Takashi scooted over slightly, making space for Utaha.
She sat down, resting her chin on one hand, eyes still fixed on him.
Eriri thought Utaha was staring at her and glared back just as hard, though she addressed Takashi.
"You better watch what I eat. You already know what I like."
Takashi accepted the menu from the server.
The menu included various Japanese set meals, Western steaks, and noodle dishes from different countries. It was quite diverse and affordable.
And with any order, drinks were unlimited.
"Hmm, I'll take a steak, fries, ramen, and a 12-inch pizza, thanks."
Knowing Eriri didn't eat much, Takashi only ordered one of each dish, planning to finish whatever she couldn't eat.
After ordering, Takashi handed the menu to Utaha.
She didn't even glance at it.
"I'll have the same as him."
Her words left everyone momentarily stunned.
They were all in the same club and knew how little Utaha usually ate.
A piece of bread and a cup of milk were enough for her lunch—how big could her appetite be?
Utaha had to know how little she could eat. That meant she knowingly ordered more than she could finish.
Something was off—way off.
Even Eriri noticed it now.
Watanabe Takashi… Wait a second, could he be the guy senpai missed out on?
Tomoya suddenly recalled that the boy Utaha had once liked was also named Watanabe Takashi.
He hadn't made the connection at first because his jealousy had clouded his thoughts.
Now that he had cooled down, he realized the truth.
"I'm going to wash my hands."
Takashi stood up, planning to step away for a bit and give Tomoya some space.
If all went well, he could break up with Eriri tonight.
"I'm going too."
Utaha didn't care what anyone thought. She stood and followed Takashi almost in step.
"I'll go too…"
Even Eriri, as dense as she was, vaguely sensed that there was something unusual between Utaha and Takashi. She wanted to follow them and see for herself.
"Eriri, wait a second."
Tomoya held her back with a serious expression. "I have something to tell you."
"Can't it wait?"
Eriri looked worriedly in the direction her boyfriend and Utaha had just gone, her voice anxious as she tried to shake off Aki's hand.
But Tomoya's next words made her freeze.
"It's about Watanabe Takashi and senpai."
"I'll use the bathroom too~"
Megumi also stood up.
Unlike Takashi and Utaha, she genuinely needed to go.
By the time she left, neither Tomoya nor Eriri noticed.
Truly the Invisible Hassan.
"Tell me. What's going on between Takashi and Kasumigaoka?"
Eriri's anxiety intensified. Her fingers tapped her shoulder rapidly, betraying her nerves.
Tomoya took a deep breath. He knew what he was about to say was despicable.
But he couldn't stand the thought of Eriri being with someone else.
Not one bit.
Call him shameless or scummy—he didn't care. He was determined to break up Watanabe Takashi and Eriri.
"You've noticed it too—senpai's been acting strange lately."
"Cut the crap. Get to the point."
Eriri wasn't in the mood.
"That's because the guy she used to like broke up with her."
"And believe it or not, his name was also Watanabe Takashi—same as your boyfriend."
Tomoya said each word slowly, locking eyes with Eriri.
Eriri's face went pale, her pupils trembling violently.
—
Takashi and Utaha walked to the sink. Takashi turned to her. "Senpai, what exactly are you trying to do? I already—"
Before he could continue the act, a fragrant breeze hit him.
Utaha threw herself into his arms, her slender arms wrapping around his waist. She buried her face in his chest and whispered softly:
"Takashi, I missed you so much."
"Ah!"
Megumi, having just arrived, saw the scene. Her lips parted slightly in shock as she stared at the two embracing.
If she remembered correctly, Watanabe Takashi was supposed to be Eriri's boyfriend.
So why was he hugging Kasumigaoka-senpai now?
Is this considered cheating?
"Senpai, let go for now. It won't look good if Eriri sees us."
Takashi said that, but he made no effort to move his hands.
Utaha suddenly threw herself at him—definitely not something he had anticipated.
But he had no intention of pushing her away.
Forget pushing her away—Takashi practically wanted to shout out loud and lure Eriri over to see him cheating with someone else.
Knowing Eriri as well as he did, he was sure she'd break up with him on the spot.
She was the goddess of pure love, after all.
But doing it too obviously would backfire.
What Takashi wanted was natural.
You understand? Natural.
Even the breakup had to be natural.
"You like her?"
Utaha lifted her elegant, mature face and gazed at him with eyes like deep wine.
"Of course. She's my girlfriend."
Takashi's voice rang out firm and confident.
"No, you don't like her."
Utaha denied him calmly, as if stating a simple fact.
"No, I do like her."
"You don't."
"I do!"
"You don't!"
…
They sounded like kids arguing over whether Taro or Dyna was stronger—neither willing to concede.
Megumi, standing nearby, could only watch and think how childishly the two were bickering.
"What gives you the right to say I don't like her? If I didn't like her, does that mean I like you?"
Repeatedly denied, Takashi suddenly seemed overwhelmed, his eyes reddening.
"Utaha, haven't you hurt me enough already?"
"I'm sorry, Takashi. I was wrong. Don't cry, okay?"
Seeing Watanabe Takashi's eyes go red, Utaha looked like a boy who had accidentally made a girl cry—completely at a loss. She reached up to wipe away his tears.
Takashi turned his head sharply away. "You're the one who said you only saw me as a stand-in."
"You said, no matter how much I resemble him, I'm just a replacement for Aki Tomoya."
"You're the one who pushed me away."
"And now I'm gone. I'm no longer clinging to you like some dog. So why are you coming back to stir things up again? What did I do wrong—falling for you?"
Takashi exploded with all the suppressed grief and anger he'd held back for so long, his voice rising as he shouted at Utaha.
Her eyes reddened too, a mist of tears clouding her gaze.
"I'm sorry."
Utaha thought of the words she had once said to Watanabe Takashi and, in that moment, hated herself more than ever for saying such cruel things.
"I don't want your apology—I'm begging you, just let me go, okay?"
"I'm begging you. Let me go. I won't cling to you anymore. I won't show up in front of you to bother you again."
Utaha looked into Watanabe Takashi's lifeless eyes—eyes that had lost all their former brightness—and felt overwhelming sorrow.
But she still gritted her teeth and said:
"No."
"I'll agree to any other condition. Anything but letting you go."
Anything else, she could accept.
But letting Watanabe Takashi go?
Impossible.
Without him in her life, she was going insane.
"Why?"
Takashi's eyes looked dull, but his attention was secretly fixed on the door.
Seriously, he'd shouted so loud already—why hadn't Eriri come yet?
And that Megumi girl—stop watching like you're here for the drama! Can't you go get someone?
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