Eriri was an old hand who had debuted for so many years, and the name Kashiwagi Eri was so well-known, yet now she was muttering because of a newcomer.
He placed Izumi Hashima's doujinshi in front of Eriri. It's useless for others to just talk about how good a work is; it's better for her to see for herself.
Although not comparable to the long-established Kashiwagi Eri, Aki Tomoya felt that as a newcomer, Izumi Hashima had already done quite well.
Aki Tomoya would not hesitate to praise this junior's ability.
If he doesn't praise his own junior, should he praise others?
"emmmm..."
Eriri's eyes flickered with a hint of unwillingness. Although her heart was muttering, she couldn't resist her curiosity and obediently picked up the doujinshi drawn by Izumi Hashima.
You know, she had never heard Aki Tomoya praise her book.
She would look at the work that her childhood friend praised without reservation with a critical eye.
"That senior..."
Izumi Hashima wanted to say that Eriri was strange at this time, but when the words reached her mouth, she felt it was impolite and immediately covered her small mouth.
It's not good to talk about others like that. Even if Eriri's performance is suspicious, it doesn't completely explain the problem. What if she is not feeling well...
Aki Tomoya turned his head and smiled at Izumi Hashima, then casually sold a doujinshi.
"Thank you!"
Although coming to the CM Doujin Exhibition was just sitting at the booth selling doujinshi, Aki Tomoya felt it was much better than having to wander around.
However, Aki Tomoya didn't see Hashima Iori. Aki Tomoya thought Izumi Hashima's brother would come and take a look.
That guy is definitely a sister complex in nature!
"How is it? Compared to Kashiwagi Eri's work, how did Izumi perform as a newcomer?"
Aki Tomoya saw that Eriri had almost finished flipping through it, so he asked about her thoughts after reading.
You can't read the book for free. As a senior, you should at least give some suggestions.
"Eh, Kashiwagi Eri, how can my work be compared to that Kashiwagi Eri-sensei? Senior, don't make fun of me!"
Before Eriri could speak, Izumi Hashima said with some fear and weakness.
After all, Kashiwagi Eri is an older sister who has been in the industry for a long time. How can she, a junior, compare? Comparing her own work with Kashiwagi Eri is a bit mismatched.
However, what she didn't know was that the esteemed Kashiwagi Eri was right next to her, carefully observing the doujinshi she had drawn.
"Izumi, you have to be a little more confident in your abilities. Kashiwagi Eri is not someone you can't reach."
Aki Tomoya sighed.
He said this because he truly believed that Izumi Hashima's abilities were good.
Unfortunately, Izumi Hashima, as a newcomer, still lacked some confidence.
"Then what kind of person do you think Kashiwagi Eri is, and what about her work?"
Eriri raised her head at this time and looked at Aki Tomoya unhappily.
Although she didn't know why, she was just angry!
Aki Tomoya was stunned for a moment. They were talking about his junior's work, but the topic was brought to this by the other party.
Kashiwagi Eri...
Isn't that Eriri herself!
Aki Tomoya twitched the corner of his mouth and replied without thinking, "That guy is a lot of trouble in reality, but in terms of her work, it's truly rare and valuable."
Just hearing the first half of Aki Tomoya's words, Eriri instantly had the urge to explode, but his latter sentence instantly calmed her down.
This should be considered praise, right...
Eriri felt a little more comfortable in her heart. For the sake of this praise, she pretended not to hear the rest.
Selective deafness, it was enough for Eriri to only listen to half of what was said.
"What are you grinning at?"
Aki Tomoya looked at Eriri in confusion. What was with that smug look in her eyes? You were called a lot of trouble, and you're proud of it, aren't you!
Or is it that this woman is too easy to deal with?
"Eh, I'm not smiling at all, and I'm clearly wearing a mask, so don't talk nonsense!"
Eriri covered her face in a panic, only to realize that she was wearing a mask.
Aki Tomoya, who knew that Eriri could take off with a few words of praise, remained indifferent and just wanted to complain at this moment.
If their superficial relationship had seemed a little more normal before, Aki Tomoya could have said, 'Your tsundere is quite cute.'
But every time he thought of their complicated relationship, Aki Tomoya couldn't have any fantasies about Eriri.
"Senior, do you know Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
Izumi Hashima asked at this moment. Listening to Aki Tomoya's tone just now, he seemed to be very familiar with that Kashiwagi Eri.
Eriri didn't speak, but she muttered in her heart, of course they know each other, and they've known each other for over ten years.
"I know her, she's a troublesome person. If possible, I really wish... No, it's nothing."
Aki Tomoya wanted to say, wouldn't it have been better if they hadn't met in the first place?
If they hadn't met, there wouldn't have been so many complicated things.
If it hadn't been for the incident with Eriri, he might not have misunderstood Kasumigaoka Utaha's meaning at the time.
Aki Tomoya only learned to trust others again after the spring break.
It was precisely because he never denied the past that Aki Tomoya felt regret.
Seeing Aki Tomoya hesitate to speak, Izumi Hashima seemed to have sensed something and actively changed the subject at this time: "Senior, when you get into Tokyo University, can I still come and visit you?"
"Pfft, no matter when, I should remember having you as a junior. As long as you are still willing to come and find me."
When Aki Tomoya looked at Izumi Hashima, he seemed to have completely relaxed.
He actually hoped that his relationship with Eriri was like the one with Izumi Hashima, without so many troublesome things, saying whatever they wanted, being happy and relaxed.
But the fact is, whether they can maintain a normal friendship with their childhood friend is still questionable.
After Izumi Hashima changed the topic, both Aki Tomoya and Eriri became much quieter.
Hashima Iori didn't appear until the second day after the CM Doujin Exhibition ended and after helping Izumi Hashima pack up.
"Ha ah, I was too busy. I'm sorry, Izumi, and Tomoya too. I clearly wanted to have a good chat with you today, but I still didn't have time!"
Hashima Iori had a regretful expression on his face. He had been busy with club matters and contacting industry professionals all day, and had no time to come here to take a look.
As a result, when he came after finishing his work, it was already over, and he couldn't bother Aki Tomoya anymore, and he also had to take Izumi Hashima back.
"Let's chat another time. I'll treat you to a welcome dinner then, industry professional!"
Aki Tomoya smiled.
Hashima Iori smiled without speaking, and at the same time, he glanced at Eriri without a trace, not knowing whether he had given up or not.
However, given the current atmosphere, he absolutely couldn't interfere!
"Eriri, will your aunt come to pick you up?"
After walking out of the exhibition hall with Eriri, Aki Tomoya looked at the time and asked.
The latter shook her head, it seemed no one would come to pick her up.
"Let's go to the station first."
"Okay."
The two walked in silence one after the other outside the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, with otaku friends chatting happily beside them.
After the doujin exhibition ended on the second day, there were an unusually large number of people leaving, and there were many people who came together. Aki Tomoya and Eriri were just one of them in this vast crowd.
"There are a lot of people, don't get separated. Hold onto my backpack."
Aki Tomoya reminded without looking back.
Eriri behind him hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently grabbed the strap on Aki Tomoya's backpack.
"Tomoya, can I ask you something?"
Suddenly, Eriri's voice sounded from behind. In this noisy environment, Aki Tomoya heard it clearly.
"Yes."
"Did you make up with Hashima Iori?"
When Hashima Iori came out earlier, the way they talked made Eriri feel as if she was seeing the scene from junior high school, when they first met.
The fact that they could both make up was truly unexpected for Eriri.
"It's just that we both figured things out, and I also owe that guy an apology, but unfortunately I forgot to say it, hehehehe..."
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