[author]
I know my pacing is slow—and honestly, I prefer it that way. I really enjoy writing more interactions between the heroine and MC, but I'm not sure if readers find them funny or enjoyable. Please vote and let me know what you think!
Poll is here
www.scribblehub.com/read/ 1899289-leading-this-cute-heroine-party-to-save-the-world/chapter/ 1931953/
Also… this chapter turned out longer than I expected. I just couldn't help myself, ahahaha…
[/author]
"Hm… turning historical and legendary figures into cute girls, then making them fight in a battle royale between Masters and Servants…" Eriri muttered as her eyes darted across the page. "It sounds crazy when you say it out loud."
"Yeah, it does sound ridiculous," I admitted with a small laugh, leaning back in my seat. "But that's exactly why people love it. The story pulls you in so hard that you forget how absurd the premise is. I still remember staying up all night reading that visual novel back in my world… I literally couldn't stop until I reached the end." I smiled faintly, lost in the memory.
"Unfortunately, I never finished the gacha games," I added with a shrug. "I stopped and came back multiple times. Guess I didn't have the patience for endless rerolls and limited banners."
Eriri chuckled softly. "Heh, sounds like you really lived that gacha life." She rested her chin on her palm, still flipping through the pages.
"Well… I rarely see something like this. It's unique, I'll give you that. But the real strength here is the story, right? Can you really write something that good? Because honestly," she took a sip of the soda I ordered and poked a French fry with her fork, "I can't write stories at all. Drawing? Sure. Writing? Not a chance."
I grinned, leaning forward slightly. "That's true. I might know the story, but it's not like I can remember every single line of it. And honestly, I'm not some kind of professional writer either. I've only written web novels and short stories back in my world—posted them online for fun, never once stepped into the professional scene." I let out a small laugh.
"So even if I have the concept and the structure in my head, I can't say I'm reliable enough to handle it alone. What I really want is to see how someone else would interpret it—how another writer could bring this idea to life in their own way."
Eriri tilted her head slightly, curiosity flashing in her blue eyes. "Wait… it feels like you already have someone in mind." Her tone sharpened as the thought clicked. "Don't tell me—"
"Yeah, just like you thought!" I interrupted with a grin, snapping my fingers. "Kasumigaoka Utaha. She's perfect for this. You and Utaha—artist and writer—it's a legendary combo waiting to happen!"
Eriri groaned, covering her face with one hand. "Ugh… of course. You really had to bring her up."
"Come on, don't give me that look," I teased lightly. "You know she's talented, and her writing style fits this concept perfectly. Just imagine it—a dramatic, emotionally charged story with her writing, your art, and my ideas guiding the project. It'd be unbeatable!"
Eriri said with her pout deepening. "But… It's still her." She doesn't sound happy.
"Well, the artist—you, and soon, the writer—Utaha. Together, we'll make something amazing. And if we involve the Sawamura family's influence and Utaha's connections, we can even find voice actresses and maybe a composer. It's the perfect start!" I said with great passion.
Eriri sighed, leaning back in her seat as if surrendering to my enthusiasm. "You're way too fired up about this… I feel like there's something else behind it. I wonder what that is?" she asked suspiciously.
"Of course I am!" I replied, eyes gleaming. "We're not just making a game, Eriri. We're creating history—or at least, the otaku version of it. And seeing you and Utaha working together right in front of my eyes? Of course, I'm going wild!"
She finally chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are hopeless sometimes. So!!! That's your reasoning!! You're just bringing your own imagination from your past life into this!" Eriri said furiously, grabbing my cheek and pulling it hard.
"Hopelessly passionate," I managed to say with a grin, even as she continued to stretch my face.
But her hand suddenly stopped mid-pull, leaving my cheek slightly red. For a moment, it almost felt like we were just a normal pair of close friend—bickering, laughing, and flirting in the middle of a family restaurant. It was a strangely peaceful moment… until a familiar voice interrupted it.
"Eriri? What are you doing here?"
The voice was calm, a little surprised, yet carried that unmistakable "average protagonist" tone. I turned my head toward the entrance and nearly froze. Standing there was a young man with short black hair, black eyes, and glasses—the very picture of an ordinary student. Yet to me, he was anything but ordinary.
Tomoya Aki. The protagonist of Saekano.
And right beside him stood a girl who exuded quiet charm and soft presence—the kind of person you'd miss if you didn't pay attention. Her light brown hair was cut neatly to shoulder length, her uniform crisp, and her expression faintly blank, yet oddly warm. Megumi Kato.
The true heroine. The "winner" in that anime I watch.
"Ah—Tomoya!? And who is that!?" Eriri immediately let go of my cheek, her eyes wide with surprise. The awkward air between us shifted instantly, replaced by the tense energy of an unexpected encounter.
"Ah... No, this is... She's Megumi Kato. She's my classmate," Tomoya answered.
"Hello, my name is Megumi Kato, and yes, I am Tomoya's classmate," Megumi followed his words by introducing herself to us.
"Oh, okay... How about sitting down here... By the way, you can call me Adi. I am the new maid of the Sawamura family." I replied as I moved and invited Megumi and Tomoya to sit down, before calmly sitting down next to Eriri, while Megumi and Tomoya sat side by side in front of us.
I couldn't help but smile at the situation, though Eriri's sharp, jealous gaze practically cut through the air as she glared at the two newcomers. Her lips twitched, and her tone dripped with restrained irritation as she spoke.
"So, why are you here—with her—Megumi Kato?" Eriri asked, her words slightly trembling between anger and disbelief.
Tomoya blinked, clearly caught off guard by her tone. "Ah, well… I just wanted to talk with her about something. So, I invited her out and treated her as a thank-you," he replied honestly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Eriri froze for a second, her eyebrow twitching. "You… invited her out? So basically, that's a date, right? A date after school!" Her voice grew louder, her jealousy barely contained. "Ahahaha, and here you were—talking big about making something that would change my mind!?"
Then her expression stiffened as realization struck. "Wait… don't tell me—this is the girl you were talking about!? The one who inspired your game!?"
While those two were busy arguing—or rather, while Eriri was interrogating Tomoya like a jealous heroine straight out of a romcom anime—their voices became little more than background noise. I decided it was better to focus on something more peaceful, like the person sitting quietly across from me.
Megumi Kato, as expected, had the kind of calm presence that made the chaos around her feel distant. She wasn't the type to interrupt or draw attention—just quietly existing, observing, and occasionally giving small, polite smiles when she realized I looked at her.
"Is there anything you'd like, Megumi-san?" I asked, sliding the menu toward her with a friendly smile.
"Ah, thank you." She accepted it with both hands, her expression neutral yet somehow warm. Her eyes drifted over the pages until she paused, tilting her head slightly.
"Hmm… this cake looks good," she murmured softly, pointing at the section that featured the restaurant's signature dessert.
"Yeah, that does look good," I replied with a nod, glancing at the glossy photo beside her finger.
"But… It looks a bit pricey. I'd feel bad ordering something like that," she said with a faint, awkward smile, clearly remembering she had been told to be treated by Tomoya earlier.
"Heee… if you want that, it's fine. I can cover it up," I said with a grin. Even though I liked Eriri and Utaha more, it wasn't like I could stop myself from wanting to spoil a cute, quiet girl like her.
Before I could say anything else, my cheek was suddenly pulled hard from the side.
"Geez, what are you doing? Trying to hit on a girl while you're still on duty?" Eriri scolded me with a sharp gaze, tugging even harder.
"Ow—ow! Sorry, Eriri-ojou-sama! I just couldn't help myself after seeing her," I said quickly, my words muffled as she kept pulling.
Of course, I couldn't exactly say 'Heroine' in front of Megumi and Tomoya. Unlike Eriri, they didn't know about the "Infinite World Theory" or that the two of us were on a mission to save the world.
Megumi blinked, a little confused by our back-and-forth, but she didn't seem bothered. Instead, she smiled faintly and said, "You two really get along, huh?"
Eriri froze for a second, her face flushing slightly red before she quickly let go of my cheek. "W-we don't! He's just my—my maid!" she stammered, looking away.