Ryosuke glanced at Eriri, signaling her with his eyes to go check the situation.
At that moment, it was as if Eriri had suddenly had an epiphany. Miraculously, she understood Ryosuke's silent hint.
She crawled forward and patted Yamada's hand, swearing with conviction: "Yamada-sensei, no matter what happens, as long as you go out first according to the plan, I'll draw you some illustrations afterward."
Yamada looked up at her words.
Their eyes met—Yamada's like a pitiful little puppy, Eriri's sincere and unwavering. She murmured softly, "Really? You can't lie to me, okay?"
Eriri pressed down her artist cap and nodded firmly.
Illustrations by Eri Kashiwagi had become Yamada's idealized "white moonlight" in her heart.
Summoning rare courage, she crawled out from under the table, stood, brushed off the dust, and took a deep breath.
In a tone of generous sacrifice, she addressed Ryosuke seriously: "Alright, I'll take the lead this time. Consider it me helping you, Ryosuke. In the future, if I ever face difficulties, you'll help me too."
Ryosuke clenched his right hand into a fist and lightly tapped his chest twice, swearing to Yamada: "Don't worry, Yamada-sensei. If you ever face difficulties, I'll do everything I can to help you."
Inside the hall.
With Yamada and Mori having set off, only Eriri remained standing in place, dazed.
"Not feeling well? If you don't want to go, it's fine—I can do it myself," Ryosuke said, thinking Eriri might be hesitant about the plan.
Eriri shook her head, then, with a mix of hesitation, confusion, and slight anxiety, asked: "Ryosuke… you really don't mind me drawing illustrations for Yamada?"
Ryosuke gave a faint smile. Eriri's thoughts were simple and easily revealed through her expressions.
He asked in return: "Why would you think that? Do you feel that drawing a few illustrations for Yamada-sensei is a betrayal of me?"
Caught off guard, Eriri didn't deny it. She lowered her head quietly.
Ryosuke reached over the brim of her cap, gently touched her head, and spoke softly: "Lily… do you remember the sunflowers?"
"Nozaki-senpai once told me: to become a top-tier artist, never forget the heart that loves drawing."
"People who act in unison are collaborators or colleagues. Those who truly share your heart are partners. Real partners have no limits of distance."
"I don't understand drawing, so our methods differ, our paths diverge, but our goal is the same. That is the meaning of being partners. Don't forget—you're not alone."
"You want to become a top artist, and I want to see the future you bloom in the art world in the most beautiful way."
Eriri lowered her head, recalling the past.
For countless days and nights, she had wandered alone in a cold world.
Every time darkness fell, the boy named Ryosuke would repeatedly bring light into her life.
That warm light slowly made her dependent on it.
Her body relaxed, and the confusion and hesitation on her face gradually disappeared.
"Talking like this at a moment like this… so sly, you idiot Ryosuke," she thought.
Finally, she lifted her head, smiling at Ryosuke, showing her small white fangs.
"I'll go then, Ryosuke." With that, she jogged off.
"Lily is such a child… never fully honest. I hope you'll take good care of her from now on~" Sayuri Sawamura hid the lower half of her face behind a fan, her eyes curved with a smile.
She now realized just how important this boy was in her daughter's heart.
Even she, as her mother, had rarely seen Eriri like this.
...
An hour later.
Sayuri and Ryosuke were selling doujinshi at the booth.
But they quickly noticed a serious problem.
There was too much stock remaining. At the current pace, it couldn't all be sold.
Their circle had little fame, and in previous years, they never printed this many copies.
This year, not only had they increased printing, but it was already the last day of Summer Comic.
Soon after, the two golden-haired girls returned to the booth, one after the other.
"Where's Mori? Didn't she go out first?" Ryosuke asked curiously.
Yamada glanced elsewhere, a little embarrassed. "I did send that first group out, but two more waves came later. Now I don't know where Mori is hiding."
She couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for the group, abandoned by their faith.
Then Yamada turned to Eriri, excitement in her eyes: "My new book will be ready soon. When will you draw illustrations for me?"
Before Eriri could respond, Yamada felt her shoulder being firmly grabbed, unable to move.
The sensation… could it be?
Stiff as a robot, she turned her head and saw Machida Sonoko's kind smile.
Machida held Yamada by the arm, moving her head close to whisper in her ear: "Yamada-sensei, the black room has been prepared for you. Come back with me—I'll make sure there are extra locks this time."
Yamada stared at Eriri in disbelief, her mouth agape.
Her eyes betrayed the despair she felt.
Her voice was shaky, almost hoarse: "You… betrayed me? You didn't take her out?"
Eriri was bewildered.
She had sent everyone out according to plan—how had Machida returned?
Machida Sonoko didn't make them wait long and explained everything.
Her face was sunny, but her grip on Yamada's shoulder tightened.
Speaking gently to Yamada: "I just came back to say goodbye to Teacher Ryosuke. But fate led me to meet you, Yamada-sensei~"
Then she waved to Ryosuke with a smile. "See you next time, Teacher Ryosuke."
Before dark, Yamada's eyes went black with despair.
"Isn't that Machida Sonoko? Long time no see."
A mature red-haired woman slowly approached the booth.
"Akane Kosaka? Since graduating from college, it's been a long time," Machida Sonoko replied, raising an eyebrow in the same calm tone.
Akane had only been passing by the booth and hadn't planned to stop, even seeing a former college classmate. After all, everyone had their own work and life now.
But the name spoken by Machida caught her attention.
Ryou—this year's breakout light novel rookie, possibly the future pillar of Fushikawa Bunko.
A single hit, Sword God, had dominated bestseller charts.
Another work, Four Lies, moved countless young readers to tears.
Her circle needed talent like this.
Akane's initial philosophy was simple: just get along well with like-minded creators.
When her first work was adapted into an anime, she and her team were ecstatic.
But due to publishing issues, the adaptation became a disaster, leaving her heartbroken.
Since then, her personality changed—hoarding resources, connections, and snatching talent.
Now, her goal was to gather all the best talent to create perfect works.
To prove to everyone that Akane Kosaka's works weren't trash.
Those who didn't adapt her works properly were the real industry trash.
Her wine-red eyes locked on Ryosuke.
Her red lips parted as she introduced herself: "Hello, Teacher Ryou. I am Akane Kosaka, founder of the doujin circle 'rouge en rouge.'"
Eriri and Sayuri's eyes widened in surprise.
This circle had made a big impact at last year's Winter Comic.
It was already a major circle, with potential to become top-tier.
Akane picked up a doujinshi from the booth, flipped through a few pages, and sneered: "This kind of unsellable stuff has little value, Teacher Ryou."
"Join my circle. Money, fame, future growth—you'll get everything a creator can hope for. If you agree, we can even give all profits from this Summer Comic to you."
Though an invitation, her tone brooked no refusal.
Ryosuke calmly asked: "Joining your circle will give me everything I want?"
Akane nodded confidently: "Of course."
Ryosuke asked further: "You say this stuff has no value, can't sell… but if I join, I'll gain money and fame?"
Seeing that Ryosuke seemed tempted, she patiently maintained eye contact and smiled: "Exactly."
Ryosuke nodded, voice even, betraying no emotion: "Your conditions sound good."
Then, shifting his gaze to the uninvited guest, his calm eyes turned icy.
"But… I refuse."