In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

024: Picking you up and taking you home

Instead of offering comfort, Eriri felt even more upset.

Tears streamed down my face.

For the first time, I received help from others and gained two close friends who promised to stay by each other's side for life.

This should have been a dreamlike, blissful time... but it's about to end after only a few years.

Why is this happening?

Yukino Yukinoshita really wasn't good at comforting people, and several minutes passed before Eriri's mood became even more melancholy.

Fortunately, Eriri wasn't completely clueless; she understood that studying abroad was Yukino's family's decision.

She shouldn't have acted so out of control, making Yukino sad too.

"I...I'm going to the restroom. You guys eat first."

Eriri wiped her face with a tissue and walked away.

Xue Zhixia glared at Yuan Qianye with an unfriendly expression, as if she were sulking: "You just stood by and watched, without even helping to coax her."

Yuan Qianye returned her lunchbox: "What's the point of helping? She needs to let out her emotions. She really doesn't want to be separated from you. It would be so painful if she had to keep those feelings inside."

Yukino was speechless; what he said did make some sense.

But for some reason, seeing Yuan Qianye's expression, which was as calm as usual, she still felt a little unhappy.

unhappy!

When Eriri returned, she had already composed herself.

She felt that Yukinoshita was right.

With such advanced communication methods available now, even if we end up in different places and not in the same school in the future...

But if they want, they can still meet anytime, anywhere via video call!

And Yukino isn't leaving right away either; she'll be gone for almost a year!

Thinking about it this way, the bad news of parting ways in a year doesn't seem so hard to accept!

Yukinoshita was relieved by this change in her emotions, but this relief did not last long.

Starting that afternoon, Eriri became even more clingy than before, even going to the toilet hand in hand, truly transforming into a little shadow!

Meanwhile, due to a sudden incident, Chiya's relationship with the Takanashi sisters has taken a new turn.

At the end of April, Yuan Qianye, who had not participated in any club activities, returned home early as usual.

The storage room has been tidied up, and it's definitely smaller than his original bedroom.

However, since he lives alone, after putting in a single bed, computer desk, and wardrobe, there is still more than two square meters of free space, which is just right and not particularly crowded.

He was reading at the table until after four o'clock when he heard the phone ring in the living room.

"Hello, is this Takanashi's homeroom teacher? I'm Takanashi Toka's homeroom teacher."

Yuan Qianye realized something must have happened, and his expression turned serious.

"Hello teacher, I am Shihua's younger brother. The adults in my family have gone out. If there is anything you need, please tell me and I will pass it on to them later."

"Here's what happened. This afternoon, Takanashi Toka sprained her ankle while participating in a gymnastics activity. Her ankle was very swollen, but she's been bandaged up by the school doctor and is doing well for now."

However, as advised by the school doctor, she is currently unable to walk at all, otherwise her injury would likely worsen and affect her subsequent recovery.

Takanashi Tohka is resting in the infirmary right now. Please tell your parents to come pick her up as soon as possible, okay?

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, teacher."

hang up the phone.

Without much thought, Yuan Qianye went straight back to her room to change her clothes.

His father recently found a new job as a bartender, with a similar work schedule to before.

He used to be at home at this time, but his boss called him at 3 p.m. and told him to go to the store early, saying that a big customer had come to support the store and promised to give him extra overtime pay.

Ms. Runzi works in the beauty industry. She owns a small storefront and works there, with relatively flexible working hours.

Unfortunately, she had to leave for work early yesterday morning.

A group of girls went on a trip, and Miss Runzi was responsible for accompanying them. Her job was to do their makeup so that they would look more photogenic.

With a sponsor covering food, lodging, and transportation, plus an extra daily fee that could generate additional income, there's no reason not to do it.

Now that I think about it, she should be in Kyoto by now, and it will be at least a week before she gets home safely.

There was no other way; both adults in the family had jobs, so he was the only one who could pick Shihua up from school.

Although he is only in the sixth grade of elementary school, he is already 1.7 meters tall, which is a head taller than his peers, and he is also very strong.

If he had to make a comparison, he felt that even if he were to face junior high students in their second or third year, he probably wouldn't be at a disadvantage in terms of physical fitness.

However, it's definitely not realistic to just go there and carry Toka back.

Taking a taxi might be inconvenient if you have a sprained ankle, as getting in and out of the vehicle would be difficult.

Yuan Qianye had made up his mind.

After changing his clothes, he went directly to the house next door.

After finding the kind, retired elderly couple who were his neighbors and explaining the situation, they readily lent him their bicycle.

Gen Chiya rode his bicycle and arrived at Toka's junior high school in less than twenty minutes.

After asking the security guard for directions, he went directly to the health clinic.

The infirmary door was open, and there was no teacher in sight. Takanashi Touka was leaning against the hospital bed, staring blankly out the window.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around and was surprised to see that it was Yuan Qianye.

When Yuan Qianye walked to the bedside, the first thing he noticed was her feet, which were wrapped in gauze and sticking out of the blanket.

Before Shihua could speak, he asked worriedly, "How are you? Does your ankle still hurt?"

"The school doctor treated me, and it doesn't hurt much anymore."

It doesn't hurt too much... but it still hurts a bit.

"Should we go to the hospital?"

"No need. The school doctor prescribed some topical medicine for me and told me to rest when I get home and not to move around too much. If I follow her instructions, I'll recover within a week."

Hearing her say that, Yuan Qianye felt a little relieved.

Now it was Toka's turn to be puzzled: "But why is it you, Chiyo, who came here?"

"Dad had to go to the store early, so I came to pick you up. Don't worry, I'm quite strong. Let's go home."

As Yuan Qianye spoke, he tried to lean closer to help Shihua up and sit on the edge of the bed so that he could carry her on his back.

But Toka looked troubled and said, "Um, I'm a little inconvenient right now."

inconvenient?

Seeing that Chiya didn't understand, she pulled off the blanket covering her.

Takanashi Touka was wearing a form-fitting leotard, which revealed her developing body curves.

She herself had practiced gymnastics for many years, and since she believed that Gen Chiya was her younger brother, she didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.

However, Minamoto Chiya, who was very close to her, subtly looked away from Toka, who already had obvious feminine characteristics.

Shihua didn't notice this and explained, "The teacher brought my schoolbag over, but I left my school uniform in the changing room. I have to go get it. You... never mind, help me up and we'll go together."

"No, you can just lie here and wait for me. Where's the changing room? I'll go get it."

Shihua shook her head: "It's inconvenient for a boy like you to go into the women's changing room."

"Don't worry, I'm good with words. I'll just find a passing senior to help me. Don't fret."

Chiya Minamoto, who is several years older than Tokachi Takanashi, appears reliable and reassuring as the underage man in the family.

…………

025: Naïveness and reliability are not contradictory.

Gen Chiya arrived at the women's locker room located inside the gymnasium.

It's just past five o'clock, and it's not dark yet. It's the busiest time for various sports clubs to hold their activities.

He relied on his handsome face and the approachable charm that his high level of charisma subtly revealed.

He struck up a conversation with a female student quite easily and successfully asked her to help him retrieve the clothes that Takanashi Touka had changed into in the locker room.

"Thank you, sister." Yuan Qianye said sweetly as she took the clothes.

The female student waved her hand dismissively and returned the wardrobe key to him, saying, "It's nothing, just a small favor."

Yuan Qianye hugged the clothes tightly and walked back. When he left the gymnasium and passed the flower bed, there was no one around.

He quickly unfolded Shika's school uniform and stuffed her bra inside.

This was unexpected. He didn't know much about gymnastics and only now realized that he should wear a sports bra when doing gymnastics.

Back in the infirmary, Chiya handed the clothes to Touka.

Just as he was about to pull the curtains beside the hospital bed and turn away to avoid the situation...

Takanashi Touka said, "No need, I'll just put the clothes on."

Yuan Qianye thought so too, and then asked, "Do you need my help?"

He regretted asking the question as soon as it left his mouth.

They just sprained their ankle; they can still move their hands!

But Shika nodded seriously: "Then could you please bring me my schoolbag?"