A Day of Anticipation and Unseen Rivals

When the rising morning sun appeared in a corner of the horizon, sunlight spilled into the room through the French windows, illuminating many tiny dust particles floating in the air.

Kazakami Ritsu, who hadn’t gotten a perfect rest last night, poked her head out from under the blanket with a face full of exhaustion.

Staring blankly at the white ceiling overhead for a long time, she reluctantly lifted the blanket and sat up.

Last night’s dream was already blurry, but the sentimental feeling in her heart hadn’t completely disappeared.

Picking up the phone casually tossed aside to check the time, it was still two hours before the appointed time with Teraoin Hane last night.

Taking a bath, changing clothes, and eating breakfast on the way before rushing over; time should be sufficient.

After planning before going out, Kazakami Ritsu stepped into slippers, walked to the closet, and began to choose today’s clothes.

A moment later, Kazakami Ritsu hugged a pile of clothes she planned to wear out today and slipped into the bathroom.

When the dense white steam filled the entire bathroom, Kazakami Ritsu, soaking in the bathtub with only half her head exposed, slowly surfaced.

‘The things happening recently are really a bit strange.’

‘Could it be because the life I’ve been living recently is really a bit too calm and uneventful, causing my thinking to become a bit dull?’

Thinking this, Kazakami Ritsu couldn’t help sighing.

She always thought she was a person who muddled along, so she took some things very lightly.

However… recently she always had the illusion that her private domain was being violated by others.

“Truly worrying… Pretending to be good at socializing is indeed something that brings trouble to oneself.”

Muttering this, she slowly stood up from the bathtub…

When Kazakami Ritsu walked out of the room, she found Sano Nana lying on the living room sofa playing with her phone.

Hearing the door opening, Sano Nana withdrew her gaze from the phone screen.

After looking up at Kazakami Ritsu, the phone in Sano Nana’s hand slipped from her grasp and fell onto the sofa.

“Ritsu-chan… did you secretly get a boyfriend?!”

“No, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Kazakami Ritsu couldn’t help rolling her eyes, and after speaking, she walked straight toward the entrance.

Sano Nana stood up from the sofa and hurriedly picked up the phone on the sofa.

‘Finished, Senior Umemiya was actually right!’

‘Ritsu-chan dressed up so nicely; could she really be going on a date with someone?’

Thinking this, Sano Nana hurriedly notified Umemiya Hiro of this news.

Kazakami Ritsu changed her shoes at the entrance and shouted in Sano Nana’s direction.

“Go eat lunch yourself at noon. If I’m not back by dinner time, solve it yourself too.”

After speaking, Kazakami Ritsu opened the door and walked out.

Even the somewhat dense Sano Nana felt a strong sense of crisis in her heart at this moment.

‘Big trouble! Ritsu-chan is going to be snatched away by someone else!’

Thinking this, Sano Nana ran to the entrance very quickly and changed into a pair of sneakers.

‘I have to go see what kind of guy is dating Ritsu-chan!’

After changing shoes and going out, Sano Nana stealthily followed behind Kazakami Ritsu.

Chiyoda Ward, inside the Umemiya residence.

Umemiya Hiro looked at the message received on the screen, her gaze becoming somewhat obscure.

‘Junior-san said yesterday she had an appointment. An appointment with whom?’

She clicked on the group chat, which had gradually gained more people, and carefully looked at the people on the list.

‘That guy hasn’t contacted Junior-san yet, exclude first.’

‘Sano Nana is the one messaging me to report, so it’s impossible.’

‘Besides, this guy is not a concern at all; her threat level to me is not that high.’

‘Even if she went out with her, it wouldn’t matter.’

‘However… if it’s not Sano Nana, but another person…’

Thinking of this, Umemiya Hiro’s eyes sharpened.

That fellow Teraoin Hane… the threat to herself was simply too great.

It seemed she had to take some measures.

She picked up her phone and started replying to Sano Nana’s message.

[World’s Number One Female Lead: Eh? So she didn’t go out with you today? What do you plan to do?] (Read)

[Golden Retriever Loser (Remark): Of course, follow up and see! I won’t let anyone have Ritsu-chan!] (Read)

Looking at this message, the corners of Umemiya Hiro’s mouth curled up slightly.

‘Correct, just like that.’

‘I don’t need to act at all; let Sano Nana go fight with that guy first.’

‘However… I still have to go see the situation.’

Umemiya Hiro restrained the smile on her face and typed a new reply in the chat box.

[World’s Number One Female Lead: Sounds so interesting! Send me the location later; I’ll accompany you.] (Read)

[Golden Retriever Loser: Okay! Thank you, Senior ❤️!] (Read)

After receiving the affirmative reply, Umemiya Hiro silently put down her phone.

She also had to dress up well before going out. If that Golden Retriever wasn’t effective, she would have to personally enter the field.

‘No matter what… Junior-san belongs to me.’

Tokyo Yomiuriland, entrance.

Teraoin Hane, who had been waiting here for a long time, was constantly writing characters on her palm at this moment.

‘Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous…’

‘Kazakami-san is a gentle person, so I absolutely cannot make mistakes due to nervousness.’

‘I must seize this opportunity to date Kazakami-san, and then… express my thoughts properly!’

After swallowing the characters in her palm, Teraoin Hane’s originally somewhat flustered mood seemed to really be alleviated.

“Teraoin Hane… you have to do your best. You can’t just be friends with Kazakami-san!”

After encouraging herself in a low voice, Teraoin Hane took out her phone, which had a custom case featuring Akira and Shu, and began to edit a message.

[Teraoin Hane: Kazakami-san… I wanted to ask where you are now?] (Read)

As soon as the message was delivered, the text behind the bubble changed from “Delivered” to “Read.”

‘Huh? Could it be that Kazakami-san… also wanted to message me right now?’

‘Could it be she can’t come because of something? Or is there something else to say?’

Teraoin Hane looked at the “Typing…” text displayed above the chat box, waiting apprehensively for the other party’s reply.

Soon, a chat bubble popped up.

[Kazakami-san (Remark): Just got off the train, walking over there now.] (Read)

[Kazakami-san (Remark): Just happened to see a cart selling handmade grape juice on the way, so I bought two bottles. Let’s drink together when we meet.] (Read)

Looking at the message before her eyes, Teraoin Hane breathed a long sigh of relief.

‘Fortunately… fortunately she didn’t reject me.’

‘If the invitation I mustered up the courage for ended hastily because of being stood up, I would probably be very sad, right?’