Crossing over, and then being blocked by a rich JK.

Chapter 458 Rescue
To be honest, Watanabe Yu didn't immediately grasp the specifics of the situation, but he was still good at reading people.

So, after sensing the plea for help in Risa Yasuhara's eyes, he immediately understood and raised his hand, then uttered that classic line.

"There was a bit of traffic on the road, so I arrived a little late."

To be honest, this reason is indeed useful, and in big cities, it's really hard to find fault with it.

"Who is this?"

Looking at the handsome high school student in front of him, Matsuda Taiga looked at Yasuhara Risa with some confusion.

His intuition told him that this was Risa Yasuhara's way of helping Ikumi Eda refuse, but how could there be such a coincidence in life? Even in a small town, it's impossible to run into an acquaintance at any time when you go out, right?
Not to mention this is in Tokyo, a megacity in Japan.

"My younger brother came to invite me and Yumei to dinner."

Risa Yasuhara stated this statement with righteous indignation.

She could tell such lies without batting an eye, without any stage fright or guilt.

To be honest, women do have a natural advantage when it comes to lying.

"is it?"

Matsuda Taiga turned his head and looked at Eda Ikumi.

"Yes."

Ikumi Eda nodded slightly, giving an affirmative answer.

Although it's unclear whether this was arranged in advance by her best friend, it certainly solved her immediate problem.

“They encountered some problems and wanted to consult Yu Mei about them.”

Risa Yasuhara then added this sentence.

"……All right."

Upon hearing this, Matsuda Taiga fell silent.

However, the silence did not last long. The moment Watanabe Yu and his group arrived, he made another invitation.

"So, what about me treating everyone afterwards?"

He didn't want to give up.

"Let's talk about it later. I'm not sure if I'll have time."

Eda Ikumi shrugged, giving Matsuda Taiga a polite refusal, then took Yasuhara Risa's arm and walked towards Watanabe Yu and the others.

"We've been waiting for you for so long, shouldn't we be able to set off now?"

She really didn't want to stay here anymore.

But why does Watanabe seem even more handsome now?

"Sorry, Yu Mei, let's go. We should still be able to make it to the restaurant we booked."

Watanabe Yu gave an apologetic look, and after Eda Ikumi and Yasuhara Risa approached, he started walking away into the distance.

The group left in a grand procession, leaving only Matsuda Taiga standing silently in place.

*
After waiting for a while at a nearby milk tea shop, the group leisurely returned to Sunset Cafe.

Realistically speaking, the most dangerous place is the safest place.

"So, what exactly is going on?"

After ordering, it was Watanabe Yu who started the conversation.

To be honest, he really didn't expect to run into Sister Risa and the others here, and he certainly didn't expect to be forced to act in a somewhat stiff, but still natural, scene.

"To put it simply, your sister Yu Mei was arranged to go on a blind date by her family. After a coffee meeting, she thought it was over, but the other party felt it was an opportunity and wanted to get to know her better."

Risa Yasuhara shrugged, then looked thoughtfully at Ryoko and Ayana.

"Are you two... on a date?"

She blinked.

"No, I came out to look at home appliances."

Watanabe Yu shook his head, correcting Risa's statement.

Did he not know what the latter wanted to say? It was nothing more than that line—"You guys didn't even bring Yuki? Are you isolating her?"
"Home appliances??" Eda Ikumi was stunned for a moment, then stared at the three of them in disbelief. "You're living together?!???"

She's not even thirty yet, so why does she suddenly give off a feeling of time travel?

Back then, the most 'rebellious' thing high school students did when they were in a relationship was going to a love hotel or going out together during summer vacation. Nobody dared to live together so openly.

"Yes."

Ayana Amamiya and Ryoko Hamabe nodded, giving their answer in unison. "..."

Eda Ikumi opened her mouth as if to say something, but then suddenly fell silent.

After hesitating several times, she sighed and slumped against the sofa in the booth.

High school students are all paired up, but this old lady is still all alone.

There's a strange feeling of being left behind by the times.

“It’s normal.” Risa Yasuhara turned her head, gently patted Ikumi Eda’s shoulder, and gave the latter a 'I understand' look. “Relax, they are ultimately a minority.”

In any sense.

"Sigh, that's true." Eda Ikumi sighed, then forced a smile and awkwardly changed the subject, "But if you're looking at home appliances, why did you come here?"

The street that sells home appliances is quite a distance from here.

What she meant was that, in terms of direction, this was a longer route.

“Ayana said there’s a cafe here that makes pretty good desserts, so we decided to stop by and give it a try.”

Yu Watanabe provided an explanation.

"Oh."

Ikumi Eda nodded.

In that case, it makes sense.

"Let me treat you to lunch. You guys helped me out, so it's only right that I show my appreciation."

She said this with great sincerity, extending the invitation.

"This one……"

Watanabe Yu seemed somewhat hesitant.

It's not that I'm afraid of settling all debts of gratitude or anything, it's just that I'm worried that Ryoko and Ayana might feel uncomfortable, since the three of them rarely go out together.

Now that we've finally managed to go out together, we should at least have some time alone, right?
"We think it's fine."

Ayana Amamiya and Ryoko Hamabe exchanged a glance and readily agreed.

Although it was a little regrettable to be disturbed, it was actually a good thing in the long run. Firstly, social interactions should be reciprocal, and secondly, Risa and Eda Ikumi are not the traditional kind of 'elders', so even if they were present, they wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

So, it's okay.

"alright."

Seeing that they had both said so, Watanabe Yu didn't say anything more and nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll take you to my favorite shop later."

Eda Ikumi raised her chin, her eyes revealing a hint of 'look forward to it'.

"ok~"

Everyone present responded in kind.

"But then again," Risa Yasuhara changed the subject, "how are your preparations for the sports meet going?"

Watanabe Yu is the kind of person who inspires confidence, but just to be on the safe side, she felt she should ask one more question.

"It shouldn't be a big problem."

After thinking for a moment, Watanabe Yu gave a conservative answer.

"That's good."

Hearing this, Risa Yasuhara breathed a sigh of relief.

If he can dominate, then his class will at least get one of the top two places in one event at the sports meet.

"A sports convention?"

Eda Ikumi's eyes lit up, and she looked at Yasuhara Risa with some anticipation.

She happens to have a field job next Monday, and the small area she's responsible for is near the private high school in the south of the city.

"Do you want to come and see?" Risa Yasuhara paused, then said half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Just consider it a chance to reminisce about my youth."

"I come!"

Although she wasn't entirely satisfied with her best friend's statement, which made it sound like she was so old, Eda Ikumi still nodded honestly.

Well, let's keep things separate!

(End of this chapter)