about what she'd noticed.
Instead, she quietly shifted over to sit on the same couch as him.
Of course, it wasn't to provoke Eriri—absolutely not. It was simply more convenient for studying.
After all, how could Kyousuke tutor her properly with a whole table between them?
"Keiichi-nii? How did you just happen to come here?" Megumi asked softly.
"Huh? Not by chance at all. I came here specifically to find Hojou-sensei!" Keiichi replied without a shred of hesitation. He didn't even try to cover it up.
After sitting quietly on the sidelines for a few minutes, he'd already been stunned speechless.
The image he had of his cousin Megumi as a quiet, invisible girl had been completely shattered.
He'd originally thought of asking Kyousuke to tutor him too since he had a test next week at university.
But after watching Megumi fabricate that whole ridiculous chain of excuses just to cover up her tailing, he decided it was safer to blow his own cover now.
That way, his cousin wouldn't have any dirt to hold over him later.
Poor fool.
He had no idea that from the very first moment they met, his dear cousin had already consigned him to Kyousuke's personal blacklist.
'Wait a second!'
Eriri snapped her head up, eyes blazing.
If she was here to supervise… then what on earth was Megumi's cousin doing here?!
"Keiichi-kun?" Kyousuke greeted him with a smile.
"Yes! What can I do for you, Hojou-sensei?"
"Sorry, I didn't bring any gifts with me today. On Saturday, I'll deliver some merchandise to the training camp instead—will that be alright?"
"Eh!? That's wonderful, thank you so much! I actually have some restaurant vouchers here. Please, take them if you don't mind!"
Eriri glanced down and froze.
They were all couple's meal vouchers.
Her eyes instantly sharpened, but before she could say anything, Keiichi gulped down the glass of ice water the waitress had just delivered, sprang to his feet, and excused himself without a second thought.
"Keiichi-nii, um…" Megumi half-rose, but trailed off.
Both Kyousuke and Eriri exchanged sympathetic looks.
Having such a dimwitted relative really was troublesome at times.
After all, what kind of normal person calls for the entire family to gather and watch Hojou Kyousuke's recorded videos during reunions?
'Unbelievable.'
'I'll have Gorou really roll out the red carpet for him next time,' Kyousuke thought darkly. Just the memory of it made him grimace.
Thank goodness Megumi's parents hadn't caught sight of him that day he escorted her home—otherwise, the moment he walked in, they'd probably go: "Oh~~ aren't you that guy from Keiichi's tape? The one who goes 'Haaah!' in that part—"
Total nightmare. Anyone overhearing would think they were talking about an adult video.
"Excuse me, your couple's set is ready," the waitress said cheerfully, clearing the empty water glass.
That overly bright voice made someone stiffen instantly.
Quick as lightning, Kyousuke grabbed the stack of couple's vouchers Keiichi had left behind and held them up as proof of innocence.
Sure enough, the fierce glare from the near-sighted blonde across from him softened the moment her eyes fell on the vouchers.
'Ahh~~ thank you, scatterbrained Keiichi. Guess the Katou family isn't so bad after all.'
The three of them packed up the mountain of workbooks on the table.
Looking at the desserts spread out before them—perfect for a romantic date—Megumi spoke softly, as though to explain.
"Keiichi gave me one of those dining vouchers. Since Hojou-kun was already helping me with my studies, I thought it'd be nice to treat him in return.
We've eaten at Ruyi Dorm twice already, so this seemed convenient… But using a voucher feels a little insincere, doesn't it?"
"That's nonsense! The food is still real, isn't it? By that logic, when we go flower viewing in spring, are you going to say the cherry blossoms are fake just because they're free?"
The one who shot back immediately was Eriri.
Normally level-headed, but she couldn't let that comment slide.
"Exactly. If you were paying just for me, Katou-san, I'd actually feel more awkward about it," Kyousuke added.
He'd jumped in the moment Megumi mentioned the voucher was a gift, worried she might overthink if he refused.
"You don't know. My house is overflowing with samples and freebies from publishers and merchandise companies.
All those gifts I gave you before? They were freebies too. Whenever my family needs to give gifts, we just raid the warehouse," Eriri explained further, trying to ease Megumi's mind.
But the moment she finished speaking, something felt… off.
'Wait a second.'
'Why am I going out of my way to justify Megumi eating a couple's set with Kyousuke?'
'It makes sense, sure, but still… why does this feel so wrong?'
Her brows furrowed ever so slightly, that vague, uncomfortable feeling tugging at her heart.
"Eriri, what do you want to order? Should we get another couple's set? Keiichi-nii had another voucher for this restaurant," Megumi asked, pulling her back from her spiraling thoughts.
Eriri looked up.
The waitress was standing there with her notepad ready, but her smile looked a little stiff.
'Another voucher?? Just how many of these does he have?!' the waitress thought in disbelief.
"In that case, sure—let's get another couple's set. Kyousuke likes sweets, after all."
Eriri agreed brightly.
Yes, that was it.
Megumi and Kyousuke were only sharing a couple's set because of the vouchers. Nothing more. Absolutely nothing else.
She sifted through the pile of vouchers until she found the one marked "Cono Restaurant."
The waitress double-checked it three times, then thanked Kyousuke profusely for his patronage.
If not for his appetite, the restaurant wouldn't have earned a single cent from this table.
The next dishes arrived quickly.
Having spent the whole day tailing with expert stealth, Eriri was genuinely starving.
She dug in without hesitation.
Though her public image was that of a refined noble lady, her real charm lay in her down-to-earth personality.
She was more than familiar with family restaurants and ate heartily without any pretense.
"Ahh, I'm stuffed. Time for me to head home. Megumi, you focus on your studies, alright?"
Dabbing her lips gracefully with a napkin, Eriri added, "And Kyousuke, don't stay too late. Megumi's family will worry, and I can't sleep until I know you're home safe."
That blueberry cake had been pretty good. She'd pack up five slices—no, seven. Her little sister Kashiko would definitely love them.
The princess with emerald eyes made her cheerful decision.
"Eh? Eriri, you're leaving already?" Megumi asked curiously.
"Of course. Now that I'm reassured, why would I stick around? Uh—I mean, I always need to move around a bit after eating, otherwise I don't feel right."
'Damn, I'm so full I can't even think straight…'
"But weren't you here to join the study session?" Megumi asked with her usual smile.
Eriri looked at the towering stack of workbooks piled on the table and her face froze in sheer horror.