Kanade Natsukawa felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Though he had explained everything to the best of his ability, Eriri's reaction didn't exactly scream "relief." In fact, her face was so expressive it was almost overwhelming—first wide-eyed disbelief, then deep internal conflict, and finally a mix of frustration and annoyance.
Just as Kanade thought it was all over, she delivered a masterclass in facial micro-expressions. Her lips twitched, and she slowly, deliberately muttered, "I… see… Aha… hahaha…"
"…"
She's broken.
Kanade's internal alarm bells were ringing.
It wasn't just the lack of sparkle in her eyes—though the darkening evening didn't help—but the clear signs that Eriri was teetering on the edge of an emotional meltdown.
Kanade quietly got to his feet, trying to act as casual as possible.
"Taking a break really helped. Thanks for the massage, Eriri," he said, carefully avoiding any mention of the lap pillow.
In his mind, Eriri's exaggerated reaction had everything to do with her identity as a doujin artist. Clearly, her imagination had spiraled into some ahem inappropriate territory. When he revealed the truth, her thin skin couldn't handle the immense shame, resulting in… this.
Bringing up the lap pillow would only add fuel to the fire, possibly pushing her into an even bigger explosion.
Kanade had put a lot of thought into this—he felt like he had her thought process down pat:
Eriri felt dismissed by "Is that it?"Her inner "Eriri Kashiwagi" activated, spinning elaborate scenarios.Eriri spiraled into self-pity and frustration as the "Little Golden Retriever."
There might have been other triggers, but Kanade didn't care about those. What mattered was getting things back on track.
"Can you stand? Let me help you up," he offered kindly.
A simple act of assistance shouldn't be more intimate than the lap pillow… right?
After all, after spending so much time around people like Mahiru and Kaguya, Kanade had grown accustomed to casual physical interactions. As long as no romantic feelings were involved, wasn't this just normal behavior?
Though, he had to admit, there were times when thoughts crossed his mind. But he always kept them in check. No way was he letting his brain play second fiddle to anything else.
Not waiting for a response, Kanade gently took Eriri's arm and helped her up.
"Ah, thanks…" Eriri murmured reflexively.
Her emotions were still a tangled mess, but when she noticed Kanade's hand firmly holding hers without any intention of letting go, her cheeks began to warm.
Gulp.
Turning her head away to hide her expression, her heart started racing unnaturally.
Of course, it could've just been because her earlier emotional turmoil had slowed her heart rate, and now it was returning to normal…
Yeah, that's it! she reassured herself. I'm not some pushover who gets all flustered just from holding hands. At the very least, it should be… interlocking fingers!
Glancing briefly at their joined hands and then sneaking a peek at Kanade, she saw that he seemed entirely focused on finding their way. Taking a deep breath, she wiggled her fingers slightly and nudged her hand closer to his.
Interlocking fingers? Too bold! she thought. Kanade was holding on so tightly—if she moved too much, he might think she didn't want to hold hands.
Not that I have to hold hands or anything! Don't get the wrong idea! she added internally. It's just that if he's being so proactive, I should respond, right? After all, holding hands is a mutual thing. If only one side holds tight, it's bound to slip away eventually…
Guh-hehe…
Lost in her thoughts again, Eriri completely forgot that Kanade had already held her hand earlier when they met.
Of course, at that time, Kanade had no romantic intentions—he was merely following the rules of the Test of Courage: participants had to stay physically connected at all times.
Kanade, meanwhile, had no time to worry about Eriri's mental state anymore. Once he confirmed she was reasonably calm, he shifted his focus to planning their route.
Time was running out in the Test of Courage, and Kanade had a packed schedule. He'd already spent half the event helping Kaguya complete the game while carrying her injured form on his back. Now, he needed to guide Eriri through the game efficiently before heading off to meet Mahiru.
Though Mahiru was as angelic as her reputation suggested and always understanding, showing up at the very end of the event would surely upset her. Kanade wanted to make the most of the remaining time for Eriri while ensuring Mahiru wouldn't be kept waiting too long.
Thankfully, his first run had been a learning experience. Kanade had memorized the game's challenges, the locations of items, and even the layout of the rooms. With this knowledge, they could streamline the experience—like speedrunning a game to get a refund before the trial period ended.
It might not be the most enjoyable way to play, but at least it was efficient.
"We need to walk for about ten minutes to reach the first checkpoint," Kanade explained. "If you get tired along the way, let me know. Don't push yourself."
If he remembered correctly, the first checkpoint involved an emotion-testing game featuring that goofy "Octopus Leader" mascot. It wasn't complicated—just some role-playing. The main challenge was the long, empty road leading there, which could feel stiflingly eerie.
Knowing Eriri's aversion to spooky atmospheres, Kanade figured he'd give her a heads-up to mentally prepare.
"Okay, got it," Eriri replied softly with a nod.
Though inwardly, she was already pouting. What's that supposed to mean? Sure, I don't go out much, but it's not like a measly ten-minute walk will defeat me! Kanade underestimates me too much!
Determined to prove herself, Eriri resolved to perform exceptionally this time.
After all, I've grown too!