How to raise a random guy's wife

If it weren't for what just happened, Eriri could have remained even more composed.

perhaps.

"You seem a bit agitated," Kobayashi Sora said with a smile. "How about we go over what happened and calm down a bit?"

"I'm very calm!"

Kobayashi Sora listened attentively, "Let's start from the very beginning, why does Eriri-san dislike me?"

"Because you took my picture!"

Kobayashi Sora took out her phone, deleted the photos, and emptied the recycle bin. "Deleted."

"So you've filmed that too!"

“There’s nothing I can do about it,” Kobayashi Sora said frankly. “If I didn’t do this, would you have listened to me? Would there have been any further communication?”

"That...that's because of what you did in the past!"

"Using one's work to enhance one's influence?"

"This is it!"

"Then we are the same, it's just that you use your own work, and I use other people's work."

Eriri retorted loudly, "That's not the case at all!"

“That’s true,” Kobayashi Sora admitted. “Your goal is to create better works, and my goal is to earn more money, so we should be on the same side.”

"Huh?" Eriri crossed her arms over her chest. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Most works that make money are good works, aren't they?"

Eriri pursed her lips together.

"Eri, have you ever had a favorite work canceled?"

"I guess every otaku has had this experience," Eriri replied irritably.

"You want to spend money to buy the work so that the author can continue, but you're afraid of giving them false hope and making them continue their useless efforts, so you don't dare to buy it. It's like wanting to touch something but then pulling your hand back... Can you understand this feeling?"

Eriri opened her lips, but couldn't say anything.

There are far too many cases like this.

As a creator, I can feel the love contained in the work more clearly. Sometimes, even if I don't like the work, I want to support it out of sympathy.

However... such sympathy is useless; on the contrary, it will give the other party the illusion that they can do it and continue to persist in futilely.

“I want to build a website to serialize the One-Punch Man story for free, attract readers, then produce collected volumes to recoup funds, attract more authors to create on the website, and repeat this process.” Kobayashi Sora looked at Eriri earnestly. “No need to submit to magazines, as long as you have internet access, you can create. I dare not say that it will help all creators, but at least it is a new path.”

Eriri truly realized that Kobayashi Sora was different from Aki Tomoya, who was just a consumerist fan. His gaze went beyond the work and saw the hard work of the people behind it. "How do you know that One-Punch Man will definitely be a success?"

"This is all I can do. I've done my best and will leave the rest to fate." Kobayashi Sora extended her hand to Eriri. "I want to give it a try. Do you want to come with me?"

"Let me tell you, I... I'm not cooperating with you!" Eriri snorted and turned her head to the side. "This is to open up a new path."

"Understood." Kobayashi Sora smiled. "Shall we pinky swear?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Is it really that good?" Leonard looked at his wife suspiciously. "Wasn't the art style supposed to be quite childish?"

“Don’t you know that you have a daughter who draws very well but whose storytelling is just so-so?” Sayuri Sawamura pinched her husband’s arm with exasperation. “Manga and doujinshi are different. The key is the ability to tell a story. Although the drawing skills are immature, the paneling is very clear. Or rather, it is surprising that such immature drawing skills can produce such excellent paneling.”

"Then why not just publish it directly, instead of giving it to Eriri?"

“Art skills, a good plot can be attractive, but wouldn’t it be better if both the plot and the art style were good?” Sawamura Sayuri earnestly advised, “That’s why Kobayashi sent the manga to Eriri, hoping she could help with a rewrite.”

"Oh! I know, it's the kind where the story and illustrations are done in a collaborative way."

“I have high hopes for that story; it has the potential to become a huge hit.”

"How to say?"

What are the current themes of serious comics?

"Friendship and hard work triumph?"

"So many stories start with ordinary people, grow little by little, gain friendships, and finally win with their bloodline."

"Your one sentence has struck a chord with so many people..."

“If we hear too many stories like this, we get tired of them,” Sawamura Sayuri said, unusually serious. “That’s why we need…”

"An unconventional work!" Leonard replied knowingly.

"One-Punch Man is such a work. The protagonist is invincible from the beginning, and his actions and plot development have a special kind of humor." Sayuri Sawamura summarized, "When clichés are rampant, it is the time for subversion of clichés to become popular."

“With Kobayashi’s story design and my daughter’s drawing skills, we can produce high-quality content while maintaining updates,” Leonard murmured, recognizing the feasibility of this collaboration. “However, judging from Eriri’s expression, she doesn’t seem to like Kobayashi very much.”

"Don't you know your daughter's temperament?"

"Ah..." Leonard realized, "So it's just that you say you hate it?"

"If she didn't have feelings for him, would she rush to change her clothes, ask him to chat alone, and even print out the comics he sent her?"

"So, there's a chance?"

“This is the first time Eriri has made an otaku friend in so many years,” Sawamura Sayuri said, her cheeks puffing out slightly. “I don’t want to end up like last time.”

Although it's somewhat unusual, both Sayuri Sawamura and Leonard love Eriri.

She was also very clear about her childhood experience of being ostracized because of her otaku lifestyle.

“This is something every otaku has to go through,” Leonard said, scratching his head. “I went through it too.”

“But at least she won’t have to go through it alone.” Sayuri Sawamura looked in the direction where Kobayashi Sora and Eriri had left. “I think Kobayashi is pretty good. She’s polite and kind, shares the same hobbies as Eriri, and they have complementary talents.”

"That's true, but what about Tomoya...?"

"Seven years and it's still the same, doesn't that already say a lot?" Sayuri Sawamura narrowed her eyes slightly. "But if Fan Lun had the same idea, would things still be like this now?"

"But...they're childhood sweethearts."

Sawamura Sayuri raised an eyebrow, her gaze gradually sharpening. "Oh? Childhood sweethearts, huh? That's wonderful. Didn't you have a childhood sweetheart in England too? How about I step aside and you two rekindle your romance?"

Chapter 28 Disappearing Outfits

Leonard's forehead was covered in sweat. "No, I've broken up with her for so long. What I mean is, don't interfere too much in the children's affairs."

“I’m not the stubborn kind of parent, I just want to help them create opportunities.” Sayuri Sawamura said with a worried look. “You know your daughter’s personality, being arrogant can ruin a life.”

"It's really a bit strange for a mother to say something like that in the real world..."

Did I say something wrong?

“That’s true.” Leonard thought for a moment. “I feel we need to think about it carefully. What if Eriri doesn’t feel the same way?”

"Are you deliberately picking a fight?" Sawamura Sayuri's eyes narrowed. "Just tell me, are you going to help or not?"

“If Eriri is interested, I’ll definitely help,” Leonard said, shrinking back. “I mean, I’ll observe her.”

"This is what you're going to peek at," Sawamura Sayuri said with a smile. "Even if you get caught, I'll still praise you."

"Eh?"

The two stealthily approached the place where Eriri and Kobayashi Sora were, observing them secretly.

Her soft little finger hooked onto Kobayashi Sora's little finger, tightening it as if she wanted to break his finger off.

"Pinky promise, pinky promise, I'll make you swallow a thousand needles if you lie~" Eriri hummed a lullaby, her face darkening. "I'll cut off your fingers one by one and give you all the pain in the world."

“This scene looks familiar,” Kobayashi Sora blinked. “Hasn’t this happened before?”

Eriri released her grip, raised her arm to grab Kobayashi Sora's collar, pulled his face close, and threatened in a low voice, "If I find out you've used my drawing skills to do something despicable, I'll... I'll..."

She kept her head down for a long time, but still couldn't figure out how to deal with him.

"How about taking a break from updating?"

“That’s right, no more updates!” Eriri suddenly looked up and noticed that Kobayashi Sora’s face was right in front of her. If viewed from other angles, it would probably look like the two of them were kissing.

"It's a deal." Kobayashi Sora took a step back to create some distance. "Then, see you later."

"Wait a moment!"

"Ok?"

"What happens next in the story..."

"It's on my computer. I'll send it to you when I get back."

"......Um."

After the two parted ways, Kobayashi Sora returned to the living room and said goodbye to Sawamura Sayuri and Leonard.

"Huh?" Leonard looked surprised. "Why so suddenly?"

"Yes, there are still some things to take care of at home."

“There’s no rush,” Sawamura Sayuri said. “Dinner is prepared at home; at least eat before you go back.”

"But......"

“This is the bare minimum of hospitality,” Leonard urged. “It’s your first time visiting your brother’s house, how can I let you go home hungry? Unless you don’t consider me your brother anymore, and you think our years of friendship don’t exist!”

It never existed in the first place...

We only met today.

"Let him go!" Eriri, who was originally planning to reappear after Kobayashi Sora left, spoke up. "He still has things to do!"

“Don’t listen to Eriri,” Leonard waved his hand, “Listen to your brother!”

"Darling?" Sayuri Sawamura's eyes narrowed dangerously. "So, you don't have to listen to me either?"

“No…” Leonard’s momentum completely vanished.

"Kong Qingjun, I'll let you off this time. Remember to come visit me!"

"I'll definitely do it next time." Kobayashi Sora managed to escape successfully.

Eriri breathed a sigh of relief; she always felt a little awkward with Kobayashi Sora at home.

Wait a minute... what did Mom mean by what she just said?