Two days later, at night, inside the Spencer family mansion.
There were four people gathered in Eriri's room. Aside from herself, the others were Utaha, Tomoya, and Megumi.
Eriri had already changed into her formal dress for the banquet. As the little princess of the family, she was expected to at least show her face at the event.
Since her friends were visiting today, it wouldn't be appropriate to just stay curled up in bed and only get dressed at the last minute.
Even though all of them were present, no one felt like playing games to pass the time, nor did they have the mood for idle chatter.
Everyone just sat quietly, staring at their phones like socially anxious online friends awkwardly meeting in person.
Time passed painfully slow.
Eriri wasn't used to such an atmosphere, but she couldn't muster any hopeful words about tonight's outcome either. Feeling stifled, she walked out onto the balcony for some air.
Soft footsteps followed—Utaha had come over.
"…Sorry."
The last time Utaha formally thanked her, Eriri had been totally flustered. Hearing her apologize now, though her reaction wasn't as dramatic, it still stunned her for a moment.
Snapping back to her senses, she folded her arms and said awkwardly, "W-What are you apologizing for?"
Utaha looked out at the night sky and asked softly,
"Choosing your house as the location… was really just taking advantage of your parents' reputation and influence. It wouldn't be wrong to call it using you. I should've refused… but I'm greedy."
"That's not greed. If it were me, I would've done the same."
Eriri imagined what it would be like if she could never draw again.
But imagination would never compare to reality. Even though she felt a heavy sorrow at the thought, it was probably not even a tenth of what Utaha had been carrying.
"Even so… I'm sorry. I… don't have anything to repay you with."
"I didn't help you because I expected anything in return." Eriri turned her face away. "A-And it wasn't for you anyway. I just couldn't stand seeing Tomoya like that."
"Yes, yes, I understand," Utaha replied, sounding almost nonchalant. Before Eriri could snap at her again, she added, "Thank you, Sawamura-san."
That simple thank-you not only calmed Eriri down again, but made her hug her arms and mutter, "You're seriously creeping me out acting all polite like this all of a sudden…"
Utaha covered her mouth and chuckled mischievously like always.
"Oh my, does that mean you prefer it when I insult you? Hmm, I suppose after drawing so many doujins, developing a taste like that wouldn't be too strange."
Eriri's calm immediately snapped. "Utaha! You really are hopeless!"
"Well, it's true. People don't change so easily. Wasn't Sawamura-san just being a textbook example of a tsundere?"
"Ugh—don't expect me to speak up for you tonight!"
The moment she said it, Eriri regretted it. That wasn't something meant for a petty squabble.
But Utaha didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she nodded in agreement.
"Honestly, I hope you and your parents don't help me tonight.
Even though this is your home and no matter what, I'm still benefiting from your family's prestige. I'd prefer if your family stayed uninvolved."
She was well aware that tonight would likely end in humiliation.
If it were just her being insulted, so be it. But if the Sawamura family was present and she was rejected outright in front of them, her guilt would multiply several times over.
Eriri turned her head away and muttered, "This is my home, and we're technically partners… at least I'll be there."
Utaha gently ran her hand over the smooth balcony railing without responding, her guilt weighing heavier than before.
At that moment, she couldn't help but think—if she had accepted Akira's deal, wouldn't things have been easier?
At the very least, she could've demanded he handle the situation with confidence, without shame, because it would've been a transaction. If she paid the price, she deserved the return.
Unlike now—she hadn't paid anything, and didn't even have a method of repayment.
Even something as simple as a thank-you or a conversation with Eriri made her feel like she was begging.
It wasn't that she didn't want to express thanks or apologies.
But once you were asking someone for help, your speech and behavior inevitably became restrained.
There were things you could and couldn't say. Your confidence wavered.
Utaha hated this feeling. Even if her arrogance had been crushed over the past few days, she had never begged anyone for anything.
"…Anyway, let's just wait a little longer," Eriri said.
Utaha nodded and was just about to return to the room when a small commotion arose from the direction of the banquet hall.
"What's going on?"
Eriri's room didn't have a view of the banquet area. Judging by how quickly things quieted down, it probably wasn't anything serious.
But soon, the warm and elegant female voice that had previously spoken on the phone drifted up from downstairs.
"Eriri, a very special guest has arrived. It's about time, so come down and greet them."
For some reason, upon hearing the phrase "a very special guest," Utaha had a bad feeling.
"Coming, Mom."
Eriri responded, nodding toward Utaha.
"Make sure your parents don't get involved," Utaha reminded her again.
"I'll tell them, but whether they come or not… that's up to them."
Muttering that, Eriri went back inside.
Seeing Tomoya rise unconsciously to his feet, she whispered, "Wait a little longer," then lifted the hem of her dress and left the room.
Utaha also returned, picked up the novel on the table, but her mind was far from the pages.
…
Upon meeting the Spencer couple and hearing the twin-tailed, youthful-looking woman introduce herself as Sawamura Sayuri, Akira finally recalled whose family this was.
When Eriri appeared, he sighed inwardly.
This was the clearest sign yet of being caught up in karmic fate. Under normal circumstances, there was no way things would line up so coincidentally.
Fortunately, it hadn't turned into a real problem yet.
Eriri was undeniably beautiful, but Akira had no interest in her.
Not only because she didn't match his tastes, but also because her character was too comical.
Fun for a laugh, sure—but imagining anything deeper was impossible.
"Eriri, let me introduce you. This is Lord Asai, and this rare guest here is Mr. Akira."
Upon hearing that name, Eriri's eyes widened.
"What's wrong, Eriri?" Sawamura Sayuri asked, noticing her daughter's strange reaction.
"Oh… oh, it's nothing." Eriri quickly composed herself, lifted her dress slightly, and curtsied. "Good evening to both of you."
As she raised her head, she couldn't help but study Akira.
She never expected the villain she'd heard about from Utaha just a couple of days ago to appear right here at her family's banquet.
Setting aside his looks for a moment, there was the issue of his outfit—black suit, black tie…
That was funeral attire! This guy actually showed up to a banquet dressed for a funeral!?
"Are you intrigued by Mr. Akira's clothing?" Sawamura Sayuri asked with a cheerful smile.
"It is surprising, I agree. But no one will find it disrespectful. In fact, people will be happy—because Mr. Akira is the 'Unlucky Lucky Bird.'"
"Cough." Akira cleared his throat. "Please, give me a little dignity, Mrs. Spencer. That nickname is terribly embarrassing."
"Aww, shy are we? That's surprisingly cute of you, Mr. Akira."
Clearly, this banquet—or rather the Spencer family—didn't take etiquette too seriously.
They could joke around this freely. Compared to formal social functions, Akira actually didn't mind this kind of atmosphere.
He cast a subtle glance at Eriri.
Noting her complicated expression, and recalling Lord Asai saying that their families didn't have much connection, he quickly pieced things together.
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