Chapter 175: Unexpected Event Before the Fireworks Festival
Once outside, Takasu Ryuji looked at Kaede in confusion. "Is there something you want to say?"
"Hmm, I'm a little curious, so I wanted to ask you, although the timing isn't great."
Glancing at the faint sunset in the sky, Kaede smiled and said, "It looks like you've already gotten used to Oosaka showing up at your place."
"What do you think I can do? Even my mom welcomes her."
Takasu Ryuji shrugged at this, then couldn't help but sigh. "Honestly, I feel like compared to her, I'm quite fortunate. At least I live with my mom. Oosaka, according to her, her parents haven't visited once since she moved to this apartment for high school, only sending her living expenses each month. In comparison, although my life is a bit tough, in terms of mental state, I'm definitely better off than her."
Listening to Takasu Ryuji, Kaede patted his shoulder. "So, you just tacitly allow her to come to your house from time to time?"
"I can't do anything else, but we're neighbors, after all. She also pays for her meals sometimes. One more mouth, I just treat it like having a pet," Takasu Ryuji said with a smile. "When that girl isn't being violent, she's quite easy to talk to."
This guy, something's not quite right, he probably hasn't even noticed it himself, has he?
Kaede observed Takasu Ryuji for a few seconds. Seeing that he was getting uncomfortable, Kaede turned and walked back inside. "Speaking of which, how long has it been since you thought of Kushieda? I remember you even have her LINE contact. Don't tell me you haven't chatted with her at all."
After saying that, he ignored the stunned guy and went inside to call Eriri, ready to go home.
A few seconds later, Takasu Ryuji's panicked shouts came from outside the door.
This guy, really... Bidding farewell to Takasu Ryuji, Kaede took Eriri home.
"Kaede-kun, what happened to Takasu?"
Leading Eriri to sit on the sofa, Kaede smiled and said, "Just reminding him if he forgot he already got Kushieda's LINE contact."
"Huh?" Eriri was stunned, then covered her mouth and chuckled. "No way, is that really it?"
Kaede spread his hands and said, "I don't know how this guy spent his summer vacation. He couldn't have really been working with Senior Shirogane and worked himself silly, could he? If that's the case, then it's my fault."
Eriri smiled and leaned on Kaede's shoulder, saying, "I think... he's just too dense."
"Hmm, that's true, he's quite dense."
"Ding-dong~~"
"Ding-dong~~"
Both their phones rang one after another.
Kaede and Eriri exchanged glances, picked up their phones, and opened them, finding a message from Fujiwara Chika in the chat group for the fireworks festival.
Fujiwara Chika: [Everyone, bad news! Kaguya-san has been called back to her main family, and I don't know if she can make it to tomorrow's fireworks festival!]
This news stirred up a storm, and the group immediately erupted in heated discussion.
Among them, Shirogane Miyuki's reaction was the most intense, being the first to speak up.
Shirogane Miyuki: [What? She can't come?]
Shirogane Kei: [Is something wrong with Shinomiya-senpai's family?]
Fujiwara Chika: [I can't say for sure, but I just asked my sister, and the Shinomiya Family doesn't have any meetings or banquets these days. I don't know when Kaguya-san will be able to return.]
At the Fujiwara Family residence, Fujiwara Chika, holding her phone, still had a lot to say, but her finger stopped just as she was about to type. There were some things she knew but couldn't elaborate on, as they were Shinomiya Kaguya's family matters.
Next to Fujiwara Chika, Fujiwara Toyomi, the eldest of the three sisters, saw her sister's expression and patted her head, saying, "Don't worry, I'll ask Mom and Dad when they get back. If she really can't come out, and if it's a kind of house arrest, then we'll just invite her in our name. The Shinomiya Family will still give us that much face."
"But wouldn't that cause trouble for Mom and Dad?"
Fujiwara Chika looked at her sister with some concern.
Fujiwara Toyomi calmly said, "Don't worry, it's nothing. But there's no need to rush, it's not tomorrow yet, is it? Maybe she'll be back tomorrow?"
"Okay, then let's wait."
After a while, the chat group gradually settled down after Fujiwara Toyomi spoke up. However, Shirogane Miyuki, who had just finished work and returned home, was still a bit uneasy.
This uneasiness continued into the afternoon.
2 PM, a fast-food restaurant in the city.
Kaede bit his straw, drank most of the large cup of cola in his hand, let out a breath, and looked helplessly at Shirogane Miyuki across from him. "Senior, it's no use calling us out for this kind of thing. The four of us guys aren't Zhuge Liang. In the end, we still have to rely on Fujiwara-senpai..."
Besides him, Ishigami Yuu and Takasu Ryuji had also been called out by Shirogane Miyuki.
Ishigami Yuu was holding his NS, still playing a game, but he also kept saying, "So, is Shinomiya-senpai really likely not to come?"
"Most likely."
Clutching his hair, Shirogane Miyuki said in distress, "We had originally agreed that everyone would come to the last event of the summer vacation, and Secretary Fujiwara told me that Shinomiya is attending a fireworks festival for the first time, but now we're facing this situation."
Takasu Ryuji asked in confusion, "She's back, but why can't she come out? Is Shinomiya-senpai's family too strict?"
Shaking his head, Senior Shirogane said, "I specifically asked Secretary Fujiwara, and she doesn't know either, but she's trying to use her family connections to invite Shinomiya out, at least for this one time. We can't let Shinomiya be disappointed."
Looking up, Ishigami Yuu asked, "So, shouldn't we just wait for information from Fujiwara-senpai? The few of us can't help."
That was indeed true. Kaede's family background was different. While Eriri's family had some connections, and her father was a diplomat, that was all. Takasu Ryuji was out of the question, and although Ishigami Yuu's family ran a toy company, it was a world apart from the Shinomiya Family.
And as for Shirogane Miyuki... Kaede looked at Shirogane Miyuki and heard him say, "It's only now that I realize I haven't made any progress after being Student Council President for almost a year. I can't help with anything."
Hmm? Shuchiin High School Student Council President?
If that's the case... Kaede was momentarily stunned, his attention falling on Shirogane Miyuki.
Noticing Kaede's gaze, Shirogane Miyuki couldn't help but check his clothes and touch his face. "Is there something on me?"
"No, Senior, there's nothing wrong with you. I just thought of something."
Rubbing his chin, Kaede pondered the feasibility. The other three, seeing this, looked at Kaede curiously, waiting quietly.
After about ten seconds, Kaede looked up, stared into Shirogane Miyuki's eyes, and said, "Senior, before I tell you my method, I want to ask you a question. Please answer me seriously."