First, they welcomed their first milestone, which was Winter Comiket.
The people were still the same group, so the arrangements were prepared to be as before.
However, there was an interlude in between.
Saori Bajeena: Everyone, I am planning to host a tea party, and I hope everyone can have an offline gathering to get to know each other more deeply! It would be great if everyone could actively participate…
The otaku friend group aimed to make friends. If it was just online chatting, then their understanding of each other would definitely be one-sided, and their interpersonal relationships would not change from before. Therefore, Makishima Saori, as the group leader, promoted this plan.
Otaku girls in reality are easily ostracized. Everyone could understand the group leader's idea, but otaku girls are otaku girls. Although they longed for friendship, meeting online friends still brought social anxiety. So, out of the more than two hundred people in the group, plus geographical restrictions, only ten people were prepared to participate in the gathering.
"This is good too; it won't be too chaotic."
Makishima Saori comforted herself in her heart.
She could only hope that there would be opportunities to grow in the future.
Kousaka Kirino had always longed to meet more otaku friends and discuss topics that wouldn't normally come up, so she agreed very quickly.
Gokou Ruri originally didn't plan to go, as she already had several high-quality friends, but at Makishima Saori's request, she reluctantly agreed.
Since the agreed meeting place was in Akihabara, it wouldn't waste her time.
"After all, it's meeting strangers, and going alone is a bit…"
After her initial excitement, Kousaka Kirino cooled down, and suddenly, a person came to her mind.
"Annoying, you're actually making me go to some gathering with you, I'm very busy!"
Kurusu Kanako's impatient voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Kanako, didn't you say before that you were planning to save money to buy an outfit? I'll pay for it!"
Kousaka Kirino said firmly and generously.
"When are we going? You can call me anytime."
Kurusu Kanako immediately adopted a serious tone.
This is the charm of money!
After agreeing on the time and place, the two arrived in Akihabara together.
This was a rather novel experience for both of them.
"Akihabara, I'm here!"
Kousaka Kirino cheered, raising her arm.
Although she had long known about Akihabara as a sacred place for two-dimensional culture, this was her first time setting foot on this land, and she couldn't suppress her excitement.
Seeing the surprised looks around them,
Kurusu Kanako quickly pulled Kirino away.
"Let's go to the gathering place first."
She didn't want to be stared at like an idiot.
…
On the other side, after shopping with others for a morning, Gokou Ruri was also preparing to attend the gathering.
"You guys go ahead and shop, it should take at least half an hour, but I'll come find you then."
She turned her head and said.
"Senior, Eriri, let's go take a look too, there's nowhere else to go anyway."
Kani Nayuta asked curiously.
"Going there again? That place with terrible value for money."
Eriri pouted.
"Then let's just take a look."
Izumi Chihiro complied with Nayuta's idea.
The group once again arrived at that thriving maid cafe.
In a corner of the hall, at the agreed-upon spot, several otaku girls from the otaku group were already waiting.
The three chose to stay in the corner, observing secretly, while Gokou Ruri joined their ranks.
At this gathering, Kousaka Kirino was like someone with social anxiety, barely speaking a few words.
Her glamorous attire was also quite out of place.
Kurusu Kanako, on the other hand, was ostracized for being too arrogant.
Gokou Ruri did chat with others for a few sentences, but she also seemed rather cold, making it easy for people to lose patience in communicating with her.
"Well, it failed, huh? Looking at her, she's just the type of person who can't make friends."
Eriri said sarcastically from the side.
"It's okay, even if it fails, doesn't Black Cat still have us as friends?"
Kani Nayuta said optimistically.
"Don't count me in, she's not worthy of being my friend."
Eriri muttered.
"Eriri, how can you talk about others? You wouldn't think you have many friends, would you?"
Hearing this, Izumi Chihiro glanced at her, routinely suppressing his childhood friend's arrogance.
"I… I certainly have many friends! People at Shimamura Middle School who want to be my friend could fill the entire sports field!"
Eriri said without any guilt.
"Do those even count as friends? If so, the nickname 'Shimamura Middle School's Lady' wouldn't be so famous! That means a lot of people are laughing at you."
His words hit the blonde girl's soft spot.
"Ah, I told you, don't bring up that embarrassing nickname again! You want a beating, Chihiro!"
Eriri glared fiercely, looking as if she wanted to fight him to the death.
"Why are you two arguing?"
Gokou Ruri walked over, looking strange.
As soon as she appeared, Eriri's hatred shifted.
"Black Cat, you definitely didn't make any friends, your popularity is really bad."
She said with certainty, seeking some kind of superiority.
"Why force such things? If they're not friends worth having, then having more is useless. Friends should be beings who can understand each other."
Gokou Ruri answered seriously.
This statement made Eriri's expression fluctuate between red and white.
This sentence perfectly corresponded to the previous one.
"What's wrong with her?"
Seeing Eriri suddenly fall silent, Gokou Ruri was a little puzzled.
"Nothing, she probably just thought of something sad."
Izumi Chihiro answered for her.
Their mental states are truly different now!
Embarking on a professional path had indeed made Gokou Ruri much more mature than before.
"Then let's leave."
Gokou Ruri suggested.
"Wait, wait for me to finish eating! It's a special omurice, very expensive!"
Eriri lowered her head, turning her sorrow and indignation into appetite.
The others secretly smiled, so they weren't in a hurry to leave either.
"Black Cat, there's something I'd like to discuss with you... You are Black Cat's friends, aren't you?"
Makishima Saori approached them.
Everyone nodded, then introduced themselves to each other.
"Kani Nayuta?"
Makishima Saori noted the name.
At the same time, Kousaka Kirino received a message.
"Hmm? Second gathering? That stinky cat is there? Oh, right, she was inside just now, I almost forgot to cause her trouble!"
Her dejected eyes immediately flared with a fiery intensity.
Turn around, go back!
"Wait for me, Kirino."
Kurusu Kanako quickly chased after her.
After Kousaka Kirino returned, the group moved to a smaller private room that could accommodate more people for their subsequent chat.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter