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

Chapter 510 Their Troubles

The following day, at 8 p.m., at the izakaya that Eda Ikumi and Yasuhara Risa often frequented.

"cheers"

"cheers"

Clang.

Beer glasses filled with beer clinked together, producing a crisp, relaxing sound.

Even if a little wine spills because of this action, it's not a big deal.

"call."

After letting out a long, comfortable sigh, Eda Ikumi pressed her face against the table and looked up at the ceiling light, which emitted a warm glow. "When was the last time we drank like this?"

Compared to the quiet and formal atmosphere of a Western restaurant, the izakaya was definitely more relaxing for her.

"A month ago? Two months ago? Or three months ago?" Risa Yasuhara scratched her hair, her face flushed, and her voice became slightly nasal. "I can't remember too clearly."

She's the kind of person whose face turns red when she drinks, and she also gets the effects of alcohol very quickly.

She didn't show such obvious signs before, but it was because she exercised regularly and her tolerance had increased, so she seemed to be able to drink a lot. But after so much time has passed, it's clear that she's no longer the person she used to be.

"Sigh, you heartless woman, you used to never forget things like this."

Eda Yumi shook her head, looking like she'd met the wrong person. Then, like a movie star, she lowered her eyes, her gaze filled with melancholy. "Is it really true what they say? When you find a new love, you forget the old one."

To be honest, she really enjoyed this impromptu acting session with her best friend.

There's a sense of comfort in continuing to be a bit of a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur) even after they've passed that age.

Of course, the most important thing is that your best friend won't think you're childish!

And there's no need for me to pretend to be mature in front of my best friend.

"That whole thing is utter nonsense. Who's the new love? Who's the old flame?" Risa Yasuhara rolled her eyes; she was too lazy to explain. "It's all slander!"

If possible, she would also like to see who her new love is.

That way, she won't have to be constantly reminded by her family that she should start dating.

"Your ex is definitely me. Have you forgotten the happy times we spent drinking and eating barbecue together?"

As she spoke, Eda Ikumi's eyes welled up with tears.

"Back then you even said that we would be best friends for life."

Under the slightly dim, warm light, her expression looked even more pitiful.

"Come on." Risa Yasuhara raised her middle finger without any hesitation. "You're making it sound like I'm a heartless man, but actually you're just too busy."

From this perspective, the best friend is indeed a master of turning the tables.

So who did she learn this skill from?

"Yes, I admit I was working overtime during that period, but afterwards when I had some free time, didn't I take you out for drinks?"

Eda Ikumi's voice unconsciously softened.

She knew exactly what her best friend was talking about.

"Then explain Jiang Tianqian's matter to me."

Risa Yasuhara raised an eyebrow.

"Ah ha ha……"

As soon as she finished speaking, Eda Ikumi scratched the back of her head awkwardly and forced a smile.

"Yes, I hadn't thought of that just now."

Who told her she was in the wrong?

She deliberately passed on the task that was originally her responsibility to her best friend.

"Don't change the subject. Okay, you just explained your ex, now explain your new love."

Risa Yasuhara lifted her cheek with her left hand, then raised an eyebrow, indicating that the person could speak freely, but must make it clear.

Her pale fingers left corresponding shallow marks on her fair face.

“Then your new love interest must be Watanabe and the others.” Eda Ikumi pouted. “After you got together with them, you ate out and went shopping with me much less often.”

Even good friends get jealous.

This has nothing to do with a female contact list or anything else; it's simply a matter of possessiveness towards a friend.

On the other hand, she likes men, she is not a lesbian.

"Have you considered my work?" Risa Anhara's slender white fingers gently tapped her face. "And whenever I'm free, don't I always go on dates? Don't forget, I always go with you on your blind dates."

There's a saying that goes, "When it's time to bring up old grievances, you have to bring them up!"

This helps to strengthen the relationship between each other and avoid unnecessary arguments.

"That's how it is, but..."

Eda Ikumi's momentum immediately weakened.

She might be able to argue logically in front of others, but she simply can't do it with people she knows well.
—The main thing is that once she does that, someone will stop talking and just watch her silently until they can't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter.

Yes, if she didn't understand the meaning behind the other person's smile, she could have acted as if nothing was wrong. But the problem is that she does understand. That feeling of embarrassment, where neither the other person says anything, but both of them know the truth, is just too shameful.

That's enough to be etched into the top ten darkest chapters of her life.

“What’s the problem? If you’re willing, you can come along when I go to Watanabe’s house for a meal.” Risa Yasuhara raised her chin generously. “Given her personality, she won’t say anything. After all, it’s just ‘one more pair of chopsticks’.”

Yu's personality is indeed quite different from most Japanese people. The more you interact with him, the more you feel an inexplicable urge to get closer to him.

You can sense that he is sincere when interacting with you.

There was no perfunctory attitude, no unnecessary scheming or backstabbing, only honesty and sincerity.

To put it bluntly, there is no pressure in interacting with him; in fact, it is extremely relaxing. You don't need to worry that he will distance himself from or despise you after you take off that mask of adulthood.

Therefore, she could roughly understand why Ayana and the others relied on him so much.

If you put yourself in her shoes, you would probably make the same choice.

Unfortunately, she only saw him as a younger brother; their age difference was too great, even though his speech and behavior were mature enough.

"You know again?"

Eda Ikumi stubbornly retorted.

When it comes to being thick-skinned, she prides herself on being no less shameless than her best friend, but she still has to go through the proper process of being stubborn.

“Of course I know. I’ve dealt with him much longer than you have.” Risa Yasuhara paused, a slight smile playing on her lips. “Besides, how could I not know my student?”

She is very proud of this.

The more outstanding Watanabe Yu becomes, the more honors she, as his teacher, receives in return.

Never mind what I teach, just tell me if Watanabe Yu is my student.
Besides, given You's personality, he knew that if he said these things, he would definitely try to cover it up for him.

"Okay, okay, I know you understand your students."

Eda Ikumi waved her hand dismissively. "Sigh, this is boring!"
At times like these, she couldn't find the words to respond, because she had never experienced the same kind of pride in her best friend's eyes, so she could only feel envy.

hateful!

If only I had become a teacher back then...

No, let's forget about it.

She imagined what it would be like to be a teacher, and she instantly came to her senses.

Don't let Risa's current pride fool you; she's often tormented by her students when grading assignments.

She had seen her best friend suffer and become completely overwhelmed.

Leaving aside other things, just the task of grading papers was enough to make her feel like she didn't know what the world was like.

"Speaking of which, after you settled that matter, did your family keep their promise?" Risa Anhara casually changed the subject. Since her best friend didn't want to talk about this, she wouldn't force it. "They haven't arranged any more blind dates for you, have they?"

People their age are most afraid of arranged marriages arranged by their families.

If they were to be forceful, they could be more reasonable and fight back with the same strong attitude. But if the elders in the family were to be soft and say something like, "I want to see my great-grandchild before I die," then they would have no choice but to remain silent.

"No, they haven't even mentioned it again."

Speaking of this, Eda Ikumi's mood improved considerably.

It's so comfortable not being pressured to date, or even to get married.

To put it bluntly, marriage shouldn't be the main focus, but rather a natural progression after meeting the right person.

In short, just let things take their natural course.

After all, her parents and elders are still in relatively good health and haven't reached the point of being frail and old.

"Then you're free."

Risa Yasuhara picked up a skewer of grilled beef, took a bite, and began to chew slowly.

"Pretty much, it's the only good news we've had in a while." Eda Yumi picked up her beer glass and took a big gulp. "But what they said is true. Now that I'm getting older, I sometimes feel a little lonely when it's late at night."

Especially on those special days, it's easier to overthink.

Seeing others in pairs still brings a sense of inexplicable loneliness.

“Some people say that being single for too long will make you lose the ability to love someone.” Risa Yasuhara swallowed the beef in her mouth, then took another small bite and chewed. “But I think the ability to love is cultivated in family education.”

"It's impossible for a person to completely forget how to do something just because they haven't done it for a long time."

"The most obvious example is learning to swim in elementary school, but then forgetting it after not swimming for a long time. Do you think that's possible?"

When you think you've forgotten something, your body will react even before you do—this is what's known as muscle memory.

"You mean I don't need to rush?"

Eda Ikumi wasn't sure if she was a little drunk or if the dim lighting was making her vision poor, but she felt that Risa in front of her had changed.

She's a little different from the Risa she knew before.

It's as if he suddenly became more mature?
Or perhaps it was an epiphany.

"What I mean is, if you meet someone you like, go for it boldly."

Risa Yasuhara took another bite of beef, completely emptying the skewer in her hand.

"Of all the people I've met, the only one who really suits my taste is Watanabe." Eda Ikumi sighed, taking another gulp of beer. "But I know very well that there's no possibility between us, and I don't have any romantic feelings for him, it's just..."

I feel a bit conflicted overall.

The person who agrees with her aesthetic is so much younger than her; as a police officer, it's impossible for her to break the law.

Or, to put it another way, even if she really wanted to do that, considering her relationship with Risa, she couldn't possibly do it.

"Don't get any weird ideas."

Even though she knew her best friend wasn't that kind of person, Risa Yasuhara still reminded her.

"Don't worry, I won't." Eda Yumi gave her a reassuring look. "I'm not shameless enough to steal a boyfriend from young girls, not to mention I don't seem to have an advantage over them."

Although saying this might be a bit of a blow to her own pride, she really couldn't bring herself to say those things against her conscience.

"uh-huh."

Risa Yasuhara picked up her beer glass and clinked it with her best friend's.

The clinking of glasses echoed through the private room.

"So, help me find someone suitable." After drinking beer, Eda Ikumi's mood sank again. "I really don't have any suitable ones on my end."

Or rather, there wasn't anyone she liked.

"Okay, but I'm afraid I'll be in trouble too."

Risa Yasuhara shook her head. If it were easy for her to find someone, she wouldn't have been single for so long.

"Anyway, just keep an eye out for it."

Ikumi Eda didn't intend to put all her hopes on her best friend's side.

It's like casting a wide net.

But then again, this person is really strange. When others urge him, he resists, but when they stop urging him, he starts to wonder if he should really find someone.

“Oh, right!” Risa Yasuhara suddenly remembered something. “Isn’t there an engagement party next month? Your aunt should have received an invitation. This might be an opportunity to meet some ‘new friends’.”

"I don't really like people who attend those kinds of events."

Without even thinking, Eda Ikumi shook her head.

She had nothing in common with that group of "young masters".

“Okay, but I think it might be worthwhile to go and see.” Risa Yasuhara shrugged. “Anyway, I’m being pressured to go.”

She mainly wanted to find a partner.

"You mean you want me to go with you?"

Eda Ikumi got the idea of ​​what a best friend meant.

"Yep."

"Then I'll go, but I won't say hello to those 'young masters'."

Some things need to be explained in advance, otherwise, if things aren't clear later, it's easy for conflicts to arise.

"Okay, I didn't have that idea either."

Risa Yasuhara nodded.

Rather, that's exactly what she thought.

"Oh, right, you can also ask Yu if he's going." Eda Yumi took out her phone and started scrolling through the short videos she hadn't had time to watch during the day. "If he's going too, we can even team up."

"Then, let me ask."

Upon hearing this, Risa Yasuhara nodded thoughtfully, then took out her phone and began typing her inquiry.

(End of this chapter)