"Hey, lazybones, wake up!"
Someone rang the doorbell and called out from outside.
Izumi Chihiro knew who it was as soon as he heard the voice.
Everyone had agreed to meet somewhere in Akihabara, so today, only he and Eriri were going that way.
"Coming so early, it seems Eriri, you're unusually excited."
He opened the door and also scrutinized her.
Since it was a comic convention, as a celebrity at school, Eriri would naturally choose to disguise herself. Because it was winter, she simply added a few layers, put on a bulky coat, along with a hat and black-rimmed glasses, trying her best to hide her features.
Although, upon closer inspection, with her fair skin, she was undeniably a beauty.
"...Still the same old routine."
He sighed.
"Hmph, you're talking without understanding! If someone saw me at a comic convention, rumors would definitely fly when I returned after the break. Everyone would surely poke me in the back and say, 'I never thought that Sawamura was that kind of person!'"
"I don't worry about that."
"You don't have a personal image!"
...
Just as the two were chatting.
Mashiro and Sagiri also walked over.
Sagiri was dressed normally for a middle school student in winter, while Mashiro had made a slight disguise, just like Eriri, using a low hat and glasses to obscure her stunning features. However, it made Mashiro look even more artistic.
"See? Shiina has the same consideration."
Eriri showed a look of agreement.
"No, that's my idea. Mashiro wouldn't consider that."
Izumi Chihiro shook his head.
"I'm worried that Mashiro's identity might be recognized, not only will she be surrounded for autographs, but she might even end up in the news, and then this anime convention won't be able to continue..."
His concern was very likely to happen.
"..."
Eriri was speechless.
This reason was much more Versailles than hers.
"Let's talk on the way; don't keep them waiting any longer."
Izumi Chihiro glanced at the time on his phone.
"Let's go, Ni-san."
Sagiri affectionately pulled his arm, her small face excited.
She had always been interested in anime conventions, and this time she could finally witness one firsthand, which would finally satisfy her desires!
"You guys wait for me!"
Eriri quickly followed them.
Along the way, Mashiro looked at Eriri's face, wondering what she was thinking.
As soon as they stepped out of Akihabara Station.
"Is this Akihabara? The holy land of the two-dimensional world?"
Mashiro asked.
She had seen descriptions of Akihabara many times in various works and had a slight understanding of the information.
In her opinion, to understand manga, especially to complete her own manga, this was an unavoidable hurdle, because part of μ's (Muse)'s plot would involve it.
Therefore, she was here for research this time.
"That's right, Mashiro, you can pay more attention to the environment here; it will be useful when you draw manga in the future."
Izumi Chihiro reminded her.
"Mm."
Mashiro nodded.
Eriri turned her head to look but didn't say much.
Before long, the group arrived at the gathering spot.
There, Umaru Doma and several otaku friends from Chiba had already arrived.
"Chihiro and Nayuta...!"
Kousaka Kirino, who was arguing with Gokou Ruri about something, immediately put aside their conflict and welcomed everyone.
Gokou Ruri and Makishima Saori also greeted them.
Shortly after their arrival, Kani Nayuta also came.
"Senpai~! Good morning! Please give me an energetic charging hug!"
She completely disregarded the strange looks around her, shouting loudly and rushing over as if casting everything aside.
"Here, no! Nayuta Onee-san."
Sagiri spread her hands, blocking her way.
"Eh, why!"
Kani Nayuta feigned confusion.
"It's just not allowed, period."
Sagiri said sternly.
"You're jealous, Sagiri is really a bro-con."
Kani Nayuta teased, "But you don't need to react so strongly; you'll get used to it... after Nayuta marries Senpai."
Eriri's expression was momentarily hard to describe.
Hearing that instantly made her blood pressure rise! She's trying to poach him right in front of me? Does she really think I, his 'unbreakable' childhood friend, don't exist?!
Among the Chiba trio, even Kousaka Kirino, who usually liked to talk, didn't speak; they all had expressions of watching a good show.
Only Mashiro was still confused about the situation.
"Stop chattering, we're not here for this today."
Eriri said with a dark face.
"That kind of talk, it's not even close to happening!"
Sagiri also said indignantly.
"I know, I know."
Kani Nayuta knew to quit while she was ahead, gave Senpai a knowing look, and chose to back off.
"It's still early, everyone can explore to their heart's content; it'll be troublesome if it gets crowded later."
Izumi Chihiro said.
This was a conclusion he had drawn from his many experiences attending anime conventions.
Anyway, what they cared about was whether they could find their favorite works while browsing the convention; as for the atmosphere, with so many people present, there was no lack of so-called atmosphere.
Then, everyone followed their usual custom and sequence to browse this anime convention.
"So this is what it feels like; seeing it in person is really different from seeing it in anime!"
Looking at the bustling stalls, Sagiri exclaimed.
"By the way, was it like this when Eriri Onee-san sold her doujinshi before?"
She suddenly thought of this question.
"Ugh."
Eriri choked, almost falling.
Why bring up what's best left unsaid?!
"What exactly is a doujinshi? I've seen this word in some works, but there's never been a detailed explanation."
Mashiro looked puzzled.
The others were trying to suppress their laughter, watching Eriri's embarrassed expression.
'I can't show weakness in front of my rival!'
'But, this kind of thing is really too embarrassing to talk about.'
Eriri covered her face with both hands.
She never expected that the career she once prided herself on would now become a dark past.
"Actually… it's nothing, it's just a type of manga."
Eriri lifted her head, maintaining her composure.
"It's manga? Then I want to see a doujinshi too."
Mashiro's eyes instantly lit up.
"This…"
Eriri hesitated, clearly in a difficult position.
She was afraid that if she spoke, and Mashiro miraculously became interested, then it would truly be "criminal"! She would be nailed to the pillar of shame in the art world!
"Pfft…"
The others were barely holding back their wild laughter, covering their mouths.
If a master oil painter turning into a manga artist had a considerable sense of incongruity, then becoming a doujinshi artist could be said to be bizarre.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter