256: The Impending Doom

Hitori: [Everyone who has finished the band has already confirmed that they will come to my house after school.]

Chisato: [That's a big help; thank you.]

Hitori: [♪(^∇^*)]

Chisato smiled knowingly, ended her message exchange with Hitori, and put her phone in her pocket.

After the lunch break, he sent a message asking Hitori for help in preventing everyone from the finished band from appearing in the Starry Showroom that night.

Hitori didn't ask any unnecessary questions at the time. After a moment, she stated her idea directly. Upon receiving Chisato's approval, she immediately put it into action.

Now, they had received feedback confirming the smooth implementation of the plan.

As a result, Chisato felt a sudden decrease in pressure, alleviating much of her anxiety.

After all, everyone from the finished band was aware of her relationship with Hitori. Given their lively and boisterous personalities, if they encountered Kazusa, it could lead to unexpected trouble.

However, even so, it still couldn't be taken lightly.

After all, Starry's store manager, Ijichi Nijika's sister, Ijichi Seika, also knew about the relationship between her and Hitori.

Considering her calm demeanor, she wouldn't typically initiate conversation with someone she wasn't familiar with, and the same could be said for Kazusa.

As long as she could manage the situation and prevent any direct contact between the two, she would have room to maneuver.

At that time, facing them separately, different words could easily resolve any issues.

After mentally simulating various scenarios for the night, Chisato nodded with confidence.

Although it seemed risky, as long as it was handled correctly, he had no doubt about hisadvantage.

After today's visit, Kazusa's curiosity would be satisfied, and she would no longer obsess over visiting where he worked.

Feeling that everything was still under her control, Chisato calmed down, pressed the toilet flush button, adjusted his collar, and walked out of the bathroom.

…

Toyosaki High School.

After school, Eriri smiled and declined her friends' invitation to go karaoke, picked up her schoolbag, and walked out of class.

She didn't leave the school directly; instead, she went up the stairs and finally stopped at the door of Class C, Grade 3.

In the third year of high school, since they were about to enter higher education, teachers often extended classes for ten to fifteen minutes, and today was no exception.

Through the window, Eriri happened to see Utaha waking up, rubbing her eyes and yawning lightly.

It took a moment for the other girl to notice Eriri waiting outside the classroom through a nudge from the girl at the next table.

She glanced at the chattering teacher at the podium, stuffed all her textbooks and school supplies into her desk, and left her wallet and phone in her pocket.

Then she raised her hand to interrupt the teacher's lecture and excused herself, saying she wasn't feeling well and wanted to go to the health room.

While walking out of the school, Eriri looked at Utaha, who was empty-handed.

"You just left your schoolbag at school like that?"

Utaha seemed quite unfazed.

"It's not the first time."

"Are you going to catch up on your homework tomorrow morning?"

Utaha smiled disdainfully.

"When you reach the top of your class, no teacher will care whether you hand in your homework."

"…"

Eriri was left speechless. Compared to Utaha, a top student, her academic struggles were glaringly apparent.

She changed the subject.

"Actually, I'm wondering if we should go directly there now, or if it would be better to go back and change clothes first."

"Are you worried that minors aren't allowed in the place where Chisato works?"

"Chisato works in that exhibition hall, so there shouldn't be such a rule."

Eriri raised her arm and sniffed.

"I'm worried about the smell on my body. I had physical education class this afternoon. Although I wore sportswear, I still sweated a lot."

"That's fine; just go as you are. I didn't have physical education class, so I'm totally fine."

"You guys are just looking for trouble, aren't you?"

"Anyway, the purpose of our visit today is just to see how the girl named Hitori interacts with Chisato in private, right? We don't want you to go and make out with him, so you have nothing to worry about."

Utaha said this lightly.

Though her words dripped with indifference, they were undeniably reasonable. Eriri thought about it for a moment and accepted her reasoning without further argument.

"It's not good to arrive too early. Maybe Chisato and Hitori haven't arrived yet. Do you want to grab something to eat?"

Eriri suggested.

Utaha nodded.

"You pick a place."

Eriri randomly chose a restaurant on the street, and they both ordered small set meals.

Utaha took a sip of her iced drink and asked,

"Why don't you just say hello to Chisato first?"

"Then he can prepare in advance to show us what he wants us to see?"

"...Indeed, if we do that, our actions will lose their meaning."

Utaha picked up her knife and fork and began eating her steak. Eriri gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window, deep in thought.

"But I can't help but want to say something."

Utaha paused and looked at her angrily.

"...Can I finish all my words at once?"

"Don't worry about it. Just eat your steak. I'll handle it."

It wasn't an important matter; Eriri's idea was straightforward.

They could neither inform Chisato and the others in advance about their visit so that he could prepare, nor could they just show up unannounced and make it seem like they had ulterior motives.

So they decided to take a middle ground.

They would wait on the train and call to inform him when they were about to reach their destination.

This way, they could achieve their goal, and even if Chisato later complained about their sudden visit, he wouldn't have any valid reason to be upset since they had passed by without saying hello.

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(19/22)

50+ advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta

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