Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

The next morning, Kanade Natsukawa woke up early. His first stop was a specialty store to pick up a gift before heading to Eriri's house.

On the way, as he glanced at his phone for directions, he noticed a message from Kasumigaoka-senpai sent at 3 a.m.:

"Junior-kun, are you free this weekend?"

He wasn't. He had already promised to help Eriri finish her work, and whether it would take a day or two was uncertain. Turning down Kasumigaoka's invitation was the logical choice—he couldn't divide his time like some sort of master scheduler, and weekends were precious.

He quickly typed out a reply:

"Senpai, you should really take better care of yourself. Staying up late on weekends isn't good for your health."

Satisfied, he refocused on picking the perfect gift.

Eriri loved sweets, but he also needed something appropriate for her family. After some deliberation, he decided:

"Sakura mochi it is!"

Sakura mochi, though not Japan's national treat, carried the symbolism of the warrior's flower. It struck a balance between thoughtfulness and taste, making it an excellent choice.

Gift in hand, Kanade made his way to Eriri's residence.

Her family's home was impossible to miss, situated atop a hill in a luxurious residential area. The villa was surrounded by a spacious garden, with a striking sakura tree in full bloom despite the early summer season. Its vivid pink blossoms stood out vividly against the greenery.

"Found it," Kanade muttered, stopping in front of the gate. He glanced at his watch—8:50 a.m., ten minutes early.

Kanade always preferred to arrive ahead of time; it showed respect for the host.

"Hopefully, her mom isn't home…" he murmured.

It wasn't that he disliked seeing Eriri's mother, but Mrs. Sawamura had a habit of not-so-subtly bringing up Eriri's marriage prospects. Kanade could already imagine the awkward conversation that might ensue.

Still, what had to be done had to be done. Kanade rang the doorbell.

"Coming!"

A cheerful, familiar voice approached, and Kanade had a sinking feeling.

The door opened to reveal a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Eriri. With her twin ponytails, brown-black hair, and a graceful kimono accentuating her feminine charm, Sawamura Sayuri greeted him warmly.

"Good morning, Sawamura-san," Kanade said, plastering on a polite smile.

"My, if it isn't Kanade-kun! It's been so long. Are you here to see Eriri?"

"Yes," Kanade replied, holding out the sakura mochi. "I brought a little something as a token of thanks."

Mrs. Sawamura's eyes twinkled as she accepted the gift.

"You're always so thoughtful. Come in, come in. Make yourself comfortable in the living room while I go fetch Eriri."

Kanade stepped inside, feeling like a lamb walking into the lion's den.

Sayuri disappeared upstairs, and a moment later, he could hear muffled voices:

"Get up already!"

"Why should I?!"

"Stop calling me an idiot, you ungrateful daughter!"

Kanade chuckled softly. Still the same mother-daughter dynamic.

He glanced around the pristine living room, noticing the framed family photos and art adorning the walls. The atmosphere of the house was warm and inviting, though it only emphasized Eriri's privileged upbringing.

Soon, Sayuri returned, alone.

"Eriri's up now," she said with a smile, waving a fan elegantly. "She's just feeling a bit shy. Go ahead and head upstairs to her room, Kanade-kun."

"Huh?" Kanade blinked, confused. "Are you sure? Isn't that a bit…"

"It's fine, it's fine! Besides…" Sayuri leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Eriri can be so stubborn and hard to understand sometimes. Please, be patient with her."

Kanade nodded slowly, unsure how to respond to what felt like a maternal blessing.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her," he said, bowing.

With Sayuri's encouragement ringing in his ears, Kanade made his way to Eriri's door.

Pausing outside, he knocked gently. "Eriri, are you ready?"

"Mm-mmmph…!"

A strange sound came from the other side, followed by a loud thud-thud-crash!

"Eriri?"

No response. Kanade frowned. What's going on in there?

"...I'm coming in," he called hesitantly, turning the doorknob.

The scene inside was nothing short of chaotic. Eriri, clad in an elegant yet slightly disheveled red dress, was sprawled on the floor amidst a mess of papers, her hair a bit wild, and her face as red as her outfit.

For a moment, Kanade was too stunned to react.

"Y-you can't just barge in like that, you idiot!" Eriri shrieked, hastily trying to gather her scattered drawings while hiding her embarrassment.

"You weren't answering, so I thought—"

"Get out! At least let me clean up first!"

Kanade sighed, closing the door behind him. This is going to be a long day.