134: Can liking be faked?

Eriri's voice was too loud just now, instantly attracting the attention of many guests.

Sawamura Sayuri gracefully walked over, her voice slightly stern: "Eriri, you're being too rude."

Compared to Yukinoshita's family, who imposes elite education on both of their daughters, the Sawamura couple treats Eriri almost indulgently, with their approach being more about joyful education.

It is not hard to tell the educational choices of both families by looking at their choices for high schools—one private, one public.

For the Sawamura couple, as long as Eriri grows up healthy, that's enough.

If they were like Yukinoshita's mother in treating Eriri, even Aki Tomoya would probably spend his entire life trying to meet her.

Because the destination Tomoya strives for might never surpass the starting point Eriri was born with.

Normally, if Eriri behaved badly at home, Sawamura Sayuri wouldn't scold her.

But today, with so many people at the house, and the Sawamura family being a well-known family in Chiba, Sayuri wouldn't let Eriri misbehave, even if she adored her. 

She wouldn't let her embarrass the family.

Japanese people value their family reputation deeply.

The Sawamura couple has very low expectations for Eriri—just behave decently in public.

If Yukino's mother were Sawamura Sayuri, she'd probably be smiling in her sleep.

"I'm sorry, Mom."

As soon as she saw her mother, Eriri slumped like a pickled cucumber, lowering her head, obediently apologizing—completely unlike the arrogant attitude she had around Takashi.

Usually, she would joke around with her mother, but if she were to throw a tantrum in a setting like this, Sayuri wouldn't indulge her.

Sayuri lowered her voice and asked, "What happened?"

She knew her daughter better than anyone.

Something must have happened, otherwise, Eriri wouldn't be acting like this.

"...Can I not say?"

Eriri didn't want to say anything.

If her mother knew that she had been replaced with a stand-in and still got cheated on, that would be so embarrassing.

Sayuri didn't say anything; she just stood still, staring at Eriri.

Eriri felt like she was about to confess, but Sayuri sighed and reached out with her delicate fingers to fix Eriri's bangs, which had been blown by the night wind, her tone softening: 

"If something's wrong, you have to tell Mommy."

If she wanted to know, there were countless ways.

But just like the way she raised Eriri, Sayuri didn't want to force her.

"Mm."

Eriri looked up at her mother, who had turned back into the caring figure she always was. Her nose ached, and she felt like crying.

She wanted to run into her mother's arms right now and confess everything about Takashi being with Maki behind her back, but she held back.

Because all she had heard was Nagisa's side of the story.

Whether it was true or not, she wasn't sure yet.

In any case, she felt that Takashi would never betray her.

Sayuri gave her a few more instructions and then left to clean up the mess for her daughter.

"Kashiwagi-san, you—"

"Shh!"

Eriri wanted to ask Nagisa to call Maki to find out where she was so that she could ask her face-to-face.

But before she could finish her sentence, Nagisa put her finger to her lips, smiling as she answered the phone: "Hello, darling, what's up?"

"Nagisa, what do you want to do!!!"

On the other end of the line, Takashi's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

"I'm sorry, darling, I was wrong."

Nagisa quickly admitted her mistake.

"If you're still not calm, next time you can tie me up with rope, choke me, and whip me, if you want."

Takashi felt like he was punching cotton—there was no force in it: "...Are you crazy?"

Eriri's face turned bright red.

Is this something she can hear?

Are they all playing like this?

"Sawamura-san, what did you just say to me?"

Nagisa seemed to just notice Eriri. She tilted her head, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing!"

Eriri dropped that line, her face flushed, and she awkwardly ran away.

Nagisa smiled and watched her leave, then teasingly said, "Darling, my rival's strength isn't very impressive."

With Eriri's weak abilities, a small move would be enough to handle her.

After a while, Nagisa didn't hear Takashi say anything, so she called again: "Darling?"

"She's still there, don't talk to me."

"Darling, you're too timid."

Nagisa giggled.

This man dared to lie to the eldest daughter of the Shijo family, yet she thought he was bold.

Turns out he was this timid.

"Don't worry, she's gone."

Takashi sighed with relief, but Nagisa's next sentence made him anxious again.

"But she's probably going to find Maki."

"What is she looking for Maki for?"

Takashi's heart tightened again.

"She's probably going to ask if she knows Takashi."

"What!"

Hearing this, Takashi felt like the sky was about to fall.

The thing he feared most had finally happened.

Takashi angrily shouted: "Did you tell her who I am?"

Nagisa looked innocent: "No, I only told her that Maki's boyfriend is Watanabe Takashi!"

"You call that not telling her?"

If it weren't for the phone call between them, Takashi would have elbowed her right now.

Nagisa comforted him: "Why are you so worried? She's just another girl Watanabe Takashi dumped. What does it have to do with you?"

"We're the same person, aren't we? I think you're doing this on purpose."

"Yeah, I'm doing it on purpose."

Nagisa's tone changed from teasing to cold.

"Takashi, tell me, how many calls and messages did I send you from yesterday to today? Why didn't you reply?"

"I've been busy."

"Heh, busy? You had time to reply to Maki's messages but not mine?"

"Takashi, do you think just because others don't get mad, they're fools?"

Nagisa sounded increasingly wronged. Oh, you have time to date Yukino and lick Adagaki Aki, but you can't return my messages?

We're both rich, beautiful girls—why do you respond to others and not me?

What's wrong with me?

"Fine, fine, fine. Next time I'll reply as soon as I see your messages, okay?"

Takashi didn't want to argue with her right now.

From what he knew about Eriri, she had probably already bombarded him with calls.

"The number you have dialed is currently busy..."

Just as Takashi expected, Eriri was looking for Maki while repeatedly calling him.

"Could it be true that, as she said, Takashi is with Maki?"

The more Eriri couldn't get through to Takashi, the more uneasy she felt, and her suspicions grew.

"Takashi, was all your kindness and affection for me just an act?"

The night wind blew through the young girl's hair, stirring up her heart as well.

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