The return journey was surprisingly quiet, as most participants had likely already paired off and ventured deeper into the test of courage.
For Eriri, this was a blessing. It meant she could cling unabashedly to Kanade's arm without worrying about stirring up rumors that might trouble him. Though… deep down, a small part of her wouldn't have minded if a few whispers did circulate.
"Hmm… how about we head to the lakeside? It's cooler at night, and we can take our time walking there," Eriri suggested.
"The lakeside?" Kanade echoed.
"You know, where you came after me that day…"
"Oh, that place." Kanade recalled the spot and nodded. "That's not a bad idea. There's a bench there, right? We can rest if you get tired."
"…"
Rest? Really? Eriri pouted inwardly. Couldn't he suggest something a little more romantic? But then again, she knew better than to expect Kanade to suddenly turn into Prince Charming.
The thought of him pulling out some grand romantic gesture for someone else later made her pout harder.
As they exited the event grounds, the two began to encounter other pairs—couples, to be precise—tucked away in secluded corners, exchanging whispered words and occasional tender glances.
Or, in some cases, they weren't whispering at all.
"…"
"…"
Kanade and Eriri instinctively avoided each other's gaze after catching sight of one couple who seemed to believe that sharing words alone wasn't enough—using their tongues instead to "express their feelings."
Talk about maximizing every second, Kanade thought, suppressing the urge to sigh.
As the student council president and organizer of the event, he was well aware of what some students might try. Wind Discipline members were patrolling the area, and strict warnings had been issued, but some clearly found the risk of getting caught to be… exciting.
Kanade was starting to suspect that some of these people might even see the student council as part of their play.
Meanwhile, Eriri's thoughts were simpler. If Kanade wanted to… would I pretend to resist before agreeing? Or just stay silent and let him lead?
Her face flushed, and she swallowed nervously.
To avoid further awkwardness, the two chose not to talk for a while. Yet, the deeper they went, the more they encountered similarly "occupied" pairs, the atmosphere growing increasingly heated.
Kanade eventually decided he'd had enough and turned down a side path.
"There's no end to it on the main trail," he explained, leading Eriri away. "At this rate, I won't be able to focus."
The detour did provide temporary relief—until they rounded a corner and stumbled upon yet another couple, mid-expression of love.
Kanade froze, utterly dumbfounded by their audacity. For a moment, he couldn't even process what he was seeing.
But then he heard the faintest noise from Eriri beside him—a sharp intake of breath—and realized how bad this could get.
"Don't turn around!" he blurted out, but it was too late.
Curious, Eriri followed his gaze and immediately regretted it.
Her brain short-circuited as the couple's "preparations" for their… exchange burned themselves into her mind. Her face turned bright red, and steam practically erupted from her head.
"Eriri?" Kanade called, tugging at her sleeve, but she didn't respond. Left with no choice, he grabbed her hand and hurriedly led her away.
Even after they left the scene, Eriri remained dazed, her head hung low as she stared at her feet while trailing behind Kanade.
When they finally reached their destination—a secluded lakeside bench—Kanade awkwardly broke the silence.
"Well… people sure are, uh… passionate tonight," he muttered, averting his eyes.
"…Y-yeah…"
Eriri's voice was barely audible, but at least she responded.
Kanade cleared his throat. "Let's sit for a bit. We've been walking a lot, and it'll be good to rest."
He gently guided her to the bench, where they both sat down.
This spot was special to them—this was their third time coming here together. Being so out of the way, it rarely attracted other students, making it their unofficial hideaway for… "private talks."
The first two visits had been for practical reasons, with no romantic undertones. But tonight, after the awkward encounters they'd had, neither of them could fully relax.
For Eriri, her mind was a swirling mess of thoughts, replaying everything she'd seen and imagining… possibilities. Kanade, on the other hand, had mostly recovered but found himself at a loss for how to break the heavy silence.
"…"
"…"
Finally, Kanade decided to speak up.
"How's school going? Your studies, I mean," he asked.
"…"
Eriri raised her head, her expression incredulous. Seriously?
"…It's fine. I guess."
Her nonchalant answer made Kanade raise an eyebrow.
"Just a reminder," he said, "midterms are coming up soon. Even if you fail just one subject, you'll have to come to weekend remedial classes. Don't say I didn't warn you."
He emphasized the "one" with particular weight, his tone firm.
Eriri grimaced. She knew exactly what he was talking about. Most of her grades were decent, but English… English was her Achilles' heel.
It was ironic, really. As an English-Japanese mixed-blood, she struggled with English to a degree that was downright embarrassing.
"I-I'll be fine… probably…" she mumbled, clearly unsure.
Back when Kanade had tutored her, she'd managed to avoid failing, but after rejecting his confession, she'd stopped seeking his help, and her scores had plummeted.
Wait a second… I can just ask him to tutor me again!
Eriri's eyes lit up. This was perfect—not only would she save her grades, but she'd also get to spend more time with him. A win-win!
And unlike before, she didn't have to be on guard against his advances. Now, she could focus entirely on her studies—or maybe… "accidentally" create moments for something more intimate?
After all, a secluded room, a lone boy and girl, and a desperate plea for help… wasn't this the setup for countless "interesting" stories she had drawn?
Hehehe… this is my chance. Eriri's lips curled into a mischievous smile.