My girlfriend is Kusunoko Saiki

At this time, Eriri heard the sound of the door opening and thought that a member of the club forgot to take his things away. However, after the door opened, the person who walked in was someone she didn't know.

"Who are you? What's going on?"

Seeing two unfamiliar people suddenly come in, Ying Lili instinctively became alert.

As a stay-at-home girl, Eriri instantly imagined a short essay of almost 10,000 words in her mind, and immediately turned it into a picture.

At dusk, the terrible demon stretched out its poisonous hand to the beautiful young girl.

After learning that the girl did not return home in the evening, he did various things to her.

"Wait! Please don't let your imagination run wild! We are not that kind of people! We are just here to ask for your help!"

Naoto was stunned when he saw Eriri's strange expression.

What on earth was this guy thinking just now! Is it really necessary to be so excessive? !

"Looking for my help?"

After hearing the explanations from Naoto and Hachiman, the little dirty girl Eriri temporarily regained her composure.

..............................

"So, you are the author of the book 'Mr. Despair', the one with the penguin? I didn't expect the real person to be such a person."

When Eriri saw Hachiman's appearance at this moment, her eyes were filled with disappointment.

Before, Eriri thought that the author of Mr. Despair would be a young literary man who resents everything in the world.

In the end, the author turned out to be a dead fish eye filled with decadence.

In response to Eriri's words, Hachiman could only look at her with a forced smile.

Who can't make him refute his dead eyes and decadent aura? These are his personal characteristics after all.

"You want me to help you draw illustrations for your novel? Forget about that. After all, I'm very busy recently. I have to participate in this art award and have no time to draw illustrations."

Just as they had guessed before, Eriri rejected Hachiman's request without hesitation.

In fact, they had already guessed that Eriri would refuse this.

Eriri's family is quite wealthy, and both illustrations and fan paintings are just her personal interests and hobbies.

Therefore, the amount of salary is not something she considers.

However, they already had a backup plan.

"Eri, you haven't finished your work for the art competition yet? That's strange. As the ace of the art department, shouldn't you have finished it long ago? After all, the topic this time is simple, isn't it?"

At this moment, Naoto suddenly spoke to Eriri.

That smug expression immediately ignited a nameless anger in Yinglili's heart.

"Who the hell are you? How dare you say that?"

"Me? Yamashita Naoto."

I don't know why, but as Hachiman watched the two people talking, he suddenly had the urge to leave here.

(Xueno, I hope your method works. If it doesn’t, we’re doomed!)

Chapter 179: Poaching from Naoto

"Are you Yamashita Naoto? What are you doing here?"

At this time, Eriri looked at Naoto in front of her and looked at him carefully.

Although Naoto is a celebrity in the school, Eriri has never met Naoto in person.

Even though he looked somewhat familiar before, I didn't think of him in the same direction as Naoto.

This is why Eriri is surprised now.

"Of course, this is because we heard that the famous Eriri-san in the art department is the famous Kashiwagi Eri, so we came here to ask you to draw illustrations for Hachiman. Didn't we talk about this before?"

"Is it really that simple?"

"What other reason is there? You can't be asked to draw a book, right?"

When Eriri heard Naoto talking about the picture book, her face visibly blushed.

This matter is not easy to tell outside. You have to know that a beautiful girl is actually a book illustrator. If other people know this, her life will be ruined.

"You, how did you know I was..."

"The famous Kashiwagi Eri is not only an expert in illustrations, but is also a veteran of picture books who is as famous as Eromanga. She is an amphibious writer of comics and illustrations. If I don't know such a famous person, then you are underestimating me. After all, I am ONE."

Eriri looked at Naoto who was so confident, and a nameless anger ignited again. This arrogant guy, everyone knows that you are the strongest young manga artist now! Is it necessary to be so arrogant? He actually used the matter of the picture book to talk about it. This person is too annoying.

"If you're here to ask me to draw illustrations, forget it. As you can see, I'm preparing for an art award right now and don't have the time."

Naoto and Hachiman were not surprised by Eriri's refusal. In fact, before coming, Yukino had already guessed that Eriri would refuse this matter.

Thinking of what Yukino said before, the two of them showed expressions of surprise.

"Listen carefully, both of you. As the ace of the school's art department, Eriri will definitely reject your request for now. However, there is a chance of a change."

"Turning point? What turning point?"

"In fact, I've asked someone before. Although Eriri is the ace of the art club, she doesn't actually have many friends. It's better to say that Eriri is the one who is actually excluded in the art club. She is actually not happy in the art club."

"Not happy? Being excluded?"

After hearing what Yukino said, everyone in the Creation Club was very curious.

"That's right, because Eriri's talent is too strong. Although Eriri is very kind to others, from what I've observed, Eriri doesn't have many friends. It may be related to her inherent pride, or there may be some other reason."

According to Yukino, Eriri was excluded by many people in the art club because of her strong abilities.

And Eriri herself doesn't like staying in the art club all the time.

Rather than simply creating things that she doesn't like, Eriri prefers to create various fan works.

Otherwise, Eriri wouldn't have debuted as Kashiwagi Eri.

"But what does this have to do with us inviting her?"

"This means that we can bring her into the creative club."

"Huh? You want to bring Eriri closer to the Creation Club?!"

Even Naoto was stunned by Yukino's bold idea.

Let’s not talk about the fact that you wanted Eriri to draw illustrations. How did you get Eriri to join the club?

Is it really okay for you to poach people so blatantly?

If Eriri was really kidnapped, the art department would probably fight them to the death.

"What's the big deal? As long as Eriri joins our Creation Club, then Hachiman's illustrations will be easily solved. Besides, don't you think Eriri is a good fit for our Creation Club?"

As for Yukino's statement, let's not worry about whether it will succeed or not, but if you want to poach someone, you have to come up with a solution, right? You can't just say it and they'll come in.

"Of course, I've already thought of a solution. You do this first, then this."

As Yukino finished speaking, Naoto and Hachiman's consciousness returned to the art club.

"Ahem, Ms. Eriri, I heard that you were not happy in the art club. Is that true?"

Eriri did not answer Hachiman's question.

Although Eriri didn't say anything, Hachiman and Naoto probably guessed that this matter should be true.

Eriri was indeed somewhat dissatisfied with the art club.

As of now, if the head of the art club hadn't kept persuading Eriri, she would have quit the club long ago.

"It seems that Eriri-san is indeed not very satisfied with the art club. Would you like to consider our creation club?"

"You want me to join the Creative Society?"

Eriri was a little surprised to hear Naoto's invitation. She didn't expect that this person not only wanted her to draw illustrations, but also wanted her to join the creation club.

"Don't you want to consider it? Our Creation Club upholds the principle of freedom of creation and freedom of action. We will not force members to do anything they don't want to do. If you join the Creation Club, won't you be able to draw whatever you want?"

Eriri listened to Naoto's words and couldn't help but start to think about it.

Eriri had also heard of the strange club called the Creation Club. It was said that it was a club created by all the freaks in the school. Although it had been established for several months, it had never held any real club activities.

All in all, it is indeed a very free society as Naoto said.

"But why should I join this club? I'm doing well in the art department, so what's the point of joining your club?"

In response to Eriri's question, Naoto began to remember the final plan given by Yukino.

"Eri, how about we make a bet?"

"bet?"

"That's right, let's make a bet. How about whose work is better in this art competition?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, if I win, you get to join the Creation Club and draw illustrations for Hachiman. If I lose, I'll give you all the privileges the school has given me. How about that?"

As for Naoto's bet, it can be said that it is not very impressive.

You know, the school gives a lot of privileges to straight people.

For example, you can leave the school at will, take as many vacations as you want every month, and even get exclusive scholarships.

This is really tempting for students.

"Do you look down on me?"

"That's not the case. I just think I'm stronger."

Looking at Naoto's confident eyes, Eriri felt even angrier.

Chapter 180: Selection of the Art Awards

"Naoto, thank you so much this time. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid this time wouldn't have been so smooth."

After signing the bet with Eriri, Hachiman and Naoto walked home together.

Hachiman was grateful to Naoto for his help. Obviously, the illustration thing should be unimportant to Naoto, and no one would say anything even if Naoto didn't care.

But Naoto was helping him wholeheartedly, which touched Hachiman.

Whether it was the previous light novel contract, Naoto helping him find a publishing house, or some things that happened later, Naoto was always helping him.

It seems that as long as they are around him, Naoto will always try his best to help without asking for anything in return.

"Hachiman, do we still need to say this? A friend is someone who gives you a hand when you need it, right?"

"But……"

"Hachiman, do you know? In the past, my parents always told me that relationships in society are not that simple. The friends you think of may trip you up in secret, or stab you in the back without your knowledge. At that time, I didn't really believe it, because I believed that friends should be the most trusted people and like-minded people. But after my parents passed away, when I saw the way those people looked at my sister and me, I suddenly realized that when you really step into society, so-called friendship is the least important thing."

At this moment, Naoto could not forget how those so-called friends of his parents looked at him and his sister at the funeral of his parents.

If it weren't for my resolute opposition and Nan Zi's protection, I would have been torn to pieces by those so-called friends long ago.

"But Hachiman, I believe in true friends who will not betray you when you need them. I believe that to gain true friendship, you must first do what you want. I help you not because I want to gain something, but because you are my friends."

Looking at Naoto's back, Hachiman suddenly understood what Naoto really wanted.

It is because of the extreme loneliness that I long for sincerity. That is why I help others at all costs and use my sincerity to exchange for sincerity.

"Is this, Naoto, your view on friendship?"

........................

As time passed, the selection of the art awards officially began.

The selection process for the Art Creation Award is actually not much different from the previous Tokyo Youth Painting Award.

But the scale is much larger than the Tokyo Youth Painting Award.

The selection process includes preliminary selection, screening, review and final selection.

And the number of awards that can be obtained has also increased from three to five.

In addition to the three rewards of gold, silver and bronze, there are also effort rewards and commendation rewards.