"Eriri, school will start in a few days. How about after you meet Shinnosuke, you invite him to dinner at our house? We didn't get a proper chance to thank him back then."
In Japan, bullying at school is a very serious issue. Even the Emperor's daughter can be a victim of bullying. The general public tends to think that being bullied and unable to socialize is the victim's own problem.
This is a very contradictory and complex social issue. Most teachers also choose to ignore bullying at school.
Back then, even though Eriri was an ojousama, she still couldn't escape being ostracized by others.
"Okay, I'll invite him."
Eriri was so happy she almost fainted. Wasn't this a golden opportunity?
After finding out that Shinnosuke was also in this world, she didn't know how to approach him. Now, with this connection, after school started, she could create a chance to meet him coincidentally, and then invite Shinnosuke to dinner at her house!
Perfect plan!
"Don't smile so foolishly, is your manuscript finished?"
"Ah?" Eriri's expression stiffened. Oops, she completely forgot!
Seeing her expression, Sayuri couldn't help but laugh. Eriri was really very cute.
Wasn't this innocent smile of Eriri's what she and her husband wanted to protect?
"Hurry up and finish the manuscript. I've already spoken with the website."
Eriri calmed down. The current her, with fifteen years of memories, was no longer the little girl who couldn't stay calm like before.
However, because she was well-protected by Shinnosuke, her mental age hadn't increased much, only she was more patient.
The first meeting, she had to plan it well! If she could go on a date with Shinnosuke…
Ehehehe…
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Achooo!" Shinnosuke, who was watching TV, suddenly sneezed.
"Strange, is someone thinking about me?" Hearing a sound from the door, he opened it.
"Oh, it's just Shiro."
Shiro went out to get to know the surroundings. Near the apartment were a park and a river embankment; the environment was very nice, and Shiro was very satisfied.
Licking Shinnosuke's outstretched hand, Shiro went to rest on his own.
This touch unconsciously reminded Shinnosuke of the time he spent with Eriri in his memories.
'Sorry Shiro, I have another dog!'
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The next day, Shinnosuke, who had stayed up late, woke up to the ringing of the phone.
"Hello?"
"Shin-chan, I've made plans with them. We're eating out this afternoon. I've sent you the location."
"Okay, Kazama, I understand."
After hanging up the phone, Shinnosuke fell asleep again. The long-awaited reunion of the Kasukabe Defense Force needed to be well prepared for.
However, the matters of the afternoon could be thought about later.
Sleeping soundly until noon, Shinnosuke finally woke up, stretched his body, and snorted comfortably.
Staying up late occasionally was actually quite enjoyable.
After washing his face and changing clothes, he went straight out.
He had promised to meet Kazama earlier.
Because they hadn't gone to the same middle school, and everyone had grown up, their relationship might not be as good as before.
Nene and Masao already had new friends, each with new social circles. Would this reunion make them strangers?
Was this what they called growing up problems?
It was still early afternoon; Shinnosuke walked slowly down the street, enjoying the spring afternoon sunshine.
Cherry blossoms fell slowly. In the yard of a one-story house by the roadside, neatly arranged green plants were visible.
Japanese society had many problems, but it had to be admitted that the cherry blossoms here were indeed very beautiful.
Detective Hill? Seeing the uphill road in front of him, Shinnosuke suddenly felt déjà vu.
A gentle breeze came, carrying a faint floral scent, and a white beret flew into his face.
"Damn it!"
Beside Shinnosuke, a bespectacled man with messy long hair looked annoyed. Just a little more and the hat would have flown his way.
"With such a cliché plot, I should have been the main character!"
"Excuse me, could I have this beret? I've gotten a very good inspiration; this could definitely be the best galgame plot. I've decided, I'm going to make my own galgame!"
Looking at this man talking to himself in front of him, Shinnosuke had already guessed his identity.
'Aki Tomoya?'
From any point of view, he wasn't a pleasant person.
Shinnosuke disliked such selfish people who talked about dreams but actually had no goals or plans, acting without considering the mood and not caring about other people's feelings.
Ignoring Tomoya, Shinnosuke held the beret in his hand and looked towards the girl on the hill.
A small pink blouse, a short white skirt, accompanied by the dance of cherry blossoms, the girl's short hair moved slightly in the breeze.
No wonder Tomoya, at first glance, immediately believed she was his heroine.
Unfortunately, the beret was now in Shinnosuke's hand.
Ignoring Tomoya beside him, Shinnosuke walked up the hill holding the hat. The girl also walked towards Shinnosuke.
This scene made Tomoya beside him even angrier.
This dreamlike development, how could the protagonist and heroine meet? Why did he feel like he was being NTR'd?
Following beside Shinnosuke, he wanted to snatch the beret from his hand.
But Tomoya's height was only 171 cm; Shinnosuke easily avoided Tomoya's hand and continued to ignore him.
Because Shinnosuke knew that with this troublesome person, just saying one sentence to him would make him talk to himself, find many excuses, and say a lot of nonsense.
Shinnosuke had always been straightforward; it would be very troublesome if the two of them argued.
"Thank you for picking up my hat."
Kato Megumi looked at Shinnosuke in front of her, her cheeks slightly flushed. His hat had flown into this boy's face, making her a little embarrassed.
"You're welcome, the wind is indeed a bit strong today."
"My name is Aki Tomoya! I'm a second-year student at Toyogasaki! Can I have your contact information? I want to invite you to be the heroine in my game!"
Perhaps provoked by Shinnosuke, Tomoya looked at Megumi excitedly, even bowing to her, as if he would do a dogeza if Megumi didn't agree.
"Aki-kun, we're classmates, we've been in the same class for a year."
Looking at Tomoya in front of her, Megumi felt a little helpless. Her presence had been very minimal since childhood, often overlooked by people. To be honest, she was like a background character in a game, a background briefly depicted in comics.
"Ah?"
Tomoya looked surprised. This was his classmate? Why didn't he know? He didn't even remember her name.
Sighing, although slightly interested in the heroine role Tomoya mentioned, Megumi still turned to Shinnosuke and accepted her beret back.
"Thank you."