Eriri: I think I get it now…
Every little thing he did screamed "I like you."
But the words? Way too formal. Way too distant.
This was… the legendary tsundere, wasn't it?
A satisfied smirk curled the corners of Eriri's lips.
"Umu, I'm so smart."
Tap.
A finger landed lightly on her forehead.
Eriri jerked back, clutching the spot and glaring up at Yukima Azuma, who was already pulling his hand away.
"I got the feeling you were thinking something rude," he said calmly. "So I had to tap you."
"You're supposed to warn me first! Or better yet—don't tap me at all!"
She bared her tiny fangs like an annoyed kitten, trying to look threatening.
Eriri_is_super_aggressive.jpg
Azuma didn't even blink.
Of course he knew what she was thinking.
A tsundere accusing someone else of being a tsundere… classic.
The truth was, Yukima Azuma wasn't being distant.
He was taming her.
Getting back together with Eriri wasn't hard.
Not really.
The flower that symbolized Sawamura Spencer Eriri was the lily—pure love, dignity, and a harmonious soul.
Once she fell for someone, her feelings never wavered.
That was just how she was.
She might act prickly on the outside, but all she really needed was a little coaxing.
Still, just picking up where they left off wouldn't solve anything.
They'd broken up for a reason.
If nothing changed, they'd just fall into the same cycle again—and this time, there might not be a third chance.
So Azuma had a better idea:
Train her.
Tame her.
Level up the tsundere.
Eriri needed to be more than just reactive.
She needed to learn how to pursue love instead of just waiting for it.
And to do that?
He had to master the art of push and pull.
A little sweet.
A little distant.
Just enough tension to keep her heart fluttering—but never enough to let her give up.
"Mmph—nom nom—where'd you go to high school?" she mumbled through a mouthful of food.
"Finish chewing before you talk."
"Where'd you go to high school?"
"Toyosaki Private."
Eriri froze.
Then her eyes sparkled.
Toyosaki Private!?
That was her school.
Which meant…
After spring break—they'd be going to school together!
Even better, Toyosaki didn't sort students into classes based on grades.
Which meant…
"There's a chance we'll be in the same class!" she thought, her heart soaring.
It would be just like old times.
…Well, minus the part where she blew everything up.
If the school did divide by performance, they'd never be in the same class.
Her Japanese Lit was average. Math was worse.
And her English—
Her English was an absolute disaster.
Being half-British and still bombing English class?
The irony physically hurt.
Meanwhile, Azuma had been acing both math and English since elementary school.
His Japanese Lit had been weak once, but now he was scoring in the top percentile.
The perks of being a reincarnator.
With a master's degree in his last life, redoing middle and high school was basically a vacation.
By the time they finished dinner, night had fallen.
They walked together to the station under the streetlights.
Eriri stole a glance at him.
Back when we were dating… he lived near my place.
But then, one day, he just moved.
To this day, she still didn't know where.
But since they were on the same train, it couldn't hurt to ask, right?
"Hey, where do you get off?"
"Shibuya."
"…Oh."
It was about ten kilometers away from her neighborhood.
Far, but still in the same direction.
Not too bad.
When the train arrived, it was already packed with people.
No seats. Just standing room—and barely that.
Eriri was 158 cm tall.
She could just reach the handrails if she stretched, but holding that pose for more than ten minutes?
Agony.
Twenty minutes in, her arms and legs were already trembling.
Then the train suddenly jerked forward.
"Ah—!"
She lost her balance.
If she fell, it'd be mortifying—especially if she landed in some random stranger's lap.
But before that could happen—
Strong arms caught her.
One wrapped around her waist. The other steadied her shoulder.
Warmth spread from the point of contact, making her freeze up for a different reason.
This feeling… I know it. It's been so long.
"H-Hey. Your hand…"
Her voice was barely a whisper. Her cheeks were already red.
Azuma didn't say anything. He simply guided her into the corner of the train car—out of the way of the crowd.
Now she was nestled in a space framed by his arm and the wall.
To stay balanced, she had no choice but to hold onto his sleeve.
It's like a protective cage. Except… I don't mind being trapped in it.
"I've been wondering," Azuma said casually. "What does 'hey' even mean? Isn't that kind of rude?"
He flicked her forehead again.
"Ah! Stop doing that!"
She scowled and rubbed the sore spot.
But inside, she was melting.
Then she remembered his question.
How should I call him…?
She wanted to go back to calling him "Azuma."
Like she used to.
Something warmer. More intimate.
But he kept calling her "Sawamura-san."
And every time he did, it made her mad.
She wanted to get even.
So she tried something neutral.
"Yukima-kun… is that okay?"
She peeked up at him, searching for any reaction.
A flicker of disappointment. A hint of surprise.
Anything.
But Azuma didn't even blink.
Just calm, composed… unreadable.
Eriri's heart sank a little.
Doesn't he care?
Then—
Jolt.
The train shook again, and she stumbled—this time leaning directly into his arm.
His arm was still pressed to the wall, unmoving.
Now, she was boxed in again—his arm and the wall forming a private, safe space.
She could feel his warmth. His calm breathing. The strength in his body.
It was all too much.
Too comforting.
Wait… is he the tsundere?