Tokyo: Earth Online Manga Artist.

Chapter 93 Observers

"Yes, we're preparing dinner."

Eri Aragaki added, "Ayano, you probably haven't eaten yet either, have you? —"

She suddenly stopped speaking halfway through her sentence.

What is she doing? Isn't that implying that she wants us to stay for dinner? This damned subconscious politeness and courtesy.

She mentally berated herself, but the words were already out in her mouth—

"Yes, I haven't eaten yet, but there's no need for that."

Sasakawa Ayano replied, "I have to go home for dinner later. My family is waiting for me. My mother told me that when I left."

Eri Aragaki breathed a sigh of relief, and the smile on her face returned to normal. "Then I'll have to trouble you to come all this way, Ayano. Actually, you could have just sent me a message."

Not only her, but Natsume Akane, who was standing to the side, also breathed a sigh of relief.

She put the water glass back on the coffee table and leaned back into the sofa cushions. The possibility that Sasagawa Ayano had agreed to stay for dinner made her inexplicably tense up.

But just as they breathed a sigh of relief, Ayano Sasakawa said, "However, I have a request—"

Eri Aragaki asked instinctively, "What kind of unreasonable request—"

1

Sasakawa Ayano pointed to the open door of the studio, her curiosity in her eyes undisguised, "Can I go in and take a look at what I think is your art studio?"

U

She seemed afraid that Aragaki Eri would worry that she would cause trouble in the studio, so she quickly raised her hand and shook it, waving her palm seriously at Aragaki Eri twice. "Don't worry, I won't touch your things, I'm just going in to take a look."

I've always been curious about what famous cartoonists' studios are like; I'd only ever seen them in magazine interview photos before.

Eri Aragaki thought for a while.

The studio is currently filled with the giant artwork that hasn't been put away this week.

She wasn't worried about Ayano Sasakawa peeking at the plot; after all, the Attack on Titan content was going to be published in magazines, and the whole world would be able to see it in a few days.

"Okay, as long as you don't mess with the drawings in my studio."

Eri Aragaki agreed.

The Giants' drafts for this week are still lying unpacked on the studio table. They usually finish them one by one and then put them into file folders. So as long as it's not animation drafts, everything is fine.

"Okay, then please lead the way for me, Eri."

Sasakawa Ayano tactfully let Aragaki Eri lead the way, then stood up from the sofa and followed behind.

"it is good."

Eri Aragaki pushed open the half-closed door of the studio and let Ayano Sasagawa in.

Sasagawa Ayano stood at the door and looked inside for a while, her gaze sweeping from the worktable on the left to the shelf on the right, past the concept sketches on the wall and the JUMP cover, before finally landing on the few pages of artwork spread out on the table.

Her expression was excited, like a tourist who had entered the backstage area of ​​a museum.

Then Sasagawa Ayano really just looked around. She put her hands behind her back, bent over and approached the worktable, but her hands never touched anything.

However, she sometimes carefully examines the week's comic book drafts on the table—

About ten minutes later, she came out and said, "Okay, thank you for your hospitality. I'm leaving now."

"Okay, Ayano, see you next time."

Eri Aragaki didn't mince words this time and spoke directly.

"Okay, see you next time."

Sasagawa Ayano smiled sweetly and said.

Then she walked towards the entrance.

But as she reached the entrance, she seemed to remember something, took her phone out of her coat pocket, and said, "By the way, Eri, let's exchange contact information."

"Uh... okay."

Eri Aragaki also took out her phone from her coat pocket. The two exchanged phone numbers and email addresses, saved them, and then exchanged a few more polite words in the entryway.

But this time it's clearly different from the last one.

Last time, Ayano Sasakawa was probably only a little curious because of Eri Aragaki's identity as a manga artist.

When signing the rental agreement, I casually asked for her pen name, confirmed that she was a winner of the Handcraft Award, and then said, "I look forward to your serialization," and that was the end of it.

At that time, Eri Aragaki was just a newcomer manga artist. Attack on Titan had not yet started serialization, and she was not famous. She was just an ordinary passerby on the street.

So Sasagawa Ayano was only slightly curious, and that was the end of it. The two had almost no contact for the next six months after signing the contract.

However, while Attack on Titan isn't a huge hit, it has gained some recognition.

Sasagawa Ayano is also a fan of Attack on Titan, but this time it's different from last time.

She clearly wanted to continue her close relationship with Eri Aragaki, and this visit was probably not only to deliver a message and ask for an autograph, but also to actively try to get closer to her.

"Goodbye."

Sasagawa Ayano changed into her beige ankle boots, picked up the paper bag containing the autographed volumes, waved to Aragaki Eri from the entryway, nodded to Natsume Akane and Takeda Ayane in the living room, and then quietly closed the door and left.

The sound of her ankle boots clicking on the floor echoed down the hallway, growing fainter and fainter.

Eri Aragaki closed the door, turned around, and walked back to the living room.

Natsume Akane, Takeda Ayane, and Erina all looked up at her from their respective positions, their faces filled with curiosity.

Erina said, "Sis, that Sasagawa-san looks so elegant and beautiful—though she's not quite as pretty as you."

Ayane Takeda chimed in, "Yeah, senpai, isn't she one of those rich girls you see on TV?"

Natsume Akane leaned back on the sofa armrest without speaking, but her gaze was also waiting for Aragaki Eri's reply.

"Probably, after all, her father does business with the Republic, and it's international business."

Eri Aragaki also said, "She told me that her father, Nobunari Sasakawa, is currently in Shanghai discussing projects with partners."

"Wow??? That's amazing!"

Ayane Takeda sighed even more and said.

"Alright, now I'll go prepare the rest of the green pepper beef and bean sprouts, let's get ready to eat."

Then Eri Aragaki stood up, clapped her hands, and said, "If the green pepper beef isn't marinated soon, the meat will dry out."

"Alright, alright! Time to eat!"

Ayane Takeda immediately shifted her attention from Ayano Sasagawa to the food.

She put her apron back on and went back to the kitchen to turn on the stove.

Half an hour later, all the dishes were served on the table.

When the steamed pork bones with fermented black beans were taken out of the steamer, the bones were already tender and soft, and the salty aroma of the fermented black beans had permeated every layer of meat. The broth in the plate was still bubbling.

The curry chicken simmered in a whole pot, the broth thick and golden in color, and when you picked up the chicken pieces with chopsticks, the curry dripped down the edges.

The four sat down around the dining table, which was laden with dishes.

Erina distributed the chopsticks to everyone. Ayane Takeda put her hands together, held up the chopsticks, and stared at the plate of steamed pork bones with fermented black beans, her eyes shining. Akane Natsume also picked up her chopsticks and straightened the bowl.

The four of them raised their chopsticks together and said in unison, "Let's start eating."

""