Why couldn't his childhood friend be like Izumi Hashima?
Aki Tomoya felt that if he spent any more time with Eriri, he might just achieve nirvana.
Caring about her a little and she's already unhappy?
Damn it!
He wasn't kidding, wrapped up tightly on a hot day, with her hat pulled down so low and her mask so secure, did she want to become a furnace?
There were hundreds of thousands of people at the CM Doujin Exhibition, and every hall was packed with people. With so many people, and in August, it would be strange if they didn't get stupidly hot.
To put it bluntly, Aki Tomoya felt anxious just looking at Eriri.
Since Eriri wasn't willing to listen, Aki Tomoya stopped talking and quietly led her to Izumi Hashima's booth.
"Senior!!!"
Izumi Hashima waved and shouted from afar.
Looking at the Junior running over with her skirt swaying, Aki Tomoya instantly felt much cooler.
Compared to Eriri, Izumi Hashima looked like she was dressed normally.
Her light blue skirt swayed, instantly curing Aki Tomoya in the scorching summer heat.
This is normal attire!
Looking at Eriri next to him again, Aki Tomoya sighed inwardly.
The childhood friend in his imagination, the childhood friend in reality, sigh...
"Yo, Izumi."
A smile appeared on Aki Tomoya's face. It was so good to have a Junior who didn't cause him trouble.
"Eh, who is this?"
Izumi Hashima also noticed Eriri beside Aki Tomoya at this moment.
Wearing thick black-rimmed glasses, a beret, and suspender jeans, plus a jacket draped over her shoulders and a mask on her face, Izumi Hashima's gaze carried a hint of strangeness.
The temperature inside the exhibition hall was gradually turning into a large steamer as the number of people increased.
Would the person who came with Aki Tomoya really not faint from the heat?
To be able to endure like this at this moment, she had to admire Eriri.
"Sawamura Eriri, well, we went to the same elementary school. Do you still remember her, Izumi?"
"I think I have some impression..."
After introducing Eriri to her, Izumi Hashima thought back a little.
However, looking at Eriri dressed like this in front of her, she still couldn't understand.
"Well, it's been so long, it's normal not to remember. She's my friend, and she's also here to have fun today."
Aki Tomoya added, telling Izumi Hashima to just treat Eriri as someone who came to the CM Doujin Exhibition to have fun.
"H-hello, Sawamura Senior... Aren't you hot?"
Izumi Hashima greeted Eriri somewhat awkwardly. To be honest, in this weather, Eriri's outfit, even if she didn't want to attract attention, was already quite eye-catching.
Eriri's forehead was already covered in sweat, but at this moment, facing her Junior, Izumi Hashima, she had to pretend to be tough and replied, "No problem, I'm fine!"
Hearing this, Aki Tomoya almost laughed.
He had already seen Eriri's red forehead. She would have a hard time soon.
"It's about to start, let me help."
Aki Tomoya didn't bother with Eriri; if she wanted to glow and radiate heat, she could continue.
Arriving at Izumi Hashima's booth, the number of people in the exhibition hall also slowly increased.
"Thank you so much for coming today, Senior. You've been studying hard recently, haven't you?"
After seeing Aki Tomoya's schedule on the day she invited him, Izumi Hashima also knew how Aki Tomoya had arranged his summer vacation.
To be honest, the dense handwriting truly surprised her.
Although Aki Tomoya himself said he had scheduled rest time, it still made her a little worried.
"No, I should be thanking you. It's thanks to you that I can relax properly for a day."
Aki Tomoya shook his head and smiled. His schedule was indeed quite tight, and it was good to relax a bit.
He had been doing tutoring recently, so it was also good to relax his mind occasionally.
Looking at the two who were already chatting, Eriri felt that she had been excluded without realizing it.
Although she was invited by Aki Tomoya, there was nothing for her to do now.
She had no opportunity to join their conversation.
Moreover, it was getting hotter and hotter...
Eriri's forehead was getting redder, and she felt like she was in a large furnace.
She had thought about being a bit low-key, but it seemed she had overdone it.
She had been looking forward to this CM Doujin Exhibition at first, but now she was suffering for it...
"Take off your jacket."
Aki Tomoya suddenly turned his head and said.
Noticing that Eriri's eyes were starting to look hazy, he also knew that this girl probably couldn't hold on for much longer.
If this continued, she would really suffer from heatstroke.
Eriri puffed out her cheeks, but at this moment, she had to obey what Aki Tomoya said and take off the jacket she was wearing.
After taking off her jacket, she instantly felt much more relieved and let out a sigh of relief.
Just as she was about to take this opportunity to exchange a few casual words with Aki Tomoya, she turned her head and found that he had started chatting with Izumi Hashima again.
After that, Aki Tomoya was either helping out or talking about other things with Izumi Hashima when he had free time.
Could he have so much to talk about with a Junior he hadn't seen in years?
Aki Tomoya's interaction with Izumi Hashima was much more than with her, his childhood friend.
However, what could she say at this moment?
Eriri leaned on the table, thinking somewhat dejectedly.
"Only twelve copies sold, but the drawings are so good..."
Aki Tomoya looked at the stack of doujinshi still remaining on the table. Unlike Eriri, Izumi Hashima didn't draw anything restricted.
However, after Aki Tomoya read it, he personally felt it was a good work, but unfortunately, Izumi Hashima had just debuted and didn't have the same popularity as Eriri.
"No, no, I'm already very satisfied. Being able to see so many like-minded people here, fellow fans of anime and manga, and sharing my story with everyone, I'm quite satisfied!"
Izumi Hashima didn't feel disappointed.
It was her first time exhibiting her work, and she didn't print too many copies. Being able to sell about half was already her best expectation.
"But it's a shame that such a good work couldn't be completely sold out..."
Flipping through Izumi Hashima's doujinshi, Aki Tomoya sighed.
This is how it is for newcomers who just debut. Even if they have good ideas, they can't sell them without popularity, because no one knows who this person is.
"Is it really that good...?"
Eriri wrinkled her nose and muttered softly as she looked at the doujinshi placed in front of her while lying on the table.
She hadn't read Izumi Hashima's doujinshi yet, she only heard Aki Tomoya talking enthusiastically about it.
She didn't know if he was just being comforting or if Aki Tomoya really affirmed Izumi Hashima's ability, but Eriri had already developed a desire to take a look.
"Confirm it with your own eyes."
Aki Tomoya looked over, and his gaze made Eriri want to dig a hole and crawl into it.
She really didn't expect that Aki Tomoya could hear her muttering just now.
I want to die...
And Aki Tomoya was suppressing a laugh. How did Eriri's muttering just now sound so sour?
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