Chapter 145

"Promise."

The girl handed it over casually.

He took it casually and put it in his pocket.

Next, they glanced at the new games released by other clubs or companies, bought the ones they liked, and then headed to another hall with their plastic bags.

A cacophony of voices instantly filled the air.

This area, where individuals set up stalls, is much more lively.

Various doujinshi (fan-made comics), as well as a few new works by well-known artists, have become the focus of everyone's attention.

The stall displaying the name "Kashiwagi Eri" was packed with people.

"Give me a copy of the teacher's new book!"

"Don't try to take it from me!"

"Get out of the way."

The reason everyone is so enthusiastic is naturally because the author's skill level has improved.

"These guys actually have some sense."

Eriri, seeing this, instantly beamed with joy.

After browsing for a while, the two began to scan the stalls one by one. After trying out the doujinshi they liked, they bought them directly, and their plastic bags became increasingly full.

"Call..."

Stepping outside the venue, Eriri breathed in the fresh air and felt as if she had come back to life.

"The quality of this comic is very high."

She lifted the plastic bag with both hands, looking at the doujinshi inside, and felt a joy called harvest.

"It's very good."

Hasegawa Izumi also bought a whole bagful.

"By the way, Izumi, come with me somewhere first. I can only feel at ease with you there."

Just as he was about to leave, the girl called him back.

36-year-old girl, your inspiration is great!

"That's possible, but where's the stuff?"

He gestured towards the doujinshi (fan-made comics) in his hand.

"Gasang is here to handle the club's affairs; let her keep an eye on things for now."

Eriri replied.

"Sayuri Lily is here too."

His expression was somewhat strange.

Before his awakening, this aunt, who had practically watched him grow up in this world, was arguably the most troublesome person he had ever encountered.

Two minutes later.

They carried the bags to Eriri's mother.

Sawamura Sayuri wore a dark red, elegant kimono, with purplish-red eyes and black twin tails. Her appearance was almost identical to Eriri's, even down to her regrettable flaw: she looked very young. If someone didn't know them, they would mistake them for sisters standing together.

However, upon closer observation, one will find that the mother and daughter have a slightly different charm, with the mother possessing the allure of a mature woman, distinct from the naivety of a young girl.

"Oh, isn't this Izumi-chan? It's been so long! I thought you'd forgotten Eriri and that's why you stopped coming to the Sawamura family. Looks like I was worrying too much."

Sawamura Sayuri opened the folding fan in her hand, holding it to her lips, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"Sayuri, Auntie Lily."

Hasegawa Izumi ignored the teasing and offered a seemingly polite greeting, but it actually hit a nerve.

"Auntie? Am I that old? Izumi-chan, you're so mean! Please call me Sister Sayuri, okay?"

Sawamura Sayuri's eyes twitched slightly, her smiling eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of threat.

"Okay, Sayuri Lily."

He said without changing his expression.

"Call me 'sister'!"

"Auntie Sayuri Lily..."

"Call me 'sister'!"

"Auntie Sayuri Lily..."

Watching the two chat like children, Eriri, who was watching the show from the sidelines, couldn't hold back anymore.

"Gasang, stop pretending to be young! Making a high school student call you 'older sister'? You're all old enough as a person! And Izumi too, why are you acting like a child? Aren't you being ridiculous!"

She applied a 50/50 split of blame.

The chat gradually returned to normal.

"Gasang, we'll leave our things here with you and come back to pick them up in an hour or two."

As they spoke, they put down what they were holding.

"You really know how to cause trouble, Eriri... But you guys gave me these things, are you planning to continue shopping this afternoon? The popular merchandise is almost sold out."

Sawamura Sayuri, a self-proclaimed "homebody," expressed her confusion.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "Could it be an intimate date between the two of them...?"

No!

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have exposed her. It's just that my Eriri is so shy."

"I already said no... I'm just meeting up with some otaku friends I met online! I only had Izumi come along for safety reasons!"

Sawamura Sayuri immediately scoffed, giving her daughter a disdainful look, as if to say—you're really useless!

Such a wonderful start, and they don't even know how to cherish it.

If she were in charge, she would have won by now!

The two walked side by side, their steps light and easy, toward a well-known Maid Cafe nearby.

During the journey, Eriri briefly explained the matter to him.

It's actually not complicated. Eriri joined an online chat group for otaku girls and got along very well with some of them. When they talked about Summer Comic, a major event that is very rare for otaku, one of them suggested that they have a proper offline exchange, and Eriri agreed.

However, given Eriri's personality, her so-called 'friendly exchange' is probably not so simple.

That's why they invited him to take charge and bolster their confidence.

"Besides me, this is the second time I've met with the others. I'm worried they might gang up on me. I'm not afraid, but it's always good to have someone I know."

Eriri then offered her explanation.

"Is it inappropriate for a guy like me to join? Do I have to hide my identity and observe secretly?"

He asked.

"It's okay, I already asked before."

"Previously? It seems you've been plotting this for a long time!"

"Enough talk, we're here."

Eriri nudged him with her elbow and turned away.

He looked over as well.

The two stood downstairs, with a staircase leading to the second floor in front of them, and a sign above it that read "Reino Maid Cafe".

In a corner.

Three girls dressed differently and with different styles are choosing their lunch from the menu.

She has long black hair, neatly cut bangs, snow-white skin, slender and delicate eyes, and a striking beauty mark under her left eye, which is her most endearing feature. She is a Japanese-style beauty, but she gives off a rather unapproachable vibe, as if she might unleash dark magic at any moment. She is dressed in Night Demon Queen cosplay outfit.

Another girl had dyed her hair light brown, wore earrings, and had brightly painted nail polish on her long nails. She had regular features, and her fashionable outfit made her look very radiant.

And then there was the last one, the tallest girl, with a handkerchief tied around her head, wearing round glasses, and tucking the hem of her plaid long-sleeved shirt into her pants. She was carrying a large backpack with posters stuck in it, a typical otaku outfit.

After ordering the food.

"Where is that girl? Is she really scared? We're not going to eat her."

Kousaka Kirino crossed her arms and said impatiently.

"It's all because someone was threatening us in the group chat. Of course, we need to think carefully and consider our personal safety."

"Gokou Ruri sitting across from me," she said sarcastically.

"Hmph, it's just something I said online. Surely no one actually took it seriously? If that were the case, I would have already taken care of you, you wicked girl with the weird eyes. You're the one who always makes me angry the most."

"Don't assume you can take care of me just because you want to, you idiot."

The two started arguing.

Makishima Saori was used to this scene.

They argued countless times along the way.

This can be considered a shortcut to building relationships.

She said she'd be there soon.

Suddenly, Makishima Saori glanced at her phone message and looked up.

Not long after, two people came up the stairs: a handsome young man and a nerdy otaku who was trying to hide his identity, drawing their attention.

Just as they had predicted, the two glanced at their seat numbers and walked straight over.

"You're Sawamura?"

Kousaka Kirino had a rather impatient personality, spoke first.

It's me.

Eriri affirmed.

She has two accounts online: an official account called Kashiwagi Eri and a personal account that she uses regularly. Her surname is her online name.

"Hmph, you've finally arrived! You've kept us waiting for so long! You've got quite the airs!"

Kousaka Kirino immediately launched an attack.

"You must be that annoying Little Kirino!"

Eriri realized what was happening and instantly gritted her teeth.

The two had a feud, mainly because when she drew a Little Sister character in a fan-made game for the club, the other person insisted that 'Kashiwagi Eri' deviated from the original character design, which then turned into a war of words between a hater and a 'fan'.

"Annoying? Whether at school or as a cover model in magazines, I'm always among the most popular... People like you who cover themselves up so much are the ones who are annoying in real life!"

Kousaka Kirino fought back.

"Ridiculous. She's only slightly attractive and she's already so smug. A cover model, indeed. She loves showing herself off so much. Is she planning to sell herself for a good price in the future?"

Eriri, a skilled artist in the adult entertainment industry, is no pushover either. She doesn't usually reveal her true, wicked nature to others, but she immediately found an outlet for it.

The verbal sparring between the two sides quickly escalated into personal attacks.

"What two idiots."

Beside her, Gokou Ruri picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and calmly watched the two argue.

Her gaze quickly shifted to another visitor, as if she had noticed something different about him.

'This person is so special.'

'It's a feeling I can't quite describe.'

As she was scrutinizing him, the other person noticed her gaze and looked over.

At that moment, their eyes met.