After finishing English listening practice in the morning and reviewing Sengoku history, Aki Tomoya planned to relax during lunchtime, perhaps by drinking a glass of milk, ordering takeout, and taking a nap after eating.
But just as he went downstairs and entered the living room, he found that someone else had intruded into the house, which greatly surprised Aki Tomoya.
This unannounced guest was none other than his childhood friend, Eriri.
It was too strange that she came over on a Sunday. Did she climb in through the window?
"As you can see, I'm taking refuge!"
Eriri pushed up her glasses and said with quite an imposing air.
Aki Tomoya still admired her for being able to say the word 'refuge' with such presence.
But what did rushing a manuscript have to do with taking refuge?
"Calling someone else's house a refuge, you really have the nerve to say that. What kind of monster or beast made you run to my humble abode for refuge? I'm very curious."
Aki Tomoya glanced at the rough draft Eriri was working on the coffee table. It was a bit surprising to him that she was still so busy after the doujinshi convention.
What else was this girl busy with lately?
"Oh right, how did you get in? Through the window?"
At this moment, Aki Tomoya casually asked how the other person had gotten in.
And when she had arrived.
Eriri put down the paintbrush in her hand, and while tidying up the things on the coffee table, she said in a helpless tone, "It was when your aunt went out. I told her not to call you. You're still studying on Sunday, right?"
She answered the second question first.
When she arrived on her bicycle, Aki Tomoya's Mother had just left. Originally, the latter wanted to inform Aki Tomoya.
But Eriri stopped her later. She was just here to take refuge, and she didn't want to disturb Aki Tomoya.
Thinking back to Mrs. Aki's subtle look at the time, Eriri felt nothing in her heart, and even wanted to laugh.
"And then what? This pile of manuscripts doesn't seem to be for a doujinshi?"
Aki Tomoya looked at the manuscripts on the table; they didn't seem to be for a doujinshi either.
Was this girl going mainstream?
Was she not doing this kind of work that benefited humanity anymore?
But going mainstream was fine too.
"I must say, you're really forgetful! You've forgotten about the collaboration with Kasumigaoka!"
Eriri sighed.
It seemed that anything unrelated to Aki Tomoya himself, he couldn't remember anymore.
But it was fine. He could focus on studying for the exam, get into Tokyo University the year after next, and they could celebrate together then.
"Oh!"
Aki Tomoya suddenly remembered this matter.
At this moment, he instantly understood why Eriri had run here to take refuge.
"I'll just use the living room, don't mind me."
If she was just using the living room to work on her manuscript, she probably wouldn't disturb Aki Tomoya.
But honestly, Eriri wasn't sure if Kasumigaoka Utaha would come here to look for her.
"After school started, Kasumigaoka completely showed her fangs. She came up with so many settings for the new book, I don't know how she thought of them. She rejected so many of my character designs and made me draw so much stuff. It's so hard, we might as well just make a game!"
Eriri couldn't help but complain again at this moment.
Collaborating with someone who was equally excellent and also much more assertive than her had this disadvantage.
Because it was easy to be led by the nose, and she also had that pride in her heart, being told she wasn't good still affected her mood quite a bit.
Otherwise, Eriri wouldn't have hidden here on a Sunday.
"But you're really amazing, being able to handle Kasumigaoka. Whenever it's about you, that girl keeps her distance."
In her interactions with Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri had also noticed some things that weren't quite right.
She couldn't quite describe exactly how, but since the summer Fireworks Display, that girl's eyes often showed reluctance.
Eriri was actually quite curious about what this so-called differential treatment was, but she wasn't foolish enough to step on any mines; drawing properly was better than anything else.
"Suit yourself, I'm going upstairs."
If the other person wanted to use the living room, so be it; it wouldn't disturb him anyway.
Aki Tomoya went to the kitchen, poured a glass of milk, and then went upstairs.
One was studying in the room upstairs, and the other was drawing in the living room downstairs, each busy with their own affairs.
After Aki Tomoya read in his room for a while, perhaps because he had drunk milk, he felt a little sleepy.
Taking off his glasses, he planned to lie down on the bed for a short rest and also took a look at his schedule for the day.
"I'll prepare for classical Japanese reading in the afternoon..."
After confirming, Aki Tomoya set his alarm and went to bed, planning to rest for an hour.
However, when he lay down on the bed, he suddenly felt as if he had forgotten something.
However, once he closed his eyes, Aki Tomoya found it difficult to recall.
Eriri downstairs was still racking her brain over the drafts and had no time to think about anything else.
Half an hour later, Eriri's muttering could be heard in the living room.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, I'll draw this woman based on your face!"
As if to vent her anger, Eriri picked up a draft and doodled a couple of strokes.
Then, as she drew, she felt it looked a bit good, and she immediately became unhappy.
To get revenge, she should draw that person as an ugly monster!
Thinking this, Eriri planned to revise a couple of strokes, but just then, the doorbell rang.
Ding dong—
"Ah!"
Eriri, who was about to do something bad, turned her head towards the entrance with a guilty conscience.
Who could be visiting at this time?
Eriri swallowed a bit, hesitating whether to open the door or call Aki Tomoya down to let him decide.
Ding dong, ding dong—
Probably because there was no response for a long time, the person outside rang the doorbell again, which made Eriri even more flustered.
Her eyes widened, her expression was incredibly stiff, and at this moment, countless possibilities appeared in her mind!
Schrodinger's door!
"If I don't open the door, the situation outside the door will always remain ambiguous!"
Setting aside whether there was a problem with this statement, while Eriri was struggling internally, the person outside was a bit anxious.
With a ding dong, the doorbell rang again, and then it stopped.
Everything returned to calm, and an ineffable silence eerily permeated around Eriri.
Eriri at this moment, as if praying for something, walked out of the living room, her eyes fixed on the door at the entrance.
"Did they... leave?"
She muttered to herself, her face still showing a hint of panic.
Ding dong—
The doorbell rang again, and Eriri trembled all over like a startled cat.
"Is anyone home?"
A soft female voice came from outside the door, causing Eriri to let out a long sigh of relief.
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