Chapter 376: The Reason
After sitting down and ordering, Eriri looked at Kawashima Ami at the next table in surprise: "Are you eating alone here?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Kawashima Ami picked up a tender piece of grilled Wagyu beef, put it in her mouth, chewed contentedly, swallowed, and said, "What, I can't eat alone? You wouldn't understand the pain of a single dog."
"Emmm... I didn't mean that."
Eriri gave an awkward laugh and said, "I originally thought you'd come with Kitamura, since you two are childhood friends."
"Of course I asked him."
Speaking of Kitamura Yusaku, Kawashima Ami sighed and said, "But you know that guy, he usually has Softball Club practice and is basically busy on weekends, so I can only eat out by myself. Honestly, while eating alone means freedom and no restrictions, being able to eat whatever I want, it also makes me feel quite insecure."
"Insecure?"
This was the first time Eriri had heard Kawashima Ami say that. She smiled and said, "If you want security, find someone to go with, or get a boyfriend and everything will be fine. Anyway, your job is a model, and you haven't signed with an agency, so no one will restrict you in that regard."
"Do you think finding a boyfriend is that simple?"
Resting her chin on her hands, Kawashima Ami said, "These days, men with two legs are easy to find, but how many suitable boyfriends can you find? And you all know my personality; I won't force myself to be a good girl just for a so-called boyfriend. I don't plan to change anything. If someone can't get used to my personality, then I'm fine on my own like this, it makes no difference."
"That's true, I agree!"
Eriri nodded, "Love is good, but you can't change yourself because of it and become another person."
"What about you?" Looking at Eriri, Kawashima Ami asked, "Were you the same before as you are now?"
"Me?"
Eriri tapped her chin with her finger, glanced at Kaede opposite her, and said, "As for me, I feel like there have been some changes compared to before, but not in terms of personality. I still like the things I liked, and dislike the things I disliked. It's just that my timidity has improved a lot. Originally, I didn't want to expose my identity as an otaku at all, but after I got together with Kaede-kun, I gradually stopped caring. After all, that's just one aspect of my identity, not all of it."
Kaede, on the other hand, said, "There have been changes in personality, I think."
"Eh? Really?" Eriri asked in surprise, "How come I don't know?"
"Of course there are."
Kaede nodded gravely and said, "Eriri, have you forgotten? You've gotten rid of your tsundere tendencies."
..."Eh?"
Stunned for a moment, Eriri immediately reached out angrily, wanting to grab Kaede's cheek, "Tsundere, I'll let you say tsundere! Your whole family is tsundere!"
Kaede quickly dodged left and right, laughing as he said, "My whole family is tsundere, so aren't you included? So you're still tsundere."
"Urusai!"
Kawashima Ami, who was nearby, covered her face in exasperation.
Seriously, no matter what topic they discussed, these two always managed to make some public displays of affection. Could it be that showing affection is truly an instinct for couples?
They looked silly, but also very enviable.
After some commotion, and their ordered lunch being served, Eriri reluctantly gave up, venting her frustration on the Wagyu beef in front of her.
She put a piece of Wagyu beef into her mouth, chewed vigorously, and glared fiercely at Kaede opposite her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Kaede, on the other hand, ate leisurely, with a satisfied expression on his face, "When you eat delicious food, you should be happy, Eriri, it's not good to be like this!"
"Hmph, I can't be bothered with you!"
She snorted and said to Kawashima Ami, "See? Even Kaede-kun still makes me angry when he wants to. How am I tsundere? I should say it's just that I'm not good at expressing emotions!"
Since Kawashima Ami had only recently met Eriri, she didn't really know what she was like before. She could only agree with her, nodding... Although she arrived at the restaurant first, after finishing her meal, Kawashima Ami was pulled by Eriri and not allowed to leave, insisting on chatting together.
Kawashima Ami had no choice but to stay and chat with the two of them. It wasn't boring, after all, she would just be alone if she left, most likely going back to her apartment.
After eating their fill contentedly, they paid the bill and left the restaurant. Eriri said happily, "Wow~~~ The chef here is amazing! The Wagyu beef tasted better than when we make it ourselves. Let's come again next time!"
Looking at his wallet, Kaede smiled and said, "The taste is good, but the price is also not cheap. If your wallet isn't thick, you really can't come often."
"Hehe~~~"
Smiling foolishly, Eriri looked at Kawashima Ami: "Ami, do you have any plans for the afternoon? We're going to play at the arcade nearby for a while, want to come along?"
"Arcade... but..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Kawashima Ami seemed to spot something, and then immediately hid behind Kaede.
"Huh?"
This action was very strange, causing both Kaede and Eriri to frown. Kaede looked around and then saw a person in a hoodie turn and run away from a distant streetlamp.
As the person ran, Kaede could tell it was a male, and the object hanging around his neck was a camera?
"Reporter? Paparazzi? Or... a stalker?"
When the third option was mentioned, Eriri immediately saw Kawashima Ami tremble and said in shock, "It really is a stalker?"
Kaede pulled Eriri's hand and said, "Let's talk somewhere else, she'll be nervous here."
There happened to be a taxi, so Kaede hailed it. The three got in, and Kaede directly told the driver to go to the Bunko.
Compared to other places, the Bunko was the safest, and no one could enter freely.
Upon arriving at the Bunko, since it was a weekend and not many people were around, there happened to be an empty reception room they could use. Kaede directly led the two girls in to sit down.
Looking at Kawashima Ami opposite him, Kaede sighed and said, "I finally understand why you chose to transfer schools and even paused your modeling work. It's because of what happened just now, isn't it? You encountered someone stalking you?"
Under the gaze of Kaede and Eriri, Kawashima Ami tightly clasped her hands and nodded.