Chapter 1019: Chapter 1018: It’s Time to Have a Good Talk
Hearing Eiriri speak, Fang Zheng glanced to the side and swiftly turned the car to park by the roadside. Before the car even came to a complete stop, Eiriri leaped out with a brisk step and ran forward, shouting as she went.
"Stop right there!!"
Fang Zheng looked over towards the sound, only to see that in a nearby alley, a girl was being surrounded by two blonde punks trying to hit on her. This was a common scenario, so what Eiriri was planning to do... Fang Zheng could guess with his toes.
She now had AR armor and was eager to find a chance to practice! This ready-made opportunity of a damsel rescuing the hero... no, a beauty rescuing the beauty... Eiriri wouldn’t let it slip by, right?
"Hey? Young lady, you’re quite cute too."
Seeing Eiriri appear, one of the guys’ eyes lit up.
"How about it? Why don’t you join us for karaoke? Our treat? There’re two of us, and two of you, isn’t that just perfect?"
"Get lost quickly, otherwise don’t blame me for being rude!"
However, Eiriri glared at him fiercely, provocatively mouthing off while cracking her knuckles, just waiting for them to bring it on. But just then, Fang Zheng walked over, placing a hand on Eiriri while giving the two punks a cold glare.
"Scram!"
"—————"
Feeling the killing intent in Fang Zheng’s gaze, the two punks instantly turned pale. Without leaving a word, they turned and fled, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.
"Ha ah......."
Watching the punks run, Eiriri looked speechless, while Fang Zheng knocked on her head.
"Understand this, I gave you that thing for self-defense, not for you to make headlines in public. If you keep this up, I’ll take it back!"
"Alright......"
Seeing her plan exposed by Fang Zheng, Eiriri stuck out her tongue, then looked at the girl who had been harassed, waving with a cheerful grin.
"Yo, Megumi, you okay? Everything alright?"
"I’m fine......"
The person standing there was none other than Kato Megumi, Eiriri’s friend, whom Fang Zheng had seen in the hospital room before. She was still dressed in her beret and short hair with a short skirt, looking very fresh. Seeing Fang Zheng and Eiriri appear, Kato Megumi’s expression seemed a bit complicated.
"Sorry...... Eiriri......"
"It’s nothing, just a small effort...... hmm? You don’t seem quite right?"
"........."
This time, however, Kato Megumi didn’t answer Eiriri’s question but lowered her head with some difficulty. Seeing Kato Megumi’s reaction, Eiriri blinked, then looked at Fang Zheng.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, I’m going to have a chat with my friend. You go ahead and do what you need to do."
"Okay."
Fang Zheng wasn’t a fool. Seeing the situation, he knew Eiriri intended to discuss something between girls with Kato Megumi, so, of course, he wouldn’t stay to be an eyesore. Fang Zheng nodded—and naturally, he didn’t forget to knock Eiriri on the head again.
"If you’re going to chat, just chat, don’t think about making headlines."
"Don’t worry, I won’t......"
Eiriri, getting her head knocked by Fang Zheng, stuck out her tongue with a playful smile. Watching their interaction, Kato Megumi showed a complicated expression, silent for a moment. After Fang Zheng finished knocking on Eiriri’s head, he smiled at Kato Megumi, then turned and left.
Kato Megumi stood there silently until Eiriri took her hand.
"Let’s go, we’ll chat at that café over there."
Eiriri wasn’t a fool either. In fact, when she first saw Kato Megumi, she noticed something was on her friend’s mind. Previously Eiriri wouldn’t care about such small things, and frankly, back then, they were somewhat "rivals," but not anymore. Eiriri and Kato Megumi no longer shared the same goals, so they weren’t competitors.
Kato Megumi didn’t speak, just followed Eiriri to a nearby café. They each ordered a drink, then Eiriri sat across from Kato Megumi, watching her with a cheerful smile.
"Speaking of, it’s been a long time since we spent time alone, Megumi."
"Yeah...... Eiriri."
Kato Megumi’s expression seemed very calm, not much different from when Eiriri first met her. However, as an artist skilled at capturing expressions, Eiriri also noticed the hint of melancholy hidden in Kato Megumi’s face.
"What’s wrong? Did something happen between you and Tomoya?"
"Not really, but Eiriri......"
"Hmm?"
"...... Did something happen between you and Aki-kun?"
"What do you mean?"
Hearing Kato Megumi’s seemingly out-of-the-blue question, Eiriri was a bit surprised. Kato Megumi hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"It’s like this... Since visiting you at the hospital that day, Aki has seemed very down, always staying alone and not speaking to anyone, not even attending university club activities..."
"Is that so..."
Hearing Kato Megumi’s words, Eiriri shrugged and took a sip of her drink. Seeing Eiriri’s reaction, Kato Megumi was somewhat surprised, her eyes widened with an astonished expression.
"Just... like that?"
"Hmm? What do you think I’d do?"
In response to Kato Megumi’s inquiry, Eiriri rolled her eyes and suddenly slapped the table.
"Tomoya must be throwing some tantrum again! Let me go drag him out and question him thoroughly..."
However, at that point, the initially excited Eiriri suddenly calmed down, showing a smile with her little tiger teeth to Kato Megumi.
"Did you think I’d react like that?"
"Hmm..."
Kato Megumi nodded. In fact, this was the Eiriri she was familiar with. The Eiriri just now made Kato Megumi feel a bit... strange.
"If it were before, I might have really done it like that, but now..."
Eiriri leaned back in her chair and pursed her lips.
"I have a boyfriend now. Besides, shouldn’t this be your responsibility?"
".........."
This time, Kato Megumi didn’t respond immediately. She quietly gazed at Eiriri, and only after a long while did she sigh.
"You’ve changed, Eiriri."
"Of course, I’ve changed. After all, two years have passed. Speaking of which... you haven’t changed at all, which really makes me feel strange."
However, Eiriri was staring at Kato Megumi at this point, speaking in a low voice. Hearing Eiriri’s words, Kato Megumi was stunned for a moment and then lowered her head.
"... You’re already in university, Megumi. Haven’t you confessed to Tomoya yet? How long are you planning to wait?"
"I..."
"You know? When I was trapped in that Death Game, I initially regretted very, very much why I didn’t confess to Tomoya in time. Life is unpredictable, no one knows what might happen, really. Look, right now, you didn’t think I’d find a boyfriend in the game."
".........."
Kato Megumi nodded. To be honest, she’s still somewhat not accustomed to the fact that Eiriri actually found a boyfriend.
"... Why, Eiriri, would you..."
"Because I’ve given up."
This time, before Kato Megumi could finish speaking, Eiriri straightforwardly interrupted her.
"I want to find someone who likes me and whom I also like, not a relationship destined to have no outcome. Megumi, do you think Tomoya likes me? I don’t mean as childhood friends or just that friendly kind of like."
".........."
Kato Megumi opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything, and seeing Kato Megumi’s reaction, Eiriri laughed self-mockingly.
"See, it’s clear, isn’t it? I admit, Tomoya is nice to me, but so what? No matter what, he won’t accept my feelings. Even if I climb naked into his bed, he probably wouldn’t want me, right? Given that, why would I continue to strive for a relationship that can never have a result? I’ve exited this love game and certainly won’t rejoin it."
Saying this, Eiriri stared at Kato Megumi.
"How about you, Megumi? How much longer will you muddle along like this? Does Tomoya really like you, or is it simple reluctance to let you leave him? I’ve heard you both got into the same university, but you just followed Tomoya to get in, right? Does Tomoya know that?"
".........."
Looking at the silent and speechless Kato Megumi, Eiriri sighed. With her understanding of Kato Megumi, it’s evident that she wouldn’t deliberately bring up such matters.
"However..."
"Love is like war; Mr. Fang Zheng once said, ’a simp gets nothing in the end.’ I think this statement really suits me. I liked Tomoya, so for his quirky ideas, I gave up so much, but what was the result? The result is still the same, nothing."
Saying this, Eiriri spread her hands.
"Looking back now, I really find myself ridiculous. Knowing there would be no result, yet desperately yearning for something I couldn’t possibly have. But thankfully, I’ve woken up. How about you, Megumi? You’ve already gone to university. Do you think you can maintain this kind of relationship for much longer?"
As she spoke, Eiriri seriously stared at Kato Megumi.
"Life doesn’t grant you endless time to waste. If you like Tomoya, then go confess, ask him for a definite answer. We are people too; we have our lives, our feelings, our thoughts. We’re not stars revolving around Tomoya, you understand what I’m saying, right?"
This time, Kato Megumi didn’t respond immediately. She just stared dazedly at the drink in front of her, only sighing a long time afterward.
"...Hmm."