Tokyo: Earth Online Manga Artist.

"Forehead……"

Eri Aragaki was slightly taken aback, not expecting Ayano Sasagawa to ask about this, but she still replied, "Yes, but my manga hasn't officially started serialization yet, but it will soon..."

Sasagawa Ayano immediately asked curiously, "So, what's your pen name...?"

Eri Aragaki said, "I don't eat pears."

Sasagawa Ayano paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something.

"You're the winner of this year's Tezuka Award, right?"

She immediately smiled and said, "I watched Attack on Titan, it's so well drawn."

A slightly embarrassed Eri Aragaki said, "Um... that's me, thank you."

"Let's exchange contact information then..."

Sasakawa Ayano then made another suggestion.

"Um, okay."

Eri Aragaki nodded and said.

For some reason... she felt that Sasagawa Ayano was a little too enthusiastic after learning that she was a manga artist.

The two immediately exchanged contact information.

"See you next Monday."

Sasagawa Ayano said contentedly, "Just come directly when the time comes; I'll arrive early."

Eri Aragaki said, "Okay, see you next Monday."

Sasagawa Ayano waved and turned to leave.

As Eri Aragaki watched her retreating figure, she thought to herself, "This girl is a really nice person."

Then she turned around and walked towards the station.

As she walked, she thought to herself, "The move is finally settled."

The new apartment has three bedrooms, one living room, a studio, a bathtub, and a separate kitchen.

It's close to Erina's school and not far from Shueisha.

The rent is so reasonable.

After moving there, she will have her own studio.

Erina will have her own room by then, and their lives will only get better and better.

Once Attack on Titan becomes a hit, with the release of collected volumes, anime adaptations, and the IP becoming a massive success, countless sums of money will be flowing into her coffers.

The more she thought about it, the happier she became, and her steps became lighter.

……

Meanwhile, good news also followed.

That's the convenience store; the store manager has already found a new employee.

While convenience store jobs aren't exactly in high demand, hiring isn't too difficult.

After all, there are quite a few college students who need part-time jobs, people who haven't found a formal job and need temporary work, and otaku who just want to coast through life.

Please give me your guidance.

The newcomer, a boy who looked a little older than Eri Aragaki, wearing black-rimmed glasses, said, "My name is Hideki Miyazaki."

While still unloading goods, Eri Aragaki put them in the store, and upon hearing the name, she asked curiously, "What's your relationship with Hidetaka Miyazaki?"

"Hidetaka Miyazaki? I don't know him."

Hideki Miyazaki immediately shook his head and said, "What's wrong... is there a problem?"

"It's nothing."

Eri Aragaki waved her hand and said, "Hello, my name is Eri Aragaki... but you probably won't see me after today."

She was thinking to herself that in 2007, Hidetaka Miyazaki wasn't that famous yet. He had only made one or two games, and it would be at least four or five years before he could create the Dark Souls series, which was so hated and made him famous overnight.

"Huh? Why?"

Miyazaki Hideki seemed somewhat regretful as he spoke.

He thought he could get along well with this beautiful girl for a while, or even develop something more.

But I didn't expect this beautiful girl to say that.

"Ahem, yes, you've had a hard time these past few days, Eri."

The store manager then stepped forward, took out an envelope, and said, "This is your salary for this month. Thank you."

Eri Aragaki took the envelope and checked the contents; the store manager had even given her a little extra, since she had left before finishing her month-long job.

She knew perfectly well that this was the store manager's good intention, so she bowed slightly and said, "I also want to thank the store manager for taking care of me during this time."

"Senior, are you leaving?"

At that moment, Ayane Takeda, having just finished stocking the shelves, came over and asked with some reluctance.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

Eri Aragaki said with a grin, "I'm still in Tokyo. I'll come back to see you guys when I have time. We can hang out whenever we have free time."

Her life will become increasingly relaxed and carefree from now on, since she won't need to work several part-time jobs anymore.

As long as her career as a cartoonist continues to flourish, she will soon be able to pay off her debts and achieve financial freedom.

Moreover, the work of a cartoonist is generally not very strenuous, and given that she is a senior artist, it's unlikely that she would be busy drawing every day.

This way, she would have plenty of time to hang out with Ayane Takeda.

"All right……"

But Ayane Takeda still felt a little empty, and said.

Although Eri Aragaki felt somewhat reluctant and helpless, ... what followed was her real battle and the road to the future, and she couldn't give up.

……

June 20th arrived as scheduled.

Natsume Akane woke up as usual that day, and for her, it seemed no different from any other day.

Today, all she has to do is go to Tokyo Metropolitan University for her class as usual, then go to the convenience store at noon pretending to buy a bento box, and she can strike up a conversation with Eri Aragaki again.

During this time, she and Eri Aragaki gradually went from being strangers to becoming familiar with each other.

Despite this, Eri Aragaki still didn't recognize her.

That makes sense, though. She was so chubby and had such a low profile in middle school. Even though she lost weight in high school, she still looked completely different from her current pure and pretty self. How could Aragaki-san possibly recognize her?

But this is for the best...

It's good that they can get to know each other again this way.

As soon as Natsume Akane finally finished that boring class, she immediately took the train back to Nerima Ward.

She walked into the convenience store. The staff on duty at noon today should be Eri Aragaki and that girl named Ayane Takeda.

However, at this moment...

Welcome!

The voice was familiar yet half unfamiliar.

Natsume Akane's gentle smile froze instantly, as did the words "Aragaki-san" that were on the tip of her tongue...

She paused slightly when she saw Ayane Takeda standing in front of the counter and... a man she had never seen before.

"Natsume-san..."

As usual, Ayane Takeda smiled and spoke as soon as she saw Akane Natsume.

"Ayane...why are you the only one here today?"

Natsume Akane's face stiffened. Pretending not to care, she walked towards the bento area, but asked, "Where's Aragaki-san?"

"Senior... you've already resigned."

Ayane Takeda immediately said, "Starting today, I'll be working shifts with this new colleague."

"Is that so..."

Natsume Akane appeared outwardly expressionless, but in reality...

She turned her back and bit her lip.