chapter 335: We're out of here
If their identities had been discovered outside, it might not have been so dire, but the misfortune was that it happened at school. Even if few people discovered it, when peers realize that someone they know casually is also a light novel author, and they themselves are fans, the situation becomes unusual.
After many twists and turns, Utaha and Eriri finally returned to the Art Club without being discovered and locked the door.
"Phew!!! We survived!"
Slumped on the sofa, Utaha wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and said, "Running so fast right after eating, I feel a little uncomfortable."
"Me too."
After making sure the door was locked, Eriri sat down on the sofa and said, "What bad luck, to be discovered! Hehe, good thing it wasn't me. Your days are going to be tough now."
"Yeah, what should I do?"
Looking at the ceiling, Utaha's expression was a bit dazed: "What do you think, should I just take the afternoon off from class?"
"You can. During break time today, more and more people will definitely come to your classroom to find you. Just among the second-year girls I know, quite a few are your readers, not to mention the other two grades. Oh, right, do you have any fans in your class?"
"...I actually do."
"Then you're in trouble."
After resting for a while, Eriri's phone rang. She picked it up and saw a message from Kaede.
"Open the door, I'm outside."
"Ah, Kaede-kun is here!"
Eriri quickly got up and opened the door for Kaede.
After Kaede entered, Eriri cautiously peeked outside, then re-locked the door.
Taking out the drinks from the bag and handing them to Utaha, Kaede said, "Don't worry, no one followed us. They were led elsewhere. However, everyone knows where the Art Club is, so it's hard to say if someone will come looking this afternoon. I think, Kasumigaoka-senpai, you should take the afternoon off and not go back to your classroom for now. I just had Taiga check your classroom, and wow, there were a lot of people."
"So that's how it is."
Utaha had held onto a glimmer of hope, but now it seemed reality was truly cruel. She could only pick up her phone, call her homeroom teacher, and take the afternoon off directly.
After hanging up, Utaha looked at Eriri: "Eriri, my school bag is still in the classroom. I'll leave directly after class starts later. For my school bag, could you help me get it after school?"
"OK, no problem."
Eriri naturally accepted this favor without hesitation: "What then? Should I deliver it to your house?"
"Yes, bring it to my house. How about I treat you all to dinner here? Mom knows I always freeload at your place and has told me several times to bring you all over as guests more often."
After exchanging glances, Eriri and Kaede readily agreed: "Hehe, sure, then we won't be polite today!"
After the first class in the afternoon began, the frenzy of searching for Utako Kasumi that had started at noon finally subsided. Utaha also managed to leave school smoothly and went home.
During the break, Eriri leaned close to Kaede and whispered, "Kaede-kun, Kaede-kun, should we go check out the situation in Utaha's classroom?"
"Do we even need to look?"
Kaede, who was taking out his textbook for the next math class, said with a smile, "I'm sure there are plenty of people there right now. Even if Kasumigaoka-senpai's homeroom teacher said she took the day off, there will definitely be people observing."
"Hmm~~~ Let's go take a look anyway, I'm quite curious."
"...Alright, if you want to go, then let's go."
There were still seven or eight minutes left in the break, which was plenty of time to go take a look and come back. So, Kaede took Eriri out of the classroom and headed to the third-year floor.
Utaha's classroom was 3-A, the first classroom right at the top of the stairs.
Sure enough, when the two went up, they saw about a dozen non-third-year students standing outside the classroom. Without even thinking, they knew these students were looking for Utaha. Each of them held a copy of the love metronome light novel.
Looking at these students, Kaede quietly said, "Sometimes I wonder if our school rules are too lenient? They're so blatantly holding light novels and standing in the hallway, and no one comes to tell them off."
Eriri, who was also hiding nearby, said, "Hehe, it's just a light novel, so it's not that serious. Kaede-kun, you've seen students bring game consoles to school, haven't you? They all get confiscated when found, right? Whether they get returned early depends on their final exam results, otherwise, they have to wait until graduation. As for those who bring R18 stuff, it goes without saying, there's no chance of getting it back."
"That's true."
Kaede nodded, and couldn't help but glance at Eriri.
Meeting his gaze, Eriri immediately glared back: "What are you looking at? I wouldn't bring doujinshi to school; wouldn't that reveal my identity? I'm not that stupid!"
"Well, well, I'm used to it. Who told you that your past profession was so deeply ingrained in people's minds, Eriri? I'm a fan of yours too."
"Hmph, you think I'd believe that?" Eriri pouted and said, "You haven't even bought all the doujinshi I've released. How dare you say you're my fan?"
Eriri had been to his bedroom many times and knew very well where everything was, including where his doujinshi were kept. Naturally, she knew how many of her doujinshi Kaede had bought.
"Uh... well, everyone has different preferences for themes, after all."
Indeed, Kaede was a pure-love enthusiast and generally didn't read doujinshi with strange themes, which meant he was destined not to buy all of Eriri's works.
"Hmph hmph~~~" Eriri snorted twice, then didn't linger any longer. She straightened up and said, "Kaede-kun, let's go back. If we stay any longer, we might be discovered, and class is about to start. After school this afternoon, let's go find Utaha and tell her about the situation at school."
"Alright, then let's head back to the classroom first."
After club activities ended in the afternoon, Kaede and Eriri, carrying Utaha's school bag, arrived at the Kasumigaoka household. As soon as they entered, they were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Kasumigaoka, who offered them drinks and snacks, and even prepared a big dinner.
Eriri had been there a few times, but it was Kaede's first visit.
Upon entering Utaha's bedroom, Eriri looked around and immediately said, "You tidied your room, how rare."
"...Can you not mention that?"