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

Hayasaka Ai's expression remained serious: "Young lady, I'll pretend I didn't hear that irresponsible remark just now, but please don't say it again. This is a good opportunity for you to improve your appearance, so please take it seriously."

"Alright, alright, you've got it, right? I understand! What kinds of choices are there..."

"Thank you very much for your cooperation, Miss. I will now explain in detail to you. Since it is winter, the types of flowers to be admired must first meet the requirement of cold hardiness. Therefore, winter peonies, ailanthus, and daffodils can be included in the selection range... Their colors, flowering periods, symbolism, and matching with the overall style of the garden all need to be carefully considered..."

Hayasaka Ai began to seriously talk about arrangements that were not originally in the plan.

Kaguya Shinomiya listened silently, sighing and feeling a sense of déjà vu about the scene. Helplessly, she took a cup of hot drink and sipped it to try and cheer herself up.

…………

Volume 2: Chapter 209: He used to be cute and straightforward (6k)

Yukino Yukinoshita understood that her childhood friend was very efficient. After all, he was a man who could publish three commercial novels in about a year while juggling heavy academic workload and dating two girls at the same time.

But she never expected that his efficiency could be so high.

Just yesterday afternoon, after saying "Just wait for my good news," she was informed at noon that she needed to set aside time after school to meet with him to discuss the overall plan for a joint activity with student council members from the other school, with whom they had already reached a preliminary agreement. "I'm quite interested in his novels, and besides, you lost to him in the piano competition, Miss..."

"I didn't lose to him!" Kaguya Shinomiya raised her voice instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her cheeks flushing red, but mainly with embarrassment and anger: "He just said that it was just that his teacher was very good, plus he had a lucky performance on the spot!"

"Yes, yes, you're right, Miss." Hayasaka Ai nodded readily, her tone a perfunctory attempt at coaxing: "Back then, you were just lucky to win against him, but you've always been angry about it..."

"I'm not angry! I'm just unwilling to accept it!"

So what's the difference...?

"...Anyway." Hayasaka Aimei skipped over the detail that made the young lady a little angry: "Because of you, young lady, and because of my own reasons, I have a fairly deep influence on him. So when I ran into him with my friends after school, I naturally recognized him immediately."

I approached him to greet him and ask him questions, partly to confirm his intentions. So, I proactively tried to build rapport with him, and after understanding that he wanted to go to the student council room, I offered to lead the way.

"So... that means... your subsequent actions, which seemed like you were actively speaking up for him..."

"Yes, of course it's also for you, Miss." Hayasaka nodded without hesitation. Although his expression remained calm, Kaguya felt that he was becoming more and more sincere. "Anyway, Miss has always been very resentful of him, right? This time, you've met him again in such a dramatic way. You definitely won't let this opportunity pass. You'll want to get back some face from him... get back the face you temporarily lost because you didn't go all out."

As your personal maid, it's my duty to seize every opportunity to investigate him thoroughly, understanding his character, style of doing things, and even his weaknesses, so that you can gain the upper hand in future confrontations.

I see……

After hearing Hayasaka's words, Kaguya Shinomiya suddenly felt enlightened.

In this way, Hayasaka's actions can be completely explained!

"Cough cough!"

Upon learning the "truth" that Hayasaka had voluntarily "confessed," Kaguya Shinomiya's last trace of doubt vanished, and she even felt a little embarrassed for her earlier suspicions.

She covered up her embarrassment with two dry coughs, naturally glossing over the previously doubtful topic as if it had never been mentioned.

She opened the car's refrigerator and took out a hot drink for Hayasaka, handing it to him in her usual gentle tone.

"Thank you for your hard work. As expected, Hayasaka, you understand me best and care about me the most."

Hayasaka Ai's expression didn't change much: "This is my job, Miss."

"So after you left the student council, did you find out any useful information?"

Hayasaka Ai shook her head: "I guess it's because the persona I presented was too frivolous. He seemed very polite to me the whole way, but he always seemed to be on guard against me, so I was unable to get any useful information out of him."

"But Miss, you don't need to worry. Now that we've identified him, we'll have plenty of opportunities to find out all his details later."

"Hmph, just figuring out the bottom line isn't enough. He, who made me taste defeat, is now actually coming to me on his own initiative. This is a perfect opportunity specially arranged by God so that I can get back at him! How could I possibly let it go?"

She smiled dangerously, her voice carrying a hint of suppressed excitement and certainty.

"The school is organizing a joint activity, huh... Perfect! I'll take this opportunity to have a good competition with him! Let him know that compared to someone as outstanding as me, he still has a lot to improve! Let him taste what it felt like to be... outdone!"

No... Miss, you've really misunderstood...

Chiya contacted you, simply because she wanted to use this joint school event to make it easier for us to go on dates...

Furthermore, in terms of personal abilities, aside from cute looks and physical flexibility... it seems that in every aspect, you really can't compare to Chiya...

Watching her young mistress with her arms crossed and chin slightly raised, exuding a confident air of "the outcome is decided" and "the opportunity has arrived," Hayasaka Ai silently turned her gaze to the street scene rushing past the car window.

Forget it, there's no need to tell the young lady about this.

Let her imagine it for herself and immerse herself in the joyful anticipation of "avenging her humiliation."

If all else fails, I'll have to talk to Qianye and ask him to be a little more accommodating to the young lady; that would satisfy her.

The most important thing now is our side; Qianye will be coming again tonight.

The last batch I bought is all used up, and I ended up catching it all with my mouth the last two times...

Although she didn't dislike the thick, creamy texture of yogurt, and even somewhat enjoyed the look of utter satisfaction on his face when she sucked on it... if possible, she would also like to experience that feeling of fullness that came from deeper within her body at the same time...

Hayasaka Ai's thoughts drifted further and further away.

Kaguya Shinomiya stretched and said, "Hmm~ It'll be a while before we get to the flower arrangement teacher. I'll take a nap. Wake me up when we get there."

As she spoke, she adjusted to a more comfortable reclining position, preparing to take a short nap.

"I'm afraid that won't work, Miss." Hayasaka Ai instantly gathered all her wandering thoughts, turned back, and her face returned to its professional and calm poker face.

"Eh—what is it now?" Kaguya Shinomiya muttered somewhat discontentedly.

"It's almost the end of the year, and we need to transplant and plant a new batch of seasonal ornamental flowers in the courtyard."

"Huh? Isn't that the job of a gardener? I've never been involved in that before."

“Young Miss, please don’t say such capricious things. Recently, the number of guests visiting the Shinomiya Villa has increased significantly, including many important business partners and scions of prominent families. The garden landscape is one of the first impressions guests have of the Shinomiya family. If you personally select and oversee the final design in this regard, it can become an excellent topic to showcase your personal aesthetic taste and family heritage.”

"Huh? Is that really necessary? Hayasaka, you could have just decided this for me..."

Hayasaka Ai's expression remained serious: "Young lady, I'll pretend I didn't hear that irresponsible remark just now, but please don't say it again. This is a good opportunity for you to improve your appearance, so please take it seriously."

"Alright, alright, you've got it, right? I understand! What kinds of choices are there..."

"Thank you very much for your cooperation, Miss. I will now explain in detail to you. Since it is winter, the types of flowers to be admired must first meet the requirement of cold hardiness. Therefore, winter peonies, ailanthus, and daffodils can be included in the selection range... Their colors, flowering periods, symbolism, and matching with the overall style of the garden all need to be carefully considered..."

Hayasaka Ai began to seriously talk about arrangements that were not originally in the plan.

Kaguya Shinomiya listened silently, sighing and feeling a sense of déjà vu about the scene. Helplessly, she took a cup of hot drink and sipped it to try and cheer herself up.

…………

Volume 2: Chapter 209: He used to be cute and straightforward (6k)

Yukino Yukinoshita understood that her childhood friend was very efficient. After all, he was a man who could publish three commercial novels in about a year while juggling heavy academic workload and dating two girls at the same time.

But she never expected that his efficiency could be so high.

Just yesterday afternoon, after saying "Just wait for my good news," she was informed at noon that she needed to set aside time after school to meet with him to meet with student council members from the other school, with whom they had already reached a preliminary agreement, to discuss the overall plan for the joint activity.

School ended quickly in the afternoon.

Tokyo's weather is unpredictable. Yesterday the sun was shining brightly, but starting last night a strong southwest wind began to blow, and then a light drizzle began to fall at noon.

After school, Gen Chiya went straight to the shoe changing area.

He originally intended to wait indoors, but the damp weather caused the smell in the shoe cabinet to intensify and spread, making it unpleasant. So he eventually moved to wait under the eaves outside.

Yukino arrived shortly after, quickly changed her shoes, and came to his side.

"You're here." Hearing footsteps approaching, Yuan Qianye turned his head and gave her a gentle smile: "Let's go."

"Aren't Saeko-nee and the others coming along?"

"Saeko has important internal selection arrangements at the kendo club and simply can't get away."

Rikka insisted on coming along, but I felt that she probably wouldn't be of any real help, so I let her stay with Eriri to work at the student council.

"After all, we can't afford to be short-staffed over there. It would be a real problem if a student had an emergency and we couldn't find anyone to help," Yuan Qianye explained.

This arrangement is perfectly reasonable.

So that means there are only the two of them on today's itinerary.

Being alone together...

It feels like it's been a really long time since I've had this opportunity.

Suppressing the slight ripples in her heart, Yukino nodded to indicate that she understood.

"Aren't you cold, still wearing your summer uniform?"

Compared to the students around him who were almost all wrapped in coats or sweaters, Yuan Qianye was still wearing only a thin white summer shirt, casually with the school's suit jacket over it, and his tie loosely tied, making him stand out from the crowd in this damp and cold rainy day.

Yukino herself was also quite bundled up. Although her lower body was still dressed like most girls, with over-the-knee socks and a school uniform skirt, she wore a thick wool blend winter coat on top and a light gray cashmere scarf around her neck, protecting her neck and half of her face completely, only revealing a pair of cool and beautiful eyes and a delicate and upturned nose.

Yuan Qianye smiled nonchalantly: "Don't you know that I've been like this since I was a child? I'm used to it."

Indeed, this guy has had a constitution as good as a robot since he was a child, seemingly completely unaffected by changes in external temperature.

In her memory, he never seemed to take sick leave or go to the hospital; he was remarkably healthy.

Yukino took out her folding umbrella from the side pocket of her backpack and was about to open it when Chiyo naturally took a step closer to her, tilting his umbrella slightly to indicate that she could share it.

She paused, looking at Yuan Qianye's profile so close to hers, and the large umbrella in his hand that could easily accommodate two people.

After hesitating for less than a second, she silently put her umbrella back into her bag, moved lightly to his umbrella, and stood side by side with him.

The two shared an umbrella and walked slowly towards the school gate.

Raindrops pattered on the umbrella, making a crisp crackling sound, and the air was filled with the scent of earth and damp vegetation.

A combination of handsome men and beautiful women is always quite eye-catching.

People around them kept glancing at them, and the two of them had gotten used to it.

"Ah, it's been so long since I've felt like this," Yuan Qianye suddenly remarked after walking a short distance.

Yukino tilted her head slightly, revealing her clear eyes above the scarf, and looked at him with a puzzled expression: "What do you mean?"

"What does it refer to? Of course, it refers to the two of us walking and chatting alone like this. Think about it, before I met Eriri in the third grade of elementary school, we did this almost every day. Whenever we had time, we would get together and stay inseparable."

Yukino withdrew her gaze and looked ahead again, her tone devoid of emotion: "It's amazing that you still remember something from so long ago."

"Of course I remember. After all, we were really carefree during that time. We only needed to focus on what was in front of us: studying, practicing calligraphy, reading, and wandering aimlessly in the park... We didn't have as many worries as we do now."

"Aren't you much different now than before? You're still freely doing what you want to do, and your life seems quite fulfilling, doesn't it?"

“Perfect…” Yuan Qianye chewed on the word, his gaze drifting towards the distant future: “…That’s still a long way off.”

"..."

Out of the corner of her eye, Yukino caught a glimpse of Chiya's gaze as he quickly looked at her and then abruptly looked away... a gaze that was both tender and complex.