After the conversation ended, Eriri returned to the room alone.
She sat down next to Utaha and, looking troubled, thought for a while before suddenly blurting out, "That Mr. Akira… he actually doesn't seem like that bad of a person."
Tomoya froze, staring at his childhood friend in disbelief. "Why are you defending that guy too?"
Eriri braced herself on the chair with both hands, swinging her legs back and forth underneath.
"Well… now that I think about it, he really didn't do anything that bad. In the end, all he did was give Utaha a choice.
And honestly, I still think those onmyoji and feng shui master types are probably frauds, but that guy seems pretty committed to his own rules.
He kept talking about equal exchange and didn't want to team up with that Lord Asai guy…"
"Enough, Eriri! I must've misjudged you! That scumbag made that kind of offer to Utaha-senpai, and you're actually defending him?!"
"Why are you yelling…"
Eriri looked a little hurt by his sudden outburst.
But unlike usual, she didn't yell back.
She was too embarrassed to admit it, but after spending time with him, she'd come to feel that even if his condition had been inappropriate, it was, in its own way… sincere.
So she said nothing and simply turned to Utaha.
"And then, he said… if you can't accept the deal, he really won't help you.
But if you're willing to use a different pen name and work on things like game scripts as a freelance writer, as long as your identity stays hidden, he won't let Lord Asai cause you trouble."
"Who needs that kind of fake kindness…"
Tomoya muttered, his voice gradually fading.
Utaha was resting her head on the desk, her dim wine-colored eyes shifting slightly. "Didn't we agree not to talk about me?"
"I didn't bring it up, nor did Mom. He suddenly asked how you were doing."
"…I see. Using a different pen name and working on other kinds of writing, huh? Doesn't sound too bad."
That's what she said, but anyone could see she had no interest. She wasn't even slightly motivated.
Sure, it was a way to keep living—maybe even live well.
But someone who should be standing in the spotlight, basking in applause from thousands, how could she accept becoming a mouse too afraid to acknowledge her own work?
Tomoya certainly noticed her reaction too, and his fists clenched tighter.
He felt awful. From the moment he saw Utaha sitting with Akira in that café, he'd felt uncomfortable.
Why was Utaha-senpai, who always kept her distance from strangers, so comfortable around him?
That unsettling feeling—like being betrayed by the person he trusted most—only bred more doubt.
Could someone who makes such shady assumptions and disgusting proposals really be a good person?
If he's not a good person, then nothing he says can be trusted.
That's just common sense, right? But why, when I said he couldn't be trusted in the clubroom, did Utaha-senpai defend him?
She knows he's a scumbag taking advantage of her weakness. So why would she trust him—and not me?
And today, even after I apologized so sincerely, all I got in return was that Lord Asai's mockery.
Even Sayuri-san said it was strange.
The two of them came together—doesn't that prove they're working together? Otherwise, why humiliate me like that?
And now, even Eriri has betrayed me… defending him too…
Why?
Just because he has money?
Power?
Good looks?
These endless questions—and the sense of "betrayal" he had never considered before—overwhelmed Tomoya's heart, making it hard to even breathe.
The only moment he could catch his breath was when Eriri mentioned Utaha using a different pen name and working as a game writer.
Yes, that's it. That's the best plan. The perfect solution for Utaha-senpai.
And I think I finally figured out what the problem was with that last script. If we just refine it, her writing will still shine.
Even if she can't use her real name, even if it's a bit unfair, people will still read it. She'll still be praised. Isn't that great?
But then… why doesn't she look happy?
She doesn't want to accept that outcome. So maybe—maybe she's thinking of accepting that deal!?
Tomoya didn't realize that this feeling of betrayal came from how Utaha, since they'd met over a year ago, had never really interacted with any other boys and always revolved around him.
It had become something he took for granted.
Now that that "truth" was broken—and by someone clearly better than him in every way—his male instinct to possess, and the inferiority complex rooted in it, flared up.
The former was that bitter feeling of being "cheated on," something no man takes lightly.
And stemming from the latter was one of the seven deadly sins—humanity's most common dark emotion.
Jealousy.
The two emotions together were enough to drive anyone mad.
Even though he and Utaha weren't in a romantic relationship, and she had clearly rejected Akira, which should have minimized those feelings… it still made him emotional, obsessive—
Or rather, furious.
And Eriri's "betrayal" only added fuel to the fire.
So when he noticed Utaha's complete lack of enthusiasm and had that final suspicion, he opened his mouth—and blurted it out.
"Utaha-senpai… are you still… thinking about that condition?"
Utaha should have had a strong reaction to such a misunderstanding.
But today, her emotions were simply too drained. And this kind of "misunderstanding"… it was already the second time.
She didn't have the energy to explain it again—nor the desire to.
So she simply shifted her gaze slightly and looked at Tomoya, saying nothing.
But her silence became the final straw—lighting the fuse of all his pent-up emotions.
Of course, the protagonist couldn't say something twisted out of jealousy.
Conveniently, he had a "righteous" reason.
"Utaha-senpai, I won't just stand by and watch you fall."
Tomoya pushed up his glasses and said seriously, "That's why you can't agree to it. You absolutely mustn't. If you do… I'll tell your parents."
Utaha's half-lidded eyes snapped open.
Smack—!
The loud crack of book meeting skull shattered the tension in the air.
Tomoya bowed his head, dazed by the heavy blow. His glasses fell to the ground.
Behind him, Megumi unfolded the book she had just used and spoke cautiously.
"Ah, sorry. I accidentally used one of the Sawamura family's books to hit him.
Looks like I damaged it a bit. I'll buy a new one this weekend to make up for it, okay, Sawamura-san?"
Eriri nodded blankly, then shook her head, then rushed forward, grabbed the book, and smacked Tomoya again.
"You idiot, Tomoya! What the hell are you saying? Apologize right now! Apologize!"
This time the book wasn't rolled up, so no matter how hard she hit, it was far gentler than the first strike.
But that light smack was what finally brought Tomoya back to his senses.
He picked up his glasses and put them on. Then he pushed them up his nose—his eyes burning with the same feverish resolve he'd had when he first decided to make a game.
"No. For Utaha-senpai's sake… I won't change my decision."
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