Utaha didn't tell Eriri the truth, not because she was trying to be manipulative.
She just wanted to avoid causing a scene in public with an angry blonde idiot. Utaha hated being the center of attention in that way.
Besides, if that idiot got really mad, she might accidentally expose herself. What would she do then?
So, even though she felt a little guilty, Utaha decided to let Eriri handle the awkward situation on her own.
After all, Eriri had lived through a lot in her dreams and was facing her own parents.
She should be able to clear up any misunderstandings, even if it was embarrassing.
Utaha wished her well.
Tonight, she would turn her phone to airplane mode and get some proper rest.
Come to think of it, the weather forecast said it would rain tomorrow. Maybe she should take a day off and skip school altogether.
Any lingering guilt quickly faded as Utaha walked toward the visual novel club.
But calling it a "club" might be an overstatement. There were only four members, so "interest group" would be more accurate.
And this group wasn't officially recognized by the student council.
The multimedia room they used was secured after much effort by the club president, but it could be taken back at any time.
In a sense, it was entirely normal for this passion-driven group to suddenly fall apart.
Utaha wondered why she had been convinced to join and help out in the first place.
What was she thinking back then? Why was she so easily persuaded?
Like Eriri, maybe she had a soft heart, which wasn't something to be proud of.
She felt a bit sorry for going back on her word, but as long as she offered a fair compensation plan, Tomoya probably wouldn't mind.
And even if he did, it wouldn't matter. It was just an agreement between students, nothing legally binding.
Utaha had a feeling that her way of thinking had changed a lot recently.
But she didn't resist this change.
Although her experiences existed only in dreams and not reality, the paths she had walked, the sights she had seen, and the things she had gone through were very real to her.
All of this had given her a stronger sense of confidence and assurance, and naturally, her perspective on many things had changed.
So, when Utaha arrived at the visual novel club and told Tomoya that both she and Eriri had decided to leave the club, she did so with confidence.
Even when Tomoya was shocked and tried to ask why, with a pleading look on his face, Utaha calmly cut him off.
"There's no special reason."
"I just think that as a third-year student, I should focus more on preparing for university entrance exams instead of making a game with underclassmen that have an uncertain future."
It was a perfectly reasonable explanation, grounded in reality.
Even though Utaha didn't show much emotion while saying it, Tomoya couldn't come up with anything to convince her to stay.
"But… but!!"
All Tomoya could do was repeat "but" without being able to finish his sentence.
He couldn't understand why something that had been agreed upon was suddenly falling apart.
And it wasn't just one person leaving, but the two most important members—the writer and the artist—leaving at the same time.
If these two core members left, then what was the point of continuing with this project, this ideal, or even this club?
"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility and find professionals to replace me and Eriri."
"What do you mean?"
Tomoya felt a glimmer of hope.
"We'll pay out of our own pockets to hire a professional writer and artist. That way, your plans won't be affected."
"But if it's not you and Eriri, it won't be the same!"
Tomoya almost shouted.
Utaha looked at him calmly.
Her experience from two lifetimes allowed her to understand the deeper meaning behind his words.
But even so, she pretended not to understand, tilting her head in confusion.
"A writer is a writer, and an artist is an artist. They can still produce the story and artwork you need. What's the difference?"
"...!"
Tomoya had no response.
"Anyway, that's all I came here to say. I'll submit my resignation along with Eriri's soon. That's that."
With that curt statement, Utaha ended the conversation and turned to leave without looking back at the disheartened Tomoya slumped in his chair.
The multimedia room fell into a stifling silence, heavy and suffocating.
"If both Utaha-senpai and Eriri are leaving, then I don't think there's any reason for me to stay either."
"I'd rather focus on studying and getting into a good university. That way, my parents won't have to worry as much about my future."
A girl who had gone unnoticed until now stood up from a corner of the room.
Tomoya was shocked to realize there had been a third person there all along.
"It looks like there's nothing left to do here today, so I'll be heading out."
The unnoticed girl left the room as well.
Tomoya sat in his seat, frustrated, scratching his head in confusion.
He just couldn't understand how a club that had been working so well together had suddenly fallen apart.
'Did I do something wrong to make Utaha-senpai and Eriri angry?'
'But I didn't do anything!'
'Still, Utaha-senpai's expression and attitude… It wasn't just anger. It was cold, like she was talking to a stranger—completely detached and indifferent.'
'What happened? Why did things turn out this way?!'
Overwhelmed by confusion, Tomoya finally stood up and rushed out of the club.
He had to catch up to them and get some answers. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
Meanwhile, Chisato, who had taken the train and walked a bit, arrived at the gate of Toyonozaki Academy.
He was waiting for the news that the Dark Wings had been sent out earlier to bring back.
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