Chapter 285 Time Flies So Fast
Looking at the few remaining leaves on the trees along the street, Kaede's thoughts instantly returned to a year ago.
A year ago, he had just started working on light novels, was still in junior high, and maintained the persona of a "cold and handsome guy" in the eyes of unfamiliar people?
Thinking about it now, it feels like it was just yesterday.
He looked at the girl walking beside him, her golden twin-tails not covered by the scarf, swaying one by one with her light steps.
Everything seemed to have changed since their encounter at the doujinshi convention that day.
Noticing Kaede's gaze, Eriri turned her head. Today, she wasn't wearing contact lenses and had on a pair of cute round-rimmed glasses. She asked with a smile, "What are you looking at me for?"
"You look good, Eriri."
"That's not it! Your eyes were definitely thinking about something just now!"
Having been seen through by Eriri, Kaede also smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing, I was just sighing about how fast a year has passed. This time last year, I was still going to school alone, and on the way to school, I was always thinking about novels. But now, I'm with you, Eriri, wearing this enviable scarf and heading out together."
"Hehehe~~~~"
Eriri let out a small, triumphant sound and said, "I'm pretty much the same. Let me think, what was I doing this time last year? Hmm... Ah, it seems I hadn't finished the doujinshi for the convention, and Mom was nagging me all day, saying the deadline was approaching. And I hadn't really played the new game I bought, nor watched the updated anime. Anyway, the month before the doujinshi convention started, my life rhythm was super chaotic!"
"That truly is your style, Eriri, but it seems similar things won't happen now."
"That's right, they won't happen!" Eriri hugged Kaede's arm and walked forward, saying in fits and starts, "I rest on time every day, wake up on time. I feel like my exercise volume these past few months is more than all my past ten-plus years combined, and my body is getting better and better. Oh, and we even have cats at home! Hmm... The only downside is that I have less time to play games and less time to watch anime. That's not good and needs improvement! Ah!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Kaede gently tapped her head.
"I think you just want to slack off because it's the end of the year."
"Eh hehe~ Don't expose me." Eriri covered her head, cutely stuck out her tongue, and then began to explain, "Kaede-kun, look, we've been busy for half a year, and we have quite a few drafts saved up. We should take advantage of this time to rest properly. How about we play games tonight, okay?"
"You..."
Kaede shook his head helplessly, but still agreed to Eriri's request: "Alright, just for today then. I'll give you a special day off. I'll also make dinner when we get back, so you just enjoy yourself."
"Yay!!!"
Eriri jumped up excitedly, then forgot that she was still wearing the couple's Asakura scarf connected to Kaede. She pulled on both of them, and with the tug, they bumped into each other again.
"Ugh!!!"
Luckily, they had a height difference; otherwise, whether they hit their heads or somewhere else, it would have hurt.
Leaning back on Kaede's shoulder, Eriri paused for a moment, then continued, "Kaede-kun, you're suddenly so nice! Then I won't be polite. Tonight, I want fried chicken wings!"
"I thought you were going to ask for something else. Is that all? It's simple. We'll go to the supermarket on the way home tonight. The cat food is almost gone, so we need to buy some, and also some cat treats."
"And catnip!"
"Let's not get that, okay?"
Kaede immediately wanted to refuse, because last time Eriri, out of curiosity, bought some catnip, and the three cats at home, one big and two small, immediately couldn't handle it and went crazy for half a day.
"Oh~ Buy it! There's no harm in it. As long as the cats like it, it's fine. It's quite interesting. Just give them a tiny bit each time!"
Eriri once again started her pouting tactics, clinging to Kaede to make him buy it.
In fact, Eriri herself had money, and their finances were currently separate, but Eriri just loved this feeling. She was still as clingy as when they first started living together.
And just as the two were discussing whether or not to buy catnip, two voices came from behind them.
"You two are as lively as ever this early in the morning."
It was Uchimaki Subaru's voice.
"Uchimaki, you need to look carefully. These two are even more over the top than before. This scarf..."
This was Takasu's voice.
They both turned their heads and saw Uchimaki Subaru and Takasu Ryuji following behind. Both of them were also dressed warmly, clearly quite sensitive to the cold.
"Yo! Good morning!"
Kaede greeted them with a smile.
"Good morning!" Eriri also waved happily.
"Good morning." x2
After greeting them and catching up, Takasu Ryuji, now beside Kaede, looked at the scarf they were wearing and said in surprise, "Your scarf is really long!"
Hearing this, Eriri immediately said, "Amazing, right? I saw it when I was shopping before and bought it right away! It's cold, so of course, we need to wear scarves!"
"Hiss!!! So that's what it means for normies to wear scarves?" Takasu Ryuji looked at the two people connected by the scarf and said in shock, "If your walking paces aren't consistent, won't you pull each other?"
"No, we won't." x2
Kaede and Eriri answered in unison, and then Kaede explained, "You're underestimating Eriri and me too much, aren't you? After dating for so long, we already have a tacit understanding of our walking pace when we're out shopping. We don't need to say anything; we naturally walk in sync."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Eriri smiled and nodded, "Hehe, about these things, Takasu, you'll understand when you get a girlfriend later. Many things don't need to be explicitly stated; you'll naturally develop a tacit understanding! And you too, Uchimaki!"
"Eh? How did I get dragged into this?"
Uchimaki had originally thought it had nothing to do with him, but then he was mentioned.
Eriri scanned him up and down and said, "Hmph, I won't go into specifics, but those who know, know."
"You... I really don't understand."
"Hmph, just pay attention yourself. It's fine to be an otaku, but don't fail to see other scenery."
Under Eriri's somewhat ambiguous reminder, Uchimaki Subaru was completely bewildered.
Eriri, the old riddle-teller.