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

After getting busy, the awkwardness of the earlier meeting did seem to fade a bit.

But it's only to a certain extent.

At this point, Saeko began to show her meticulous and thoughtful side.

After the air mattress was fully inflated and laid out, she secretly gave Shiyu a look, her gaze seemingly drifting towards the direction where Yukino and Eriri were.

Shi Yu seemed to understand what she meant, but neither nodded nor objected. She simply lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Today's schedule was already pushing her to her limit in terms of restraint and endurance. Asking her to take the initiative to please those two people she didn't get along with... sorry, that's really impossible.

Saeko sighed almost inaudibly, realizing that she couldn't force it, and then composed herself before walking slowly toward Yukino and Eriri, who were working together to install the camping table.

"Let me help too." Her voice was gentle, and her smile was as sincere as ever.

Yukino looked up at the sound, and Saeko met her gaze without flinching.

Their eyes met, and Yukino's clear blue eyes remained calm and undisturbed. She nodded slightly, her tone polite but also somewhat distant: "Well, thank you for your help, Saeko-senpai."

The change in address to "senpai" was just one word, but it made Saeko's heart tighten. She realized that the "reconciliation" she had with Yukino and Eriri today might be much more difficult than she had imagined.

I was a little disappointed, but I wasn't discouraged.

With Saeko's help, the camping table was quickly installed.

"Is there anything else I can help with?" Saeko asked Chiya Minamoto, who was fiddling with the barbecue grill not far away.

"No, you can sit and rest for a while, or wander around if you like," Yuan Qianye replied loudly.

“That’s what he said.” Saeko cleared her throat. “I also have something I’d like to talk to you two about alone, Yukino and Eriri. Would you mind walking with me for a bit?”

…………

Chapter 024: Do you really like Qianye that much? (1 words)

"Saeko-nee, where are you going?"

"I didn't have any special plans. I just thought the scenery around here was nice and wanted to take a stroll."

"That sounds good!" Rikka's eyes lit up. "Can I come along?"

“Hmm…” Saeko tilted her head slightly, her tone natural: “But I just came from Shiyu’s place, and she seems to have something to talk to you about.”

"Huh? We're all together, why didn't you just call me?" Rikka muttered softly, but still obediently turned around and ran towards Shiho.

Saeko nodded slightly to Yukino Eriri, and the three of them walked away together.

Rikka hadn't run far when she slowly stopped.

She glanced back at the three figures walking away, then turned to look at Shi Yu, who was resting with her eyes closed on a camping chair. Her eyes darted around, and she changed direction, strolling towards her brother.

She wasn't stupid; she just wanted to be carefree and happy, so she didn't think too much about anything. Today, because she had a mission, her little brain was working at high speed the whole time, so of course she could realize that Saeko's words were just to get her away.

So Saeko probably just wanted to talk to Yukino Eriri alone, and didn't realize that she wanted to listen to their conversation and then secretly report it to her older brother, right?

There shouldn't be any, and I didn't give myself away.

But do you think this will stump her? How naive!

Rikka whistled, and the black wings that had been nestled beside the trolley watching the luggage immediately spread their wings and flew onto her head.

"Honestly, I told you to carry me on your shoulders. You're making me, as the master, look so pathetic!" Rikka picked up Black Wing and gestured with her lips in the direction the three had gone.

Whether or not the Black Wings paid attention to her meaning, it did spread its wings and soar into the sky the next moment, flying in the direction Rikka indicated.

the other side.

Saeko and her two companions followed the stone-paved path to a gently flowing man-made stream.

The stream is clear, the banks are paved with smooth pebbles, and there are wooden benches for people to rest on.

Not far downstream, in a slightly deeper part of the water, you can see people rolling up their trousers and playing in the water.

The three of them sat down side by side, and in the distance, they could see overlapping mountains disappearing on the horizon. Just then, some clouds blocked the glaring sunlight, and a gentle breeze brought the rustling of leaves and the babbling of a stream, creating an indescribably pleasant atmosphere.

In such an environment, even the most restless mind seems to gradually calm down.

Chiya really did choose a good place... Saeko thought to herself.

"I'm sorry for the suddenness, but we really haven't had a proper chat since then. Even when we occasionally bump into each other at school, Yukino and Eriri, you both try to avoid face-to-face contact with me."

Saeko didn't specify which incident she was referring to, but the implication was quite clear.

"No, that's not it, we just..."

Eriri almost instinctively wanted to retort, but looking at Saeko's clear and transparent gaze that seemed to pierce her heart, she lowered her head dejectedly and couldn't utter any more words of rebuttal to maintain her dignity.

After all, the reality was exactly as Saeko said. Both Yukino and Saeko were unable to accept the fact that Saeko and Chiya were officially dating.

Therefore, they could no longer see her as the older, gentle, and caring senior and friend who was a year older than them.

Because... they're already rivals in love.

The change in their identities also brought about a cognitive gap. With a fishbone stuck in their throat, they naturally couldn't return to the close and open relationship they used to be.

"That's absolutely right."

Unlike Eriri, who stammered after failing to refute the argument, Yukino readily admitted it.

Given her personality, she certainly wouldn't, and disdains to, use insincere politeness to conceal her true thoughts.

“But you did nothing wrong, Saeko-senpai. The problem lies with me and Eriri. We... have our own circumstances, so please forgive us.”

"No need to be so serious."

Saeko smiled and shook her head.

“I understand. I’m speaking to you all alone today not for any other reason than to sincerely apologize.”

Her words caught Yukino off guard: "Apologize to us?"

"Ah."

As Saeko spoke, she stood up and bowed slightly to Yukino and Eriri, who were still seated.

"I'm so sorry that Shiyu and I have been deliberately hiding our relationship from you all this time, even though we've already confirmed it with Qianye."

"Saeko-senpai, you really don't have to do this."

Yukino also immediately stood up, her tone serious.

"From your perspective, you haven't done anything wrong, and if someone really has to apologize, it shouldn't be you."

Eriri was a little stunned by the sudden formal apology, feeling like a child who had accidentally wandered into a serious conversation between adults.

Their conversation revolved around the practical breakthroughs in quantum computing and geopolitics, a topic so profound that it quickly exceeded her comprehension, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

However, Eriri also had her own wisdom. The moment she saw Yukino stand up, she ignored her still-unresponsive brain and stood up with a "whoosh".

In short, if you don't know what to do, just follow Yukino's lead and stay in sync...

Saeko gently shook her head: "That's not it. Yukino, you think too kind of me. I do have a reason to apologize. Although Chiya confessed to you that he was dating me and Utaha, he probably didn't explain to you the reason for our relationship or the more detailed circumstances, right?"

"..."

Eriri didn't answer, which was taken as tacit agreement.

At that moment, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning, leaving her completely stunned. After realizing what had happened, her tear ducts were already starting to work, and her eyes were stinging and on the verge of tears. Feeling that she would burst into tears if she hesitated even a moment longer, which would be extremely embarrassing, she simply ran away like a spoiled dog.

While escaping may be shameful, it can certainly save face; this survival skill is mastered to perfection.

"That's right." Yukino looked away and gave an affirmative answer. She didn't really want to bring up this topic. She felt that what's done is done and the matter was over, so there was obviously nothing more to say.

But Saeko clearly didn't think that way.

“I want to tell you in detail what happened at the time, so you can understand why I apologized.”

"Let's sit down first," Yukino suggested.

“Yes, Saeko-nee, please sit down.” Eriri quickly chimed in.

The three sat down again. Saeko gazed at the distant, rolling mountains and slowly began, "You should know how Chiya and I met, right?"

“I know,” Eriri replied. She had heard Rikka embellish the story, saying, “On the evening shortly after the start of the semester, Chiya noticed something was wrong and helped call the police, who caught the pervert who was following you.”

"Well, actually, I started to have feelings for him around that time."

Eriri asked in surprise, "Could it be that you guys started back then..."

“Of course not.” Saeko shook her head: “Back then, my feelings for him were at most that of seeing him as an interesting junior. Apart from admiring him, there were no other extraneous emotions involved. I only truly began to see Chiya as a woman when he took the initiative to come to me to learn kendo…”

Of course, this part isn't very important. If you're really interested, we can talk about it another time. Today, I want to talk about the part where things really progressed between us. Do you remember that hot spring trip we took together in Hakone?

"Yes." Yukino and Eriri both nodded.

That time, it was Eriri who took the initiative to start the event, and her mother provided financial assistance, changing the originally planned three separate rooms into a large suite with multiple rooms.

I still remember that outing; everyone had a very enjoyable time.

"Actually, it was on that occasion that Qianye and I officially became a couple."

"Huh?" Eriri exclaimed in surprise.

Yukino nodded, not surprised at all: "I've heard Chiya mention this before."

"what?"

Eriri, sitting in the middle, looked left and right in even greater surprise.

Yukino, why didn't you tell me about this? She had absolutely no idea about it!

Besides, everyone was together the whole time during that event, so how did these two manage to do it right under everyone's noses?!

Saeko smiled at Eriri, signaling her to calm down, and continued, "But Chiyo probably only glossed over the more specific details and didn't go into much detail."

“Yes,” Yukino admitted.

"Of course he wouldn't tell you in such detail, because he wants to save face for me personally."

"To save face?"

"Well, to put it simply, the reason I was able to start dating Chiya first was because... I seduced him."

Saeko raised her left hand and placed it against her chest; her little finger, ring finger, and even her middle finger were deeply embedded in the difference in elevation between the twin mountains.

"As you can see, I deliberately used my body to make him unable to say no while you were all asleep."

"..."