This Isn't How Things Are in the Nooks and Crannies, Forest

Higashino Makoto stood at the door of Nia's house, watching her take out her keys and open the door.

The door opened, and a stench of paper, ink, and fast food wafted out.

He went inside, stepped on something, looked down and saw an open comic magazine with the cover facing up, depicting a girl dressed as a magical girl.

Several cardboard boxes were piled up in the entryway, filled with books.

The walls on both sides of the corridor are covered with all kinds of posters, from Sailor Moon to mecha robots, there's something for everyone.

He followed Nia into the living room, where he was greeted by a landscape covered with cartoon sketches.

There were piles of them on the table, stacks on the floor, scattered on the sofa, and even a few on the windowsill.

Various painting tools were scattered in various corners, like fragments randomly falling to the ground after being bombed.

A half-eaten cup of noodles sat on a pile of books; the noodles had dried out and were stuck to the inside of the cup.

Higashino Makoto stood there, looking around, with a sense of déjà vu.

Before the time travel, his own room looked similar to this.

"How is it? Doesn't it have a great artistic atmosphere?"

Nia spread her arms and spun around in place, her gray hair drawing a circle in the air, the hem of her shirt fluttering up and revealing a section of her waist.

She didn't care, or rather, she didn't care at all.

"Please make yourself at home, don't be shy. Just move the manuscript on the sofa."

Higashino Makoto moved the manuscript from the sofa to the coffee table and sat down.

The sofa sank in, and the springs creaked.

Nia dragged a chair over and sat down in front of him, then pulled out a stack of blank manuscript paper and a pencil from the table and stuffed them into his hand.

"Come on, I'll teach you. Let's start here, draw the background. It doesn't need to be too detailed, just an outline will do."

She opened a reference book and pointed to a picture of a street.

"For example, when you draw this, the lines don't need to be too straight; a slight tilt actually gives it a hand-drawn feel."

Higashino Makoto looked at the pencil in his hand, then at the blank manuscript paper in front of him.

Is it going to be this difficult right from the start?

Normally, newcomers should be doing simple tasks like helping with blacking out areas, right?

"You draw, I'll just watch."

"Oh? That won't do! You have to draw it yourself!"

Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment, then put down his pencil.

"That's too much trouble, I'll just take care of it for you."

Nia blinked.

"Done? How did you do that?!"

She didn't finish her sentence because Higashino Makoto snapped his fingers.

A pale golden light gathered at his fingertips, and then he raised his hand, revealing a flintlock pistol in his palm.

The gun was silver-white, engraved with clock patterns. He pointed the muzzle at Nia.

Nia's eyes widened, and she leaned back, almost tipping the chair over.

"Wait, wait, wait! Why are you pointing a gun at me?! Even if I refuse to draw, does that warrant killing me to silence me?!"

"Don't move."

Higashino Makoto pulled the trigger.

A gunshot rang out, and the bullet struck Nia in the chest.

It wasn't live ammunition; there was no blood, no wounds.

The bullets transformed into countless pale golden specks of light, enveloping her entire body.

After the light faded, Nia was still sitting in the chair, completely unharmed.

But there was someone else with her.

Same gray hair, same white shirt, same black skirt, same face, same figure.

Two Nia, exactly the same.

They looked at each other, blinked simultaneously, tilted their heads at the same time, and spoke simultaneously.

"Well?"

"Well?"

Nia jumped up from the chair, pointing at her other self, her fingers trembling.

"Who are you?!"

"I am you."

You are not me! I am who I am!

Nia opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.

She turned her head and looked at Higashino Makoto.

What did you do to me?

"The Het. It was originally Kurumi's ability, meant for creating clones, but I used it on you."

Nia looks at her other self, and that other self looks at her too.

The two were silent for a moment, then sighed simultaneously, slumped into their chairs, and rested their foreheads on their hands.

"You want her to help me with the artwork?"

"Um."

"Then why don't you just conjure up the manuscript directly? Creating a clone is too much trouble!"

"Sorry, I didn't learn such useless magic."

Nia lay sprawled on the table, her gray hair scattered across the manuscript paper like a crumpled pile of gray silk.

The other Nia was also lying on the table, in the exact same posture, like a reflection in a mirror.

"That's not how it is in Ga La Ge Mu Li."

Her voice was muffled, coming from between her arms.

"You should work hard with me to learn how to draw comics, showing your clumsy and vulnerable side. I'll show my reliable and gentle side and teach you. We'll work together to complete the comic, hug each other happily, and then you'll confess to me, and I'll unlock new storylines."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

"You rascal, is it because you've read too many novels, or played too many games?"

Nia raised her head from the table, looking at him with a hint of resentment.

"You don't understand, this is romance."

"That's a routine."

"Routine is the crystallization of romance."

The two Nia stood up from their chairs at the same time and walked to Higashino Makoto, one on the left and one on the right, sandwiching him between them.

Four gray eyes stared at him, and four hands simultaneously grabbed the hem of his clothes.

"How can you treat a beautiful young girl's tender heart like this? Shouldn't you have something to say about it?"

Higashino Makoto thought for a moment, suppressing a laugh and adopting a serious expression.

I like you, let's unlock new storylines together.

"No one would agree to that, unless..."

Higashino Makoto was prepared to be rejected, but he didn't expect a twist, so he asked.

"... unless?"

Nia's eyes lit up, like two light bulbs that had been turned on.

Both of them stood on tiptoe at the same time, bringing their faces close to his.

"Unless you beg me."

Higashino Makoto's lips twitched slightly.

That's it?

"Please, I beg you."

Listening to Higashino Makoto's emotionless voice, the two felt like they were about to explode with anger.

"You person--"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

She loosened her grip on his shirt, took a step back, lowered her head, and let her gray hair fall down, obscuring her face.

The other one also let go and stepped back behind her.

"Fine, what can I do? I owe you my life."

Her voice was very soft.

"Besides, I don't dislike you."

She looked up at him, her gray eyes meeting his.

"Consider it a thank you for saving the world and saving me."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

"So?"

"So, I've decided to give it away for free!"

She spread her arms wide, her face showing a "what the heck" expression.

Higashino Makoto remained silent for a moment.

"You said it yourself."

Higashino Makoto reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Nia's lips curled up slightly as she leaned against his chest and closed her eyes.

The other Nia stood to the side, tilting his head as he looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips.