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

The next morning.

As usual, Yuan Qianye went out for a morning run.

Rikka was the second to wake up. She rubbed her eyes and went to the living room to ask if Chiyo of Dark Wings had already left. After receiving a "ga" of affirmation, she felt a little more awake and quietly pushed open the door to Chiyo's room.

Wow...

Such a rich aroma...

The curtains were drawn, and the room was completely stuffy. The moment the unusual and peculiar smell hit her as she pushed open the door, Rikka felt an uncontrollable heat rising in her lower abdomen.

She went inside and saw that Eriri was still fast asleep.

After glancing at the intercom under the bed, she stared intently at Eriri's peaceful and happy sleeping face, which looked even in her sleep. She swallowed quietly, then bent down and slowly lifted one leg of the blanket.

She saw Eriri's neck, which had been clean and fair last night, was now covered with dense, dark red marks, and her breathing involuntarily became heavier.

Continuing downwards, the same applies to the arms, abdomen, and even the thighs, calves, and insteps...

Last night, Eriri... she and Chiya stayed like that for a full two hours...

After a short while, Rikka suppressed her burning thoughts, covered Eriri with the blanket, and decided not to wake her, letting her continue to rest.

But as she turned to leave, her gaze inadvertently drifted over the trash can beside the bed.

As if struck by a thought, Rikka's gaze froze once more.

She glanced at Eriri cautiously, then without further hesitation, picked up the trash can and hurried to the bathroom.

Rikka squatted down, hugging the trash can, with the walkie-talkie beside her. Her eyes were fixed on something, and her breathing became more rapid.

The trash can in Qianye's room was extremely clean on the outside, looking brand new as if it had just been bought.

But that's not the point!

The key point is...

Rikka flicked the foot of the trash can, and the lid opened.

The smell, dozens of times stronger than when I first entered the room, practically tangible! It just wafted out!

Sure enough... Qianye left so early, she hasn't had time to get ready yet!

In other words...

Rikka felt dizzy and unsteadily reached out her hand.

She doesn't even realize what her current behavior represents, but after last night, she just wants to do it!

found it!

Rikka slowly raised her hand.

Even though the water balloon was tied in a knot, it still deflated quite a bit.

She slowly untied the knot.

Rikka's eyes were tinged with pink as she slowly brought her nose closer.

And at that very moment—

"R-Rikka...?"

Rikka froze instantly and slowly turned around to look.

Eriri was leaning against the door frame, her face full of astonishment.

She stammered as she watched the water fall into Rikka's palm, then, through her hand, trickle down into the bathroom floor in sticky, stringy strands.

"You...you are..."

"...!!!"

Rikka's pupils dilated as panic overwhelmed her, leaving her completely unable to respond to Eriri's astonishment and uncertainty!

She jumped up instantly, ran quickly to the entrance, and burst out the door!

…………

262: I'll really get Sister Shihua to teach you a lesson!

Yuan Qianye went out for a morning run early in the morning, and a message notification came through her earphones.

As he slowed his pace, he took out his phone and saw a message from the maid.

[Hayasaka Ai: I'm sorry, Chiya, I've encountered some issues lately, so we might not be able to meet.]

Yuan Qianye frowned, stopped walking, and immediately typed a reply.

[Minamoto Chiya: What's wrong? Did something happen? Is there anything I can do to help?]

He stared intently at his phone screen, which almost immediately showed that the message had been read.

Then it quickly displayed "The other party is typing," then disappeared, reappeared, and disappeared again, repeating this several times. Clearly, the maid was in a state of confusion and was carefully considering her words.

[Hayasaka Ai: Thank you, I'm fine. It's just that something happened to Miss. Her father, the current head of the Shinomiya family, was rushed to the emergency room this morning. I only heard the general situation from my mother, and I don't know the specifics of what will happen next. But what I do know is that I'll have to stay by Miss's side constantly for the foreseeable future, and I'll be going to the Shinomiya main residence frequently.]

It turned out to be the case.

Yuan Qianye breathed a sigh of relief.

It's good to know that his beloved is alright.

However, the head of the Shinomiya family has been sent to the emergency room. Whether from the perspective of that young lady or for the Shinomiya family, which is at the height of its power, that is certainly not good news.

I heard this from Ai-chan. Although the old man basically never showed any fatherly love towards Kaguya Shinomiya, they are still father and daughter after all, and if something happens to her father, the not-so-cold-blooded daughter will definitely still be worried.

The latter is even simpler: the sudden collapse of the head of a large conglomerate family involves far too many interests and resource allocations.

It's unclear whether the family head made prior arrangements for his affairs after his death. Otherwise, if he couldn't recover his health later, it's foreseeable that the Shinomiya family would continue to descend into chaos.

Having calmed down a bit, Yuan Qianye returned to the past.

[Yuan Qianye: Understood. Take care of yourself. Don't hesitate to tell me anything I can do for you.]

[Hayasaka Ai: Okay, I got it. Chiya, you too. Don't work too hard these days. I'll make it up to you once things settle down.]

Yuan Qianye smiled and put his phone away.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Every other week, on Wednesday.

Lunch break.

Student Union Room.

Chiya and Yukino got together to approve the new round of expense budgets submitted by the clubs.

They've been together since childhood, and now they work together with remarkable chemistry. Their looks and demeanor are also perfectly matched, as if they were born for each other.

Eriri, who had nothing else to do today, sat to the side holding a cup of hot tea, watching the two of them with an unconscious maternal smile.

but……

When she turned her head again and saw the empty seat next to her, she sighed sadly.

It's been three days already, and Rikka hasn't come to the student council room for three consecutive days.

Since the last time I saw Rikka squatting in the bathroom at Chiya's house, taking out the Pampers she and Chiya had used the night before, and looking extremely fascinated by the liquid inside.

If she had arrived even a moment later, or had been a little late in reminding her, Rikka would have moved even closer and made an even more shocking move.

Mmm!

Every time Eriri thinks of that scene, her mind goes completely blank! She simply can't understand it!

How could that be?

Anyone can like Chiya, but Rikka... they... aren't they family?!

That day, after Eriri bumped into Rikka, Rikka immediately ran away.

He let Eriri shout behind him, giving her no chance to say anything else.

Eriri was left alone at home, watching as her undressed, leaking fluid, body was carelessly tossed on the floor, leaving damp stains.

When Chiya returned from her morning run, Eriri had already tidied up the house, leaving no trace of the previous incident.

The reason Rikka is so secretive is probably because she has been keeping these feelings hidden in her heart.

Eriri, realizing this, naturally didn't mention it to Chiya.

Even when he asked Rikka about other people, Eriri vaguely covered for her, saying that she had gone to the supermarket.

After that, Eriri was always worried and kept trying to contact Rikka behind Chiyo's back, but she never received a response.

Eriri understood that Rikka, whom she had just discovered, was probably completely unable to interact with her face-to-face.

So she didn't press the issue and sent a message saying that she was going home first today and that she shouldn't stay out any longer and should come back soon.

Eriri took this opportunity to sort out her feelings, thinking that the two of them could have a proper chat when they went to school the following week.

They have such a good relationship that there's nothing they can't communicate about properly.

But to her surprise, Rikka has been avoiding her since Monday.

"Haaah—~"

Eriri sighed, the worry between her brows lingering.

While processing documents, Chiya and Yukino both turned their gazes toward Eriri, exchanging knowing glances.

Gen Chiya raised an eyebrow slightly, implying that Eriri's unusual behavior was something for him to handle or for him to deal with.

Yukino lowered her clear eyes, shook her head, and replied that since they were all girls, she should try to find out what was going on.

Yuan Qianye nodded, reassured that he could leave it to her.

Soon, Yuan Qianye finished organizing a stack of documents: "Alright, I'll take these documents to the staff room for the head teacher to review. Thank you for your hard work, Vice President."

"Not at all, President, you're the one who's incredibly busy. I only did a tiny bit of assisting." Yukino capped her pen and replied indifferently.

"That's right, I really am the best."

Jokingly, Yuan Qianye passed by the smiling Eriri, took the tea she was holding, drank most of it, and left laughing.