My bad, i fell asleep.
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"Yukinoshita-senpai, Yuigahama-senpai, you go in first, chat for a bit, and I will be back soon."
Iroha turned her back to Chisato and the three others waiting at the apartment door, waving gently at the two seniors.
Yukino nodded slightly and walked into the house with Yui.
"Yukino-chan, is everything okay with Iroha? I have a bad feeling."
As soon as the door closed, Yui spoke hurriedly, her worried expression causing the smile she had just forced to vanish in an instant.
"Isshiki-san doesn't look like she was forced, so it should be fine."
Yukino didn't appear worried and walked into the kitchen carrying the purchased ingredients.
Yui hurriedly followed her, but this answer did not calm her nerves.
"It's not that I'm worried about her personal safety. Yukino-chan, didn't you notice there were two other girls beside the boy just now?"
"Their relationship seems very strange, no matter how you look at it."
"Isshiki-san doesn't want us to know her relationship with that boy, so it's pointless for us to make random guesses."
"Instead of worrying about things beyond our control, we should focus on what we need to do and wait for Isshiki-san to come back."
"Maybe she'll take the initiative to share some details."
"Hey! Is that really possible?"
Looking at Yui, who suddenly seemed excited, Yukino sighed silently.
"I'm telling you, you're just being nosy about other people's affairs."
"Hehe~"
…
Then, only four people remained in the hallway.
Iroha turned around. She was not the type to lack social awareness; in fact, when she walked out of the supermarket, she had already noticed that the two girls around Chisato seemed to have a special relationship with him.
Especially the girl with long black hair, whose vigilant and protective gaze was easy to interpret.
Either she has a major crush on Chisato, or she is his girlfriend now.
I kind of hope it's the former; then I'll still have a chance...
No, no! What are you thinking? The most important thing right now is to figure out what happened to me, not to act like a fool!
Iroha shook her head slightly, her eyes shifting from unfocused to determined.
"No matter what happens, please come in first and we'll talk later."
It was awkward for Chisato to carry items with both hands, so Eriri opened the door. She walked in first and then turned around to invite Iroha in.
Iroha bowed her head cautiously and stepped forward.
Compared to the girl with long black hair, the girl with blonde hair always seemed more approachable and easier to get along with.
After everyone entered the room, Chisato placed the items he was carrying on the dining table.
He glanced at Iroha, who was obviously a little nervous, and then coughed lightly as if his throat were uncomfortable.
Eriri immediately understood and quickly held Utaha's arm.
"We'll go back to the room first; you can chat at your leisure."
After saying that, she couldn't help but drag Utaha toward the room. As the door opened and closed, only Chisato and Iroha remained in the living room.
Finally alone, Iroha could calm down a little and take a more careful look at the protagonist who had appeared in her dreams.
The brother who had become unfortunate because of her fault, yet was always strong and gentle, had finally emerged from the gloom; he was also her irreplaceable love for the rest of her life.
"Let's go to the living room and talk."
"Okay."
The two of them sat down on the sofa.
Chisato, like Iroha, had many questions he wanted answered at this moment, but just as he was about to speak, the door burst open.
Utaha strode out and headed straight for the kitchen. Behind her, Eriri followed, her expression eager.
In the middle, she turned to face the living room with an apologetic smile.
Chisato slowly covered his face.
It seemed that the two had some differences of opinion just now. He had previously stated that it was a mistake to go home and chat.
He should have let them leave first and made plans to meet Iroha at a nearby coffee shop.
I hope there won't be any further disputes.
But what is there to be afraid of?
Utaha quickly emerged from the kitchen, wearing a seemingly dignified smile that was entirely different from the resentful demeanor she had shown before.
She placed two cups of hot tea she had just brewed on the coffee table and sat very close to Chisato.
"Chisato, you two talk first; I'm going to cook."
She leaned over again and looked at Iroha.
"Please don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything."
"Ah, thank you for your hard work."
Iroha followed her mentor's etiquette and bowed politely.
Utaha's expression darkened for a moment as she lowered her head slightly, only to brighten like a spring breeze the moment she raised it.
She had finished showing what she needed to express.
After seeing Eriri bring in the cut apples, she withdrew her right hand from Chisato's thigh, got up, and walked back with Eriri to the room.
Now it was certain that there should be no more trouble for the time being.
However, after her interruption, Chisato found it hard to continue. The words that had been brewing in his heart for so long were now all jumbled.
Forget it; sometimes, overthinking isn't good. Just get straight to the point.
Ask yourself the questions that matter most.
"How do you know my name... and why do you call me 'brother'?"
Chisato understood that Iroha must have been influenced by the evil simulator, but the purpose of this question was to clarify how she had been affected.
Just like Utaha Eriri, she was experiencing him simultaneously from a first-person perspective in a dream.
Is it like playing a character as a "second player," like Hitori, making certain choices behind the scenes?
To some extent, it feels like they are working together to complete a certain game process.
It would be impossible for Chisato to disclose the actual situation on his side to anyone.
Instead, he could only act first and inquire about Iroha's specific situation to better contemplate what advice he should give in the future.
It's a rather strategic approach, but from a self-interested perspective, it's understandable.
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25+ advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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