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

You've expressed your gratitude, and Qianye has made it clear that he doesn't want anything from you; he simply appreciates your novels!

We've already gone this far, and we've even exchanged contact information, so just go back now! Don't push your luck!

Eriri's surprised chatter snapped Kasumigaoka out of her reverie, and she turned her gaze from Minamoto Chiya to the blond stranger who had led her there.

After thinking for a moment, she reluctantly extended an invitation to Eriri as well: "Eriri...you're my classmate, right? If you'd like, please come along. It's on me, so don't worry."

"I'm not going!"

What are you talking about? Do you think I, Miss Sawamura, need a meal from you?

Tonight, a large group of us are going to watch fireworks together, so we don't have time to have dinner with you!

Yuan Qianye also shook his head: "Sorry, I have plans with a friend tonight, we have to go see the fireworks display together."

hum!

Did you hear me?! If you understand, you'd better be smart and go back now!

Eriri looked smugly at Kasumigaoka, but the meaning conveyed in her eyes was completely lost.

Since Kasumigaoka had turned her attention back to Minamoto Chiyo, the blonde passerby on the sidelines had become of little use after bringing her to see him.

She asked curiously, "Is it the Sumida River Fireworks Festival?"

Yuan Qianye nodded: "That's right."

"I was originally planning to invite you to eat nearby. If you don't mind, Yuan, you can invite your friends too. After we finish eating, we can go and explore the fireworks festival together."

Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly changed her original plan in her mind and secretly included herself in it.

Yuan Qianye thought for a moment but had not yet given a reply.

Meanwhile, Eriri's bright blue eyes widened!

His face was filled with disbelief, displaying his expressive facial expressions!

How can there be such a shameless and boundless girl?!

…………

061: There is no possibility of peaceful coexistence!

As the one who received help, it is perfectly reasonable for Kasumigaoka Utaha to ask for a meal out of gratitude.

Although Yuan Qianye didn't covet her meal, he took into account her newly bound identity as a study princess.

Furthermore, she is still in an untapped stage and has considerable potential value, so it is not too much to be friendly to her at this stage.

The same principle applies to treating the top three study enthusiasts.

He always kept in mind the equation for becoming stronger: more goodwill and closer distance.

Before agreeing, however, he still asked out of pure curiosity, "Kasumigaoka-kun, do you also want to see the fireworks?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha was secretly delighted; this was exactly the question she had hoped the other party would ask.

We're so in sync, could it be that we really have some special destiny in the unseen world?

"Yes, I had planned to go see the fireworks before, but... since I don't have any friends around, and going alone would be too lonely, I just thought about it and then gave up. But after hearing what you said, Yuan-kun, I shamelessly thought that if it's convenient for you, Yuan-kun, could you take me with you...

I really want to be friends with you and the people around you... Of course, if I cause you any trouble or put you in a difficult position, you don't have to force yourself... Have fun, I'll just head back now.

Mmm!

Eriri, standing to the side, was clenching her teeth tightly.

Don't have any friends or family?! Go watch the fireworks with your family!

Why is it that the more I listen to her talk, the more I dislike her?

"I see..."

Gen Chiya secretly chuckled as he looked at Kasumigaoka's feigned weakness and retreat.

They're all foxes, what's the point of playing at Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?

Girls who are overly effeminate or pretentious are not necessarily likable, but if their behavior is solely for the purpose of getting close to you, then the feeling is completely different.

"It's just traveling together, no trouble at all. It'll be more lively with more people. As for the friends you mentioned... we're already friends now, aren't we?"

Kasumigaoka was somewhat incredulous: "Really... really?!"

Yuan Qianye also seemed very happy: "Really, it's more like an honor for me to become friends with such an excellent light novel author. I never dared to imagine it before."

"Don't say that. I'm far from being excellent. But Yuan Tong... Yuan-kun, you're amazing. I saw your performance in the national competition. You were very cool."

Unlike Yukino Yukinoshita and Eriri Sawamura in their childhood, Kasumigaoka Utaha's behavior logic is similar to that of Saeko Busujima.

After receiving help from Gen Chiyo, their gratitude turned into affection, which was clearly expressed rather than being suppressed and hidden in their hearts.

However, Kasumigaoka Utaha's personality led her to follow her own heart, which was even more evident in her actions.

Because she comes from a family of kendo practitioners, Saeko Busujima not only studied kendo from a young age to cultivate her character and improve her skills, but also learned various hobbies such as flower arranging, tea ceremony, and calligraphy, which can cultivate her temperament.

This deliberately planned upbringing and educational approach made her a very standard Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman) in training, with a quiet, reserved, gentle, and considerate personality.

Her noble virtues in dealing with people easily dispelled Eriri's initial tension and defensiveness, and in their subsequent daily interactions, she gained the friendship with Yukino.

Although Yuan Qianye guessed that this also suppressed her state of mind to some extent.

This explains the manic and bloodthirsty side she displayed when facing the two criminals, but he didn't think it was a big problem; he even thought she looked exceptionally beautiful that way.

After all, Saeko Busujima attacks harmful scum in society, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration for her to die, as long as she doesn't harm innocent people.

As for Kasumigaoka Utaha, she is the daughter of a middle-class family that you can find anywhere in Tokyo. Her life is not extremely wealthy, but she has never been troubled by making a living.

My mother is beautiful; she was once the most beautiful girl in my middle and high school.

Even now in middle age, she remains as charming as ever. When she goes out with her daughter, unsuspecting people often mistake them for sisters, rather than mother and daughter.

My father was of average appearance but was intelligent. He excelled in his studies from a young age and graduated from a prestigious university.

In today's seniority-based workplace environment in Japan, working at a well-known large company, without any resources and without flattery...

He has climbed to the position of section chief solely through his own abilities, leading a classroom of more than forty employees, which is quite remarkable.

Even so, among all of his mother's suitors, this father was not the worst in terms of his own qualities, but he was certainly not outstanding.

But the reason he was able to win the heart of his beloved in the end was due to an unexpected accident.

Returning home late at night, I was harassed by thugs, so I stood up for them.

The trope of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress may be old-fashioned, but it's undeniably effective.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was pampered by her parents since childhood and grew up freely without much restraint, knew about their experience of meeting, falling in love and getting to know each other a long time ago.

Although she never commented on the matter to anyone, she secretly longed for the romantic stories between her parents.

When Sonoko Machida from Fantastic Bunko received the outline and part of the text of "Love Metronome" from Fantastic Bunko, she read it carefully and wanted to hear her colleagues' opinions on it.

A veteran editor who has worked in the workplace for many years gave the following review after reading it: "The writing is beautiful, the story is youthful and wonderful, and there is a sweet feeling between the lines. However, as an adult, I can no longer read light novels like this. They are too girly."

Machida Sonoko responded with a smile, "What's wrong with having a girlish heart? It's good to have this girlish heart. Some things seem especially beautiful because we haven't experienced them but have longed for them."

After that, she made a decisive decision and chose to sign with Kasumi Shiko's Love Metronome.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's novels have only been released in two volumes so far.

When she began writing, she drew some inspiration from herself for the female protagonist.

She is beautiful, loves reading, often lives alone and is detached from the group, and dreams of becoming a writer.

As for the male lead, she originally added all the qualities she imagined a perfect lover should possess.

He excels in his studies, is kind and approachable, has a good heart, and is also an all-around athlete...

Later I realized that such a person could never exist in reality, and even in novels it would seem a bit fantastical.

So I gave up on that idea and chose to use a more conventional light novel male protagonist template.

However, after meeting Minamoto no Chiya, Kasumigaoka felt that her previous thoughts might have been wrong.

Who says there are no absolutely perfect people?

She encountered it.

And it seems to be just like her mother back then.

He's the leading man in his own life.

"That's all in the past."

Gen Chiya didn't really think that winning the national championship in the middle school group was anything special.

If we're really talking about something, the Kendo Championships organized by the All Japan Kendo Federation are the highest-level Kendo competitions in the country.

The age limit for participants is 20 years or older. Only those who can win such a competition can be considered the strongest kendo player in the country in a certain sense.

"I just finished practicing my sword. I need to go home later to change my clothes and pick up my sister."

"Kasumigaoka-kun, shall we meet at the fireworks festival, or would you like to come with me?"

Is that even a question?

Kasumigaoka Utaha, maintaining her last bit of reserve, chose the latter option after confirming that she wouldn't cause him any trouble.

"Then wait here for a while, I'll go change out of my kendo uniform."

"it is good."

Things have progressed much more smoothly than I expected.

Kasumigaoka Utaha watched as Minamoto Chiya turned and walked into the changing room, her toes barely touching the ground.

However, this is all thanks to the girl named Eriri who led the way.

Although he could sense the inexplicable hostility in her gaze, she was, after all, Yuan-kun's friend, so he should be kinder to her in the future, which was also for the sake of his own image.