Another chance encounter on the way home, Izumi Chihiro remembered his promise to Nayuta, so he told his childhood friend.
"Heh, isn't that your little lover you kindly rescued? What does that have to do with me? It's utterly baffling."
Eriri looked at him disdainfully.
Although it was through the influence of the Sawamura, the person she asked for help was her mother, so it really had little to do with her.
She disdained such 'kindness'.
"What do you mean 'little lover'? Eriri, your way of speaking is truly baffling."
Izumi Chihiro glanced at her.
"You care so much about that girl, you're still in contact with her, and she's supposedly especially cute. She'd be perfect as a little lover, right? Wait..."
Eriri was speaking when she suddenly had an idea, her eyes widened, "A pure love doujin like this seems to have a lot of potential!"
A girl suffering from school bullying, a boy tirelessly helps her, then the girl falls in love at first sight, never forgetting him for the rest of her life...
No, no!
A doujin like that isn't exciting enough!
It would be best to add a new female character who snatches the boy away through physical practice... That's it!
Hmm? Have I seen this somewhere before?
Eriri suddenly frowned.
That's right, it's white album!
No wonder it's so heartbreaking and stimulating...
"Eriri, I think your mind is filled with dirty thoughts! Can't interactions between a man and a woman be more normal? Can't it just be a normal friendship?"
Chihiro scoffed.
"No!"
Eriri's tone was firm.
"How can there be a normal friendship between a man and a woman? Don't be ridiculous! Unless they're both ugly and don't find each other attractive…"
She started laughing as she spoke.
"Then what's the relationship between me and Eriri? An impure friendship? Or are you saying Eriri is too ugly?"
Chihiro raised his eyebrows and smiled playfully.
"Uh, we're childhood friends, so it's normal for us to be close. How can that be compared to other people?!"
Eriri gritted her teeth and retorted.
In short, the relationship between childhood friends was a universal explanation.
Since that was the case, he could only resort to his final trump card.
"Eriri, are you really not going to meet her? After all, she's Nayuta. Aren't you going to talk to her about the story in silver season in person?"
Chihiro said slowly, his tone laced with temptation.
"…"
Hearing this, Eriri's expression immediately changed.
She remembered that her childhood friend had mentioned to her before that the poor junior she had helped was Kani Nayuta, who was now a rising star in the light novel world!
She fell into deep struggle.
For a full two seconds!
"That's true. Since she wants to see me so much, I'll reluctantly agree. Anyway, I have more free time recently."
Eriri's gaze drifted to the side.
Then, Chihiro gave her Nayuta's contact information.
"By the way, aren't you coming along?"
Eriri sent a friend request message, then suddenly looked up and said.
"Hmm? Didn't Nayuta ask to meet you?"
Chihiro looked puzzled.
"Baka!"
Eriri said grumpily.
Without you as a middleman, how awkward would it be for us to meet!
"Oh, right. Okay, you two set a time, and I'll go too."
Chihiro quickly reacted.
The next day, both Kani Nayuta and Eriri sent her a message, saying they would meet at a coffee shop.
So, after school, the two went together.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nayuta. Thank you very much for your previous help to Sawamura."
Kani Nayuta bowed very politely.
But her tone was unnaturally stiff, and even her way of addressing her indicated this.
Eriri didn't mind. After all, their current relationship was that of strangers, and she didn't care about the so-called favor, so she just nodded slightly in response.
"It's nothing, actually, it has nothing to do with me. Chihiro asked Kasan, and I only found out about this later…"
Of course, if she had been there, she might not have been able to help as 'diligently' as Chihiro, but she could certainly reprimand the other party and make them not dare to offend again.
Such people were also those she deeply disliked.
Even if it meant tearing off that layer of disguise, she wouldn't hesitate.
"Anyway, thank you."
Kani Nayuta said again.
Their conversation suddenly fell silent.
"Sigh…"
Chihiro sighed softly.
Since he wanted to understand the other person, why hide it so much?
So he had an idea and said, "By the way, Eriri, didn't you say before? Your love for silver season surpasses my work…"
Eriri looked confused.
When did I ever say such a thing!
Although from the public's perspective, this judgment was correct, and she would even say it verbally…
"Nayuta, do you know? Actually, don't let Eriri's appearance as a young lady fool you, but she is a very experienced otaku. She also has another name—Kashiwagi Eri!"
Chihiro then looked at the other girl.
"Eh! Kashiwagi Eri-sensei! I see… I understand!"
Kani Nayuta looked surprised.
During this time, while she was catching up on otaku culture knowledge and following senior works, she also learned a lot about 'Izumi Masamune'.
So, she also understood Kashiwagi Eri's initial help to her senior.
Now it seemed, if they were childhood friends, then everything made sense.
"Wait, how did you tell her that too?!"
Eriri's expression immediately became anxious.
This is top-secret information!
"Everyone, let's be open and honest. This is too unfair, don't you think, Eriri?"
Izumi Chihiro said as a matter of course.
"You…!"
Eriri was fuming.
"Sawamura… I'd like to talk to you alone, if that's okay?"
Kani Nayuta suddenly stood up.
"This… of course."
Eriri hesitated for a moment before replying.
"Senior, please!"
Kani Nayuta clasped her hands together.
"I know."
Izumi Chihiro walked further inside, giving them space to talk privately.
Bored, he opened a webpage.
Because the fifth volume was about to be released, everyone was speculating based on the partial information that had been revealed.
The fifth volume had a title that hit the nail on the head: puella magi madoka magica.
This wasn't surprising; after all, by the fourth volume, Mami Tomoe, Sayaka, and Sakura Kyoko had all finished their arcs, and Homura Akemi's backstory had been clearly explained. The focus of the story should naturally shift to the ordinary protagonist, Madoka.
It was time for her to become a magical girl, bringing the story to an end!
But, unexpectedly…
This volume wasn't the final one?