Jhin: 'Eriri, I apologize if I scared you. Rest assured, I won't tell anyone about this.'
As a doujin artist who specialized in the humiliation genre, when Eriri saw the second half of Jhin's message, her mind subconsciously began to substitute in scenes from her own works.
'Be good. If you don't want anyone else to find out, you'll have to do exactly as I say!'
'Wh-what do you want from me?'
'Hmph hmph hmph, hahahaha, stolen waters are sweeter! Get over here and help this great lord suck the built-up fluid out of his Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon!'
'Guh, just kill me!'
'Heh heh, that's not for you to decide! You'll soon grow to love the job of maintaining the cannon barrel!'
'What did you do to me?!'
'If you disobey, I'll press this switch.'
'Wh-what switch is that?'
'Haven't you noticed something extra on your body?'
'To think you'd use such a despicable method!'
'I will absolutely mold you into a plushie in the shape of my Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon, hahahahaha!'
The sound of her ringtone interrupted Eriri's spiraling delusion. She shot up from her chair like a startled rabbit, nearly sending the glasses on her nose flying.
Eriri adjusted her glasses. The phone screen showed an incoming call from Jhin. She reached out to pick up the phone, only to recoil as if electrocuted by the vibration.
Wh-what should I do? Jhin-san couldn't possibly be the kind of person I'm imagining, right?
The ringing and vibrating stopped abruptly as the call automatically disconnected from being unanswered for too long. The only sound in Eriri's ears was her own heartbeat.
He won't call back again, will he?
Like the most common jump scare in a horror game, the ringtone blared again, nearly frightening the heart that had just settled back into her chest right out of her mouth.
She steeled herself, snatched the phone, and answered, 'I will not yield to you!'
'What are you talking about?' Jhin was completely confused. 'I saw you hadn't replied in a while and thought you might've been shocked, so I called. If you hadn't picked up this time, I was about to ask someone else to check on you... Amane-nee'
'Don't you dare send anyone over here!' Eriri's shout nearly blew out the phone's speaker. Her doujin drafts were still out in her bedroom; if another person found out, she'd want to die.
'Calm down first. You and Kasumigaoka-san must have heard me before, right? I found out a little about why you transferred schools through my own channels.'
Jhin's calm tone gradually soothed Eriri. She took a few more deep breaths to steady her mind. 'Yes, I heard.'
'Based on what I found out, combined with the question you asked back then, and the fact that an artist I follow, Kashiwagi Eri, has been inactive for a long time, I started to suspect you.'
'That was hardly a polite way to trick me into talking.'
'Now that you know my identity, does it feel like a world of difference compared to my outward appearance?'
Eriri gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile. Back at Toyogasaki Academy, after her identity was exposed, the most common whispers she heard were vicious attacks on her two-faced nature.
Even if she put on a defiant face, the soft heart beneath her strong exterior was still covered in scars from the rumors. Her blue eyes were like the sea before a storm, clouded by a layer of mist, losing their usual clarity.
Her eyes could no longer hold back the welling tears, which spilled from the corners and dripped onto her phone screen with a dense 'tap, tap' sound.
'Hello? Eriri? Are you crying?'
There was no reply from the other end, only the sound of raindrops in the silence.
'I'm coming over now... Amane-nee'
Jhin felt his actions had been too reckless. Not all girls were like Suou Amane and the others, capable of burying their past blood and tears deep in their hearts.
In the end, he had been too hasty.
Jhin had his Stand, The World, attach to his body and made it to Mihama Academy in less than five minutes. After sending Eriri a message saying 'I've arrived at the school,' he took out the spare dorm key that Tachibana Chizuru had given him in his capacity as dorm head.
Jhin even used a time stop to ensure no one would notice him. He walked to Eriri's bedroom door, knocked lightly a few times, and then used the spare key to unlock the door.
'Jhin-san,' Eriri's voice was nasal, and her eyes were as red as a rabbit's.
She had changed into her school uniform, tied up her hair, and was sitting on her chair. The drafts and drawing tools had been put away. She deliberately used the back of the chair to shield herself, watching Jhin warily. 'You know, I can call the police for this.'
'I'm sorry. I was worried you might do something foolish, so I used the dorm head's spare key.'
'What foolish thing could I do? The worst-case scenario is just transferring schools again.'
'I told you, I'll keep your secret.'
'So, what's the price?'
'There is no price. I was in the wrong this time, but I had no intention of hurting you.'
Based on Eriri's impression of Jhin so far, that statement had some credibility, but she still didn't let down her guard. 'Why did you want to find out my hidden identity?'
'If there was someone around you who you suspected was your favorite author or artist, wouldn't you want to investigate and find out for sure?'
'Well... true.' That was how Eriri had gotten to know Kasumigaoka Utaha, after all.
'I felt the same way, though my method was a bit crude and brought back bad memories for you. I'm sorry about that.' As Jhin spoke, he lifted the paper bag in his hand. 'This is my apology.'
'What is it?'
'Three boxes of cream puffs.'
'Did you make them yourself?'
'I don't think anyone can make cream puffs in five minutes, can they?'
'Put them on the floor in the middle of the room first.'
Jhin did as he was told.
'Was that friend of yours also fake?'
'Yeah...'
'Don't tell me your girlfriend was also won over with lies?'
'How could that be possible?' Jhin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm worried you're traumatized, and you still have the mind to care about my love life?
Eriri's gaze was fixed on Jhin. She slowly moved out from behind the chair, quickly grabbed the bag of cream puffs, and retreated to her 'safe fortress.' 'What are your thoughts on me being a doujin artist?'
Jhin carefully observed Eriri's expression and said tentatively, 'Uh... more, please?'
'Seriously?'
'Seriously.'
Their eyes met. Jhin's were filled with sincerity; his love for lewd things was not fake in the slightest.
'Alright, you pass.'
With that, Eriri finally stood up from behind the chair. Her right hand, which had been behind her back the whole time, was holding a blue, crackling...
...anti-pervert taser.
Good grief. If I'd answered that wrong, were you planning to tase me unconscious and dump my body in Tokyo Bay?
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