Harunobu Tetsu dared not speak. It was he who couldn't hold back his temper first, constantly making mistakes and having a lot of inner drama. Now, facing Kato Megumi's accusation, he didn't know how to retort.
Fortunately, Kato Megumi was simply trying to take the initiative, avoiding embarrassment for herself, so she wouldn't pursue the matter further.
Thus, they agreed to meet after school tomorrow to go to Harunobu's house to get the medicinal wine and then parted ways.
Because Kato's house was already in sight.
If you were to ask why they were going to get it after school tomorrow instead of bringing it along while going to school, Miss Kato already had her excuse prepared.
"If we brought the wine to school, it would be very troublesome, wouldn't it? We're not adults yet, after all."
This light, casual remark left Harunobu Tetsu speechless. While the medicinal wine wasn't technically alcohol, it would be a bit of a problem if it encountered someone who didn't understand.
……
After seeing Harunobu Tetsu off, Kato Megumi turned and went back into her home.
"Mom, I'm back."
Hearing her daughter's voice, Kato's mother immediately stood up from the living room where she had been watching television.
This was the first time her daughter had eaten outside alone, and at a boy's house too. As a parent, how could she not be anxious?
Previously, Kato's mother had expressed that while she didn't oppose her daughter dating, she should at least know who she was with and what kind of person they were.
If any Tom, Dick, or Harry could trick her daughter away, then her role as a mother would be for naught.
"Megumi, did you go to your boyfriend's house to eat today?" Kato's mother wasn't like another mother who needed to probe and infer.
The Kato family simply spoke their minds. It was unclear how they raised a daughter like Kato Megumi, who could quickly turn her brain and dig a pit to bury people without a trace.
"Mom, what are you saying?" While Kato Megumi really wanted to admit it, a girl's shyness and the truth of the situation wouldn't allow her to lie.
What if her next word caused her mom to demand that she bring Harunobu Tetsu home to eat? What would she do then?
"But I've never seen you eat at another boy's house, Megumi. Not to mention other boys, even with your classmates, right?" Seeing her daughter's somewhat shy expression, Kato's mother, with her experience, knew that her daughter had someone she liked.
"It was an accident this time. Harunobu-kun helped me with my injury, and it took some time, so we decided to eat at his house." Kato Megumi stroked her wrist as she spoke, her smile heart-warming.
"When you have the chance, bring him to meet Mom, okay?" Looking at her daughter's expression, Kato's mother was instantly transported back to her own youth.
Who hasn't been young?
To meet the person you love most during the most beautiful time of your life, what could be more blissful?
Of course, there is. It's that the two of you can truly stay together forever.
And Kato's mother knew her daughter well. While Kato Megumi usually spoke little and had a low presence, even she, the mother, had to admit that her daughter had a good eye for people.
As long as it was someone her daughter had chosen, and someone who truly cared for her daughter, she, the mother, would not object.
……
Sawamura · Spencer · Eriri was diligently working in her bedroom, which also served as her art studio.
To call it diligent work wasn't entirely accurate. It was because the girl had previously been slacking off, and later, due to Harunobu Tetsu's influence, had been unable to produce work that satisfied her for several days, that she was left in this predicament.
With the deadline looming, Eriri, a patient with advanced chronic procrastination, had to force herself to work hard.
What surprised Sawamura Sayuri was that in the past, when the deadline approached, her daughter would inevitably frown and beg her to return her phone or to make an exception and let her read a few manga, her mind filled with the desire to slack off.
But this time, nearing the deadline, while she had encountered some setbacks, Eriri quickly adjusted and became increasingly confident and happy as she drew.
Taking advantage of her daughter's break, Sawamura Sayuri asked about the confusion in her heart.
"Mom, don't you feel happy when you make progress?" Eriri's words made Sawamura Sayuri realize.
It's like work. Some people go to work every day as if they're going to a funeral. They're disliked by their colleagues, their boss constantly yells at them, problems keep popping up at work, and in the end, all they get is a meager salary. How could they possibly be motivated to work?
But what about another scenario? Their colleagues are friendly, their boss is willing to teach them, and with everyone's help, they make noticeable progress in their work, and their bank account grows day by day. Wouldn't such work make them more and more enthusiastic?
Eriri was like that now. With each drawing she completed, she felt more and more that Harunobu Tetsu's guidance was correct.
After testing her work on several of the servants in the house, Eriri discovered that the pictures she drew truly resonated more deeply with people.
Sakaki even said it felt like she was actually there just by looking at the pictures.
Of course, Eriri only used ordinary landscape paintings for testing. Otherwise, if she had Sakaki substitute into certain risqué manga, that would be too bad.
So now, Eriri's admiration for Harunobu Tetsu was almost unparalleled. She even felt confident that she could shine at the upcoming release event!
The only thing she found regrettable was that, due to her identity and the nature of her creation, she couldn't appear in front of her fans. Otherwise, imagining the fans looking at her with admiration, Eriri felt excited just thinking about it.
"How should I repay Harunobu-kun?" This question had been bothering Eriri for days.
Previously, she had been preoccupied with creating, so she hadn't had the time or energy to consider such a matter.
But these days, as the progress continued, she had more time to think about this problem.
Harunobu Tetsu had said that friends don't need to measure the value of each other's contributions with money, so Eriri abandoned the idea of simply giving him money, though such an approach was straightforward and effective.
If Harunobu Tetsu knew that his words back then, spoken for the sake of showing off, were taken as a motto by Eriri, he'd probably faint in the toilet.
Originally, Eriri was a bit troubled, wondering how she should repay Harunobu Tetsu. But soon, when she saw a message pop up on LINE, the girl knew what she should do.
"This repayment will definitely be a blessing in disguise for Harunobu-kun!"
Eriri couldn't help but giggle.
You're truly amazing, Eriri!