Chapter 322: I Feel Like Someone Is Watching Me
Although Eriri was quite annoyed by Kaede's behavior, there was nothing she could do. The reality was that Eriri didn't even need Kaede's help. As long as she didn't care about her Ojou-sama persona, she could easily subdue the two little girls, Takanashi Rikka and Dekomori Sanae.
It might not be as easy outside, but they were in school, and it was the first day of enrollment. Even if they were two Chuunibyou, they still wouldn't dare to cause too much trouble in the school hallway.
She glanced at Dekomori Sanae, who was whimpering and looking at her interrupted "Hammer of Thor," and then at Takanashi Rikka, who was looking at her with sparkling eyes. Eriri suddenly felt that her second year of high school might not be as joyful as she had imagined.
"So, what exactly are you two doing?"
After asking, Eriri made a fist gesture at Takanashi Rikka, who was about to speak: "Speak in a normal tone, got it?"
"Ugh..."
Takanashi Rikka shrank her neck, then gathered herself before saying, "Um... Saint Regulator... Big Sister told me to say hello to you when I came to school, because we know each other and are in the same school..."
Oh~~ So that's it. Indeed, it was the school Takanashi Toka and the others attended.
Nodding, Eriri indicated that she understood, and looking at Takanashi Rikka, she said, "I get it. As long as you two don't cause trouble in the future, you can still come to me if anything happens. But I'm warning you again, I've never been a Chuunibyou. While I don't reject your ways, don't always show them in front of me."
Pausing, Eriri thought of something and looked at the two, saying, "Oh, right, I have a small favor I'd like to ask you two first."
"Huh?" x2
Takanashi Rikka and Dekomori Sanae looked at Eriri in confusion.
With a hint of longing on her face, Eriri said, "Call me Senpai?"
"..."
Kaede looked at the girl speechlessly, then at the two kids.
But they were clearly quite innocent, and they really did call her Senpai. Then, under Eriri's satisfied expression, they said goodbye and left.
After returning to the classroom, Kaede asked, "Eriri, do you really want people to call you Senpai that much? Umi and Kotori have called you that before, right?"
"Uh... that's different." Eriri, having come back to her senses, also waved her hand a bit awkwardly, "Umi and Kotori aren't from our school, so it feels a bit different."
"The kohai you want, you've set very strict conditions, huh? Must they be from your own school?"
"Hehe, of course!"
Flipping her head proudly, Eriri said, "I remember when I first met Utaha, that girl insisted I call her Senpai, so I wanted to act like a Senpai, hehe~~~"
What else could be said? Eriri had already done it, so let her have her little moment of pride.
Just as the bell rang for class, they couldn't continue chatting... Noon, lunch time.
The advantage of being in the same class was self-evident: when it was time for lunch, there was no need to wait for or call anyone; everyone could just leave the classroom together.
It just looked quite grand.
On the way to the cafeteria, Aisaka Taiga linked arms with Kushieda Minori, looking left and right as she said, "New students, I've become a Senpai too, huh? It feels subtly strange?"
Kitamura Yusaku turned his head with a smile and said, "It certainly does. Just thinking about some students much taller than you, Aisaka, calling you Senpai, it's really quite amusing."
"You're asking for it!!!"
Aisaka Taiga kicked towards Kitamura Yusaku, which made everyone laugh.
Looking at Kitamura Yusaku, who had run over to his side, Kaede teased, "You're really brave. It's a good thing Aisaka didn't bring her beloved wooden sword, otherwise, you'd definitely get hit."
"It's fine, it's fine. When that happens, I'll drag you, Asakura, down with me."
"Hmph, you don't need to drag me. If I get the chance, even Asakura, I won't let off easily!" Eriri glared at the two, then pulled Kushieda Minori and said, "Minori, let's ignore these guys and eat somewhere else!"
"Oh dear~~ That, Taiga, there's no need."
Kushieda Minori still loved lively atmospheres. After rubbing Aisaka Taiga's small head, she said, "Let's all eat together! How about we make Asakura and Kitamura buy us drinks? That should balance things out!"
Before Kitamura could speak, Kaede quickly answered, "Let Kitamura treat us today. Next time, it'll be my turn, next time for sure!"
"You want a next time?! Where's my wooden sword?!"
The group arrived at the cafeteria in high spirits and began to buy lunch from their favorite stalls.
Kaede liked to eat rice for lunch, so he went to the rice section, choosing the very delicious Toyosaki cafeteria's fried pork cutlet, along with two vegetable dishes. Eriri also followed Kaede, picking a tempura donburi.
After getting their ordered dishes, they went to the seat Kitamura had already chosen and sat down. Eriri subtly looked around and said, "Kaede-kun, I keep feeling like someone is watching us."
"Hm? Really?"
Kaede had just broken his chopsticks apart and curiously looked around, not noticing anything special: "Hmm... it's probably just new students. After all, Eriri is a complete beautiful girl, so it's quite normal to be noticed. Doesn't it happen when you're out on the street too?"
"No, it's not that, the feeling is different!" Eriri whispered, "It's the kind of feeling where people are talking about you behind your back!"
"About that, I might know a little."
Uchimaki Subaru walked over with his lunch, smiling as he said, "I accidentally overheard a few girls talking just now. Perhaps Sawamura feels like she's being discussed because of this."
"Tell me, what exactly is the situation?"
Shrugging, Uchimaki Subaru pointed at their hands and said, "Of course, it's because of your engagement. In just one morning, people already know about it. Apparently, some new students have older siblings in higher grades? And then it spread among the first-year new students. Don't worry, it'll be normal in a couple of days; you've both been through it before."
"Uh... that fast?"
Eriri really hadn't expected it; it was just like before, spreading in half a day, right?
As soon as he heard it might be because of that, Kaede calmed down and began to eat his lunch: "Well, then there's nothing to be nervous about. New students are curious, it's very normal."
Eriri thought about it, and agreed, so she no longer dwelled on the issue. She simply raised her hand to show off her ring as if to flaunt it, then began to eat her lunch with peace of mind.
And her action was indeed seen by some girls who were paying attention to them, each of them showing an envious expression.