Chapter 49

"Hey, get... closer..."

Eri stiffened, leaning back slightly.

However, Yuki ignored her and closed the distance, whispering into her ear as if making a suggestion.

"Preferably, you could press your chest against me and give me a tight hug."

"...Yuki, you're actually a kid who's true to your desires, aren't you?"

Yuki looked straight back at Eri, who was staring at him with a piercing gaze.

"Just say it, and if she says yes, consider it a lucky break."

"Lucky breaks don't come to kids like you very often."

Yuki pinched her earlobe and pulled it.

Then, he gradually moved his face away, and they ended up back at their original distance.

"Guess it's no good, huh?"

"It's not that... If we were really dating, it wouldn't be a big deal..."

Eri, who hesitated to speak, blushed slightly and looked up with a pleading gaze, blinking a few times.

Though she seemed hesitant, it was just a normal thing to say.

If they were really dating, they wouldn't need to ask for permission like this.

As Yuki stood up, saying, "Alright, bonus time's over," he could see Sanae in the corner of his eye, making a fighting pose and jabbing, as if to say, "Do it now, do it now!"

"Then... let's just get close enough to touch, but not quite."

Eri, who seemed to have read the air after seeing Sanae, suddenly said this.

However, it wasn't clear what kind of form she was imagining.

Yuki stood still, waiting for her to take the lead. Eri, standing beside him, raised her arms robotically and approached him awkwardly.

Then, she inserted her arms under Yuki's, and Yuki mimicked her, extending his arms.

Under Yuki's face, Eri muttered softly,

"Something's wrong, this is wrong. We look like sumo wrestlers, trying to grab each other's mawashi."

Yuki instantly thought of paper sumo. This wouldn't end unless an earthquake hit.

Instead, Eri's head (the ball) suddenly came right in front of his nose.

"Sniff, sniff"

"Hey, are you listening? And you're smelling me?!"

Eri pushed him away with both hands. The decisive move was a push, and Yuki stumbled back, sitting on the sofa.

Sanae, who had been watching, slumped over like a zombie.

"Alright, I get it, I get it."

Eri, who seemed to have read the air again, plopped down on the sofa, slightly lifting her hips and inching closer.

Then, she turned her face towards Yuki,

"Stand up straight, stretch your back. Stay still like that."

Her instructions were quite detailed.

As Yuki followed her directions, Eri tilted her head and leaned against his shoulder.

"Hey, that's a good look."

"Right, right?"

However, it seemed like she was just barely touching his shoulder. Her neck seemed to be straining, and it was twitching slightly.

But from a visual standpoint, it seemed to satisfy the second corner, as Sanae was suddenly seen with her phone, pointing the lens directly at them.

"Wait, wait a minute!!"

Eri, who had finally reached her limit, stood up and approached Sanae in large strides.

Facing Sanae, who quickly hid her phone behind her back,

"Did you just take a picture? You did, didn't you!?"

"I did."

"What are you doing, saying 'take your time'?"

"I was just trying to take a cute picture of you two..."

"Never mind that! Sanae, you should study too!"

"Eh, not now. It's not the right time... Feng shui-wise..."

Clearly, Sanae was completely taking Eri for granted, and Eri seemed unable to handle her.

When Yuki tried to help, thinking that Sanae's promise to study when Eri came over yesterday was a lie,

"Then, if Yuki wins the game, it's okay."

"Game?"

Sanae went to her room and came back with a portable game console, connected it to the TV, and started the game.

"This is a battle game!" Sanae pointed at the TV while operating the controller, and Eri smirked.

"Hmm, I thought it was something else... I'll take you on."

The screen showed a fighting game where characters were controlled to battle each other.

Yuki had been forced to play this game with Sanae before, and despite its comical appearance, it was complex and deep, making it difficult for Yuki to play.

"You should give up, Sanae is really good at games."

"Even if she's good, it's just at a beginner level. I'm serious, I won't lose to a kid."

Eri, who said this, sat down in front of the TV, licking her lips and getting hyped up.

When she received the controller from Sanae, she showed her skilled finger movements.

It seemed she was quite serious and had a lot of experience.

"Wow, you play games, Eri?"

"What do you think I do all the housework... to avoid complaints at home."

Eri said this with a hint of pride.

Ignoring Yuki's gaze, which seemed to say, "You're always lounging around at home," Eri started selecting her character.

"Let's start with a light warm-up."

"Hmm, you're being bold. For someone like Yuki."

"Sanae, don't cry if you lose."

They exchanged taunts before the battle began.

After a brief standoff, Sanae's character made the first move.

"Wow, Sanae, you're doing well."

Eri seemed relaxed at first, but as Sanae's attacks continued, she started muttering, "Huh?" and "No way," and the situation became tense.

Soon, she let out a "Tsk" and then a loud "Ah!" as the screen displayed a large "KO."

"Yay, victory!! You're weak, Yuki. Are you not feeling well?"

"Well, the character... the match-up wasn't good..."

They changed characters and started another battle.

During this time, Eri avoided looking at Sanae, focusing entirely on the screen.

Sanae, on the other hand, displayed a mysterious concentration and dexterity.

Even to a layman, it was clear that Sanae was much better.

"Ha!? That was a cheap shot! Cheater!!"

Eri, who was being dominated, started shouting.

Sanae, however, remained cool,

"Ha, the weaker ones bark the loudest..."

Sanae's character started making taunting movements.

Eri, who was visibly affected,

"Gr-gr-gr...!"

Her character, lacking in movement due to the taunting, was knocked out again.

Without taking a breath, Eri silently chose a new character and demanded a rematch.

Before the battle started, Eri took a few deep breaths to calm down,

"Wow, you're hitting now!? No way, no way!"

She quickly became noisy again.

Watching from the side, Yuki thought she seemed more like a primary school... or a slightly less reserved high school girl.

"Eri"

"What!?"

"You're being noisy."

"Hmph!"

Eri gave him a horizontal chop on the shoulder.

But in the moment she let go of the controller, the screen displayed "KO" again.

Eri, pointing at Yuki,

"Ah, I lost because Yuki was being noisy!!"

"Is it my fault?"

"Yuki! Switch with me!"

"Eh... I don't want to. I'm bad at this, and I can't beat Sanae anyway..."

"No! With Sanae!"

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

Without any choice, Yuki was forced to switch with Sanae and start the battle.

Naturally, Yuki, who was not used to the game, was quickly defeated by Eri.

"Yay, I won, I won~!"

Eri released the controller, raised both hands, and made a victory pose.

Behind her, Yuki and Sanae, who had been watching quietly, exchanged a silent glance.

Sanae, with a look of kindness Yuki had never seen before, peeked at Eri from the side.

"Yuki... I'm sorry?"

"...What for?"

Eri, who turned around, had a strained smile, and her eyes were darting around.

"Good job, Eri."

Yuki patted her head, and Eri flinched, blushing and glaring at him.

But when Sanae, mimicking Yuki, said, "Good job," Eri suddenly bowed her head and fell silent.

The button to pat Eri and say "Good job" is below.