I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

"It's been told..."

After explaining the situation, Eriri seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

I was reminded by my mother, Sayuri Sawamura, that if she truly has the awareness of being a childhood friend, she should avoid bothering others when they are not available.

So Eriri asked her how she knew when Aki Tomoya was available.

She didn't know, and she didn't dare to ask...

At the time, Sayuri Sawamura advised her not to overthink things. It was nothing serious to begin with, but overthinking would only make things more complicated.

As for the specifics of how to do it, Sayuri Sawamura didn't say much, only telling her to be more careful.

When Eriri was asked to think about it, she realized that it would be wrong to disturb someone during their exam preparation period without confirming their availability.

In fact, Eriri's hesitation was also due to Kasumigaoka Utaha's situation.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's proposal left her unsure whether to accept it, as she, as a creator, really wanted to collaborate with her.

However, Eriri found her behavior somewhat strange, or simply put, it was a bit out of place compared to before.

Since Kasumigaoka Utaha's change occurred after that rumor, Eriri felt it was necessary to ask Aki Tomoya about it.

Whether the other person was a party to the incident or simply wanted to take her childhood friend's opinion as a reference, Eriri felt that contacting him during the school's closing time, when Aki Tomoya left the library to go home, would be an appropriate time.

Just now, when the words were about to come out, Eriri initially spoke vaguely.

"A new collaboration?"

Aki Tomoya was slightly surprised, but the surprise didn't last long.

If it were Tomoya Aki from the past, he would probably be very excited about Kasumi Utako and Kashiwagi Eri collaborating.

But now, what does this have to do with him?

As someone who simply knows him, the collaboration between these two was somewhat unexpected, but Aki Tomoya didn't think he could offer any good advice on this matter.

"You shouldn't be asking me this kind of thing. Why don't you just ask Kashiwagi Eri?"

Aki Tomoya replied in the same way.

He wasn't the one collaborating with Xia Shizi, so frankly, he wasn't interested in offering any professional advice.

If he really had to say something, all he could say was, "Is there anything wrong with that?"

At least it has generated buzz and will keep the outside world in a state of anticipation.

In this respect, there's actually nothing wrong with it.

"I asked myself?"

Eriri tilted her head and looked at the replies on Line.

She held a smartphone in her right hand and fidgeted with her golden ponytail with her left.

Aki Tomoya's words were that it was up to her to decide, the key being whether she wanted to collaborate with Kasumigaoka Utaha.

In such matters, the other party has no obligation to make the decision for her.

As for her personally, does she hope to collaborate with Kasumigaoka Utaha?

This kind of question doesn't need much consideration. Simply as a creator, that is, in the identity of Kashiwagi Eri, Eriri's creative desire is driving her to accept this proposal.

After all, she really likes Shizuka's works, and as a creator, she couldn't help but be tempted by the opportunity to collaborate.

So, considering the current situation, shouldn't we give a response, both morally and logically?

"That's all the friendly advice I have for you. The decision is yours! By the way, are you still dwelling on things from elementary school?"

With a ding, the microwave finished heating. After sending the message, Aki Tomoya opened the microwave and took out the bento.

Eriri also received a reply from Tomoya Aki.

When she saw the last paragraph, she was stunned.

Mentioning things from elementary school at this moment made Eriri's throat tighten.

She doesn't know what to say in response.

Their relationship had been abnormal ever since that incident in elementary school, and it took them many years to get back to normal communication.

Should we say who betrayed whom?

Eriri didn't know how to deal with it, but if possible, as someone who once shared the same ideals, she always wanted to restore the relationship between the two to normal.

However, the abnormal friendship that was maintained solely by the nature of childhood friends has become extremely fragile after Aki Tomoya exposed it.

"..."

Not knowing how to reply, Eriri could only respond with a string of meaningless dots.

"As childhood friends, communication between us is really troublesome. Communicating with you, whether in the past or now, is really tiring. When we talk about things from when we were little, from my current perspective, neither of us was wrong. I've let it go. How about you?"

Chapter 42 A Friendship of Over a Decade

Aki Tomoya slowly started typing on his phone; he really found communicating with Eriri so troublesome.

Just when it seemed like the relationship was completely severed, the other party suddenly contacted him again. So why was he so excited back then?

Is it all because of that cumbersome way of communicating? How long will this awkward relationship have to last?!

Until last year, they could only manage a few normal sentences of communication.

After careful consideration, Aki Tomoya decided to let bygones be bygones and not worry about who was right or wrong. That's just how Japanese society is, and that's how prejudices are against otaku. They make money off otaku while discriminating against them.

He simply wanted to complain about how their relationship as childhood sweethearts was more difficult to communicate with than that of ordinary friends.

Having known Eriri for so many years, this childhood friend is not as genuine as Yoshihiko Kamigo. At least when communicating with him, Aki Tomo doesn't feel this sense of powerlessness.

"Ever since we bumped into each other at school last month, do you know how I feel about the conflicted look on your face every time I see you secretly standing next to me? Do you know how I feel about our friendship of more than ten years?"

Before Eriri could react, the new reply made her even more flustered.

Eriri's little antics at school had actually been noticed by Aki Tomoya on several occasions. Now that Aki Tomoya had discovered her, Eriri's expression resembled that of the famous painting "The Scream".

"Forget about being childhood sweethearts, even just talking to you as a normal friend is so troublesome. Just how complicated do you think our relationship is?!"

After knowing each other for over a decade, we can't even have a normal conversation. Just how troublesome is this kind of childhood sweetheart relationship?

Does Eriri have very few true friends in the Otherworld?

Ok……

Aki Tomoya thought about it and considered that Eriri had always been a young lady who served as a diplomat at school, and that her parents were the ones helping to sell doujinshi at CM doujinshi conventions, plus the people she would come into contact with given her family background...

Looking at it this way, it's clear that not many people know the real her.

Thinking of this, Aki Tomoya sighed.

"To be frank, we've known each other for over ten years, and we're about to graduate high school. In a few years, I don't know if you'll still be here, or if we'll ever have a chance to meet again. So there's no need to worry too much about that. Let's cherish this friendship of over ten years while we can. If you have any questions and don't want to come to me at school, you can ask me privately. I won't refuse to help within my capabilities."

There are some things that Aki Tomoya really can't handle. They've known each other for over ten years, yet they still have to go through so much trouble to communicate, making it all seem so complicated. Wouldn't it have been better if they had just become strangers after that incident in elementary school?

We've known each other for over a decade, and for a long time of that time it felt like we were filming an Infernal Affairs movie. Wasn't that a hassle?

Aki Tomoya doesn't really feel much about the term "childhood friend" anymore. In his heart, he sees Eriri more as a troublesome ordinary female friend he's known for over ten years, and a rather troublesome one at that.

They've known each other since elementary school, all the way up to high school. To be honest, since that incident, they haven't had more than twenty normal conversations.

"If you still consider me a friend, then my only advice to you regarding that matter with that senior is that you should take advantage of the opportunity while you still have it and do whatever you want to do, so you don't have any regrets."

Who knows if Kashiwagi Eri will have another chance to work with Kasumigaoka Utaha in the future? Based on his understanding of Eriri, she probably secretly hopes to work with Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Unfortunately, she insisted on using this incident to test him.

Does this matter have anything to do with him now?

He may have played a role, but realistically, after graduating from high school, no one knows if they will ever have the chance to meet again.

And who knows, Eriri might one day go to London to develop her career under her father's arrangement?

Aki Tomoya thought that if Eriri didn't want to have any regrets, it would be best to do what she wanted.

As a friend, this was all the advice he could offer.

"Let's chat again when we have time. It's good to exchange a few pleasantries now and then."

At least this way, the friendship of more than ten years doesn't seem so bad.

After typing the last message, Aki Tomoya put down his phone.

"Pah! What a load of rubbish about authentic Chinese-style fast food bento boxes! They're just deceiving consumers!"

After taking a bite of the bento, Aki Tomoya couldn't help but make a comment.

The Japanese have absolutely no conscience!

If this is considered authentic, then he could be a top chef in China.

Living alone definitely requires caution to avoid being scammed!

Chewing on his food, Aki Tomoya complained, but that didn't stop him from filling his stomach, since it wasn't really that bad.

After finishing his fast food lunch, tidying up his things, taking a good shower, Aki Tomo went upstairs to continue studying.

He took out two books from his bag: one was "The Tale of Ise," and the other was "The Tale of Genji."