The reception room door opened, and Editor Nakajima entered, saying with a smile, "Alright, alright, everyone is finally here."
Behind him, Kaede also walked in smiling.
But the mont he entered, Eriri, who had been smiling, instantly froze.
Jumping up abruptly, Eriri pointed at the incoming Kaede and asked incredulously, "Asakura, what are you doing here?"
"Hm? Didn't you want to co?"
Kaede smiled, took a bite of a croquette, and said while eating, "Don't worry, I'll definitely give you an autograph later. I already have a sample of the new volu of the light novel, I'll get you one later. You'll be the first one to see it!"
"Eh? Really? That's great... no, wait!"
Eriri almost got carried away. Her already overworked brain finally caught up, and she said indignantly, "So, you're the teacher Kurenai Momiji, who wrote 'konosuba', never holds autograph sessions, and has never appeared in public?"
Editor Nakajima looked at their conversation and asked in confusion, "You two know each other?"
Kaede smiled and nodded, "Yes, we're both mbers of the Art Club at the sa school."
Machida Sonoko also understood and guessed, "So, Kaede-kun, you've known for a long ti that Sawamura-san is Kashiwagi Eri?"
"Well, I guess I did."
Eriri was a bit stiff. Recalling their previous discussions about ani and light novels, she imdiately got angry: "So... you actually knew all along and deliberately didn't tell , right?"
"You can't say that, Sawamura. After all, everyone has their own little secrets, don't they? I didn't say anything, and you didn't tell you were Kashiwagi Eri either."
"I don't know anyone by that na!"
"Please, don't pretend to be Izumi Sagiri at this point, okay?" Kaede helplessly glanced at Eriri, who was clearly too late to play ostrich, and pulled another croquette from his bag, handing it to Eriri, "Here, a freshly made croquette. Calm down."
Looking at the golden, tempting croquette in front of her, Eriri instinctively wanted to reach for it, but rembering the expression Kaede had when he ca in, she imdiately turned her head away, pouting.
"Grumble~~~~~"
"..."
Eriri's cheeks instantly flushed red with the rumbling sound from her stomach. Kaede also said with an "I knew it" expression, "I knew it. You never eat much for lunch, and you have gym class this afternoon. You must be hungry by now. Eat first, and I'll apologize after you're done."
Having no choice, Eriri took the croquette and bit into it fiercely.
It was delicious.
Watching Kaede share the remaining croquettes with the other three, Eriri suddenly noticed sothing: Senior Kasumigaoka had been smiling and watching the entire ti, without saying a single word. This was completely different from when the two of them first t.
"Wait!" Pointing at Utaha, Eriri asked, "So, you also knew Asakura's identity all along?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Utaha looked at Eriri and smiled, "I already t Asakura-kun last weekend at the Bunko, right here. We had a very pleasant conversation, I'd say. However, regarding your identity, Sawamura-san, I only found out today. Yes, it was quite a surprise."
"..."
Eriri silently finished the croquette in her hand, bite by bite. After throwing the wrapper into the trash can, she turned to Kaede, grabbed his clothes, and walked out.
"Co out with !"
Pulled by Eriri like that, Kaede had no choice but to shrug at Editor Nakajima and then leave the reception room.
After the two left, Machida Sonoko rubbed her chin and asked, "Senior, what do you think is going on with those two?"
"I'm not sure."
Shaking his head, Editor Nakajima's face also broke into a smile, "But I think this collaboration should be solid. While they're talking things over, Utako Kasumi-sensei, please start thinking about any requirents you have for the character designs."
"Understood."
Utaha had already taken out her small notebook and pen, which she always carried with her, and began writing little by little.
On the other side, Eriri forcefully dragged Kaede out of the reception room, and the two went directly to the empty pantry outside the editorial departnt.
Once they stopped, Eriri crossed her arms and stared at Kaede, saying, "So, when exactly did you find out my identity?"
"Hmm... I knew from the beginning, but it was just by chance. Sawamura, you don't need to worry about your identity being exposed or anything. I'm very good at keeping secrets."
Hearing Kaede say that, Eriri looked enlightened and sowhat nervously at Kaede, saying, "From the beginning... you already knew back then?"
"Back then?" Kaede was a bit confused, "When?"
"???"
Eriri realized she had overthought it; Kaede definitely hadn't recognized her then. That was good; her identity being exposed was much better than him seeing the doujinshi she bought.
Eriri quickly shook her head and said, "It's nothing, just assu I was talking nonsense. In any case, you absolutely cannot reveal my identity as Kashiwagi Eri, understand?"
Although a bit puzzled by what Eriri had just said, Kaede didn't think too much of it and agreed, "Don't worry, haven't I been doing a good job of it all this ti?"
"Hmph, who knows?" Eriri pouted, then looked at Kaede with sha and anger, "I've known you for a few days now, and I know your personality. You definitely ca here today to see make a fool of myself, didn't you?"
"Hahaha, my apologies, my apologies."
Kaede said apologetically, "On Sunday at the Bunko, when I heard Senior Kasumigaoka say she wanted to collaborate with Kashiwagi Eri, I was also surprised. I originally thought I wouldn't have anything to do today, but then Editor Nakajima ntioned it, and you agreed."
"..."
Eriri put her hand on her forehead, feeling extrely embarrassed. The light novel author whose autograph she wanted turned out to be a classmate from the sa club, with whom she usually played gas.
If this got out, people would probably die laughing.
"In any case, I won't forgive you for this so easily. Be prepared."
Kaede smiled and nodded, "Alright, you can make any request. As long as I can do it, even if you want to repay you with my body, it's no problem."
"Body, body, body... repay with my body? No way, you wish!"
Eriri, with her rich theoretical knowledge, naturally imagined a series of indescribable scenes, and her small foot in a leather shoe kicked towards Kaede.
Kaede wouldn't just stand there and get kicked. He dodged while pulling out his phone, searched for sothing, and showed a page to Eriri: "A new Maid Cafe just opened in Akihabara. My treat, how about it?"
Sure enough, Eriri imdiately stopped her actions.
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