My Cartoonist Girlfriend

Asakura Feng smiled and took out a croquette and took a bite. While eating, he said, "Don't worry, I will definitely give you an autograph later. There are samples of the new volume of the novel. I will give you a copy later. You will be the first one to see it!"

"Huh? Really? That's great... Oh no!"

Eriri was almost led astray. Her already inadequate brain finally came back to its senses and she angrily said, "So, you are the teacher Hong Fengye who wrote "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World" and never held a book signing event or appeared in public?"

Editor Nakajima watched the conversation between the two and asked in confusion, "Do you know each other?"

Asakura Feng nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, a member of the art club of the same school."

Machida Yuanzi also saw it and guessed, "So, Feng-kun, you already knew that Sawamura-san is Kashiwagi Eri?"

"Well, I guess you know."

Eriri was a little stiff. Recalling the previous discussion between the two of them about anime and light novels, she suddenly became angry: "So... you actually knew everything, but you just didn't tell me, right?"

"You can't say that, Sawamura. After all, everyone has their own secrets, right? I didn't tell you, and you didn't tell me, Sawamura, that you are Kashiwagi Eri."

"I don't know anyone with that name!"

“Please, can you stop pretending to be Izumi Sagiri at this time?” Looking helplessly at Eriri who was still trying to act like an ostrich even though it was too late, Asakura took out another croquette from the bag and handed it to Eriri, “Here, a freshly baked croquette, calm down.”

Looking at the tempting golden croquette in front of her, Eriri instinctively wanted to reach out to take it, but when she thought of the expression on Asakura Kaede's face when he came in, she immediately turned her head away angrily.

“Gu~~~~~”

"..."

Eriri's face instantly turned red as her stomach growled. Asakura Feng said with a look of astonishment, "I knew it. You don't eat much at noon today. You have a physical education class in the afternoon, so you should be hungry by now. Eat first, and I'll apologize to you after you finish."

There was no choice but for Ying Lili to take the croquette and take a vicious bite.

Really fragrant.

Watching Asakura Kaede distribute the remaining croquettes to the other three people, Eriri now discovered something, that is, Kasumigaoka Utaha had been watching with a smile from beginning to end, without saying a word. This was completely different from the situation when the two met just now.

"Wait!" Pointing at Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri asked, "So, you also knew Asakura's identity a long time ago?"

"Isn't that natural?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri and smiled. "Last weekend at the library, I met Asakura-kun here. We had a very pleasant conversation. But I only found out about your identity, Sawamura-kun, today. Well, it's really surprising."

"..."

Eriri remained silent and ate the croquette in her hand bite by bite. After throwing the wrapper into the trash can, she turned to look at Asakura Kaede, grabbed his clothes and walked out.

"Come out!"

Being pulled by Eriri like this, Asakura Feng had no choice but to spread his hands to editor Nakajima and leave the reception room.

After watching the two of them leave, Machida Yuanzi touched her chin and asked, "Senior, what do you think is going on with these two?"

"I'm not sure."

He shook his head, but a smile appeared on Editor Nakajima's face. "But I think this cooperation should be stable. While the two of them are talking, Teacher Kasumi Shiko should first consider what the requirements are for the character setting."

"Well, I see."

Kasumigaoka Utaha had already taken out the small notebook and pen she carried with her and started writing bit by bit.

On the other side, Eriri, who had just walked out of the reception room, forcibly pulled Asakura Kaede with her, and the two of them went directly to the empty tea room outside the editorial department.

After standing still, Eriri folded her arms, stared at Asakura Kaede in front of her and said, "So, when did you know my identity?"

"Well... I knew it from the beginning, but I only found out by accident. Sawamura, you don't have to worry about your identity being leaked or anything like that. I did a good job of keeping it a secret."

Hearing what Asakura Feng said, Eriri suddenly understood. She looked at Asakura Feng nervously and said, "At the beginning...did you already know it at that time?"

"At that time?" Asakura Feng was a little confused. "When?"

"???"

Eriri suddenly realized that she was overthinking. At that time, Asakura Feng definitely didn't recognize her. That was not a big deal. It was better for her to be exposed than for the other party to see the book she bought.

Ying Lili quickly shook her head and said, "It's nothing, just treat it as my nonsense. In short, you must never tell anyone about my identity, Kashiwagi Eri, understand?"

Although he was a little confused about what Eriri had just said, Asakura Feng didn't think much about it and agreed: "Don't worry, haven't I always done well before?"

"Tsk, who knows." Eriri curled her lips, ashamed and angry, "I've known you for a few days, and I know your character. You definitely came here to laugh at me, right?"

"Hahaha, sorry, sorry."

Asakura Kaede said apologetically, "I was also shocked when I heard Kasumigaoka-senpai say she wanted to collaborate with Kashiwagi Eri at the library on Sunday. I thought I would have nothing to do today, but who would have thought that editor Nakajima would bring it up, and you agreed."

"..."

Eriri held her forehead with her hand, feeling extremely embarrassed. The light novel writer who wanted her autograph turned out to be her classmate in the same club and who she usually played games with.

If this matter were to be told to others, people would probably laugh to death.

"In short, I won't forgive you so easily for this matter. Be prepared."

Asakura Feng smiled and nodded: "Okay, you can ask for anything, as long as I can do it, even if you ask me to pay with my body."

"Flesh, flesh, flesh...flesh as compensation? Wu Lu Sai, you wish!"

Eriri had a wealth of theoretical knowledge, so naturally she thought of a series of indescribable images, and her little feet in leather shoes kicked towards Asakura Kaede.

Asakura Kaede was not going to stand there and get kicked. She dodged and took out her phone to search. She showed a page to Eriri: "There's a new maid cafe in Akihabara. I'll treat you. How about that?"

As expected, Eriri stopped immediately.

Chapter 30 Negotiation

A maid cafe.

Looking at the mobile page that Asakura Kaede showed her, Eriri knew that this store was indeed newly opened and very popular, and the maids and waitresses there were very professional.

Eriri was very interested in maid cafes, but she was not completely distracted by them.

Looking at Asakura Kaede, Eriri said proudly: "Do you think I will forgive you like this? Cricket Maid Cafe."

Unfortunately, Asakura Feng knew Eriri's character very well. She looked into her eyes and said with a smile, "Then, let's just say that I am interested in going to the maid cafe and I want to invite you to go with me. How about that? And what happened today will definitely be exposed later even if I don't come. Isn't it just a matter of time?"

Ying Lili also understood this. After all, both of them were hiding their own secrets, so they were the same.

After thinking for a while, Eriri raised her finger and said, "It just so happens that I haven't been to Akihabara for a while. In addition to the maid cafe, I'll go to Akihabara for a stroll."

"No problem, I'll cover all the expenses."

"That's not necessary. I don't need this little money."

Eriri refused Asakura Kaede's all-inclusive offer, glared at him and said, "Because of your appearance, I almost forgot about today's business. When we go back, I'll talk to that woman Kasumigaoka Utaha. If you can help me raise the price, I'll definitely bite off a piece of meat from her!"

Asakura Feng nodded with a smile, then said, "By the way, I haven't asked you yet, how did you get into a fight with Kasumigaoka-senpai? Did it happen at school?"

"We bumped into each other by chance during the break." Recalling her previous acquaintance with Kasumigaoka Utaha, Eriri pouted and said, "It feels like we are born to clash and our personalities don't match."

No, maybe it’s the huge difference in size that leads to natural hostility?

Noticing Asakura Kaede's gaze, Eriri kicked him with a red face: "What a rude look you have! Stop looking at me!"

"Did I look at anything?" Asakura Feng had already decided to act, so naturally he would not have the same attitude as before. "Sawamura, you are so cute, you should be used to being stared at by now, right?"

Eriri couldn't get used to being suddenly called cute, especially by Asakura Kaede.

Just as she was about to speak, Asakura Feng didn't give her a chance to speak and said directly: "Okay, we've been here for quite a long time, let's go back to the reception room."

"oh oh!"

Following behind Asakura Kaede and looking at his back, Eriri's little head began to think, and then she blushed a little.

"He suddenly said I was cute, didn't he... No, he didn't say anything before, he must have just said it casually."

Eriri is also very aware of the famous saying about the three major illusions in life. Although she is very confident about her appearance, she is actually a teenage girl. She has never been in a relationship and has no idea what boys are thinking.

Soon, the two returned to the reception room. Editor Nakajima looked at Eriri, whose mood had recovered, and silently gave a thumbs up to Asakura Kaede in his heart.

"Then, Mr. Kashiwagi Eri, let's officially start talking about cooperation."

After sitting down, Eriri looked at the two editors and Kasumigaoka Utaha across from her and nodded, saying, "Okay, aside from my personal relationship with this senior, I still quite like the novel."

Machida Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief, and was glad that Eriri liked the novel very much, so there was still room for discussion.

However, seeing that Asakura Kaede did not sit with them but sat next to Eriri, Machida Yuanzi asked in confusion: "Kaede-kun, why are you sitting opposite?"

Asakura Feng smiled and said with a relaxed look: "I originally thought that Eriri's family would come with her, but she came alone. So I thought, as a partner in the club, I should help her with some advice. I can't let her suffer any loss."

Machida Yuanzi said speechlessly: "But you are the author of the library, you can't be so ungrateful, and we won't cheat Kashiwagi Eri."

"You can't say that, Editor Machida."

Shaking his finger, Asakura Feng said with a smile: "First of all, Kasumigaoka-senpai said herself that price is not a problem. Of course, Eriri is not the type to ask for too much, so you can rest assured about this aspect. As long as it is reasonable and worthy of her status as Kashiwagi Eri, it will be fine."

Eriri didn't expect Asakura Kaede to start negotiating for her so directly, so she quickly said, "Yes, yes, the price is easy to talk about, but we need to discuss other things about the agreement. After all, I'm still a student, so we need to discuss the delivery deadline."

"So that's it, okay."

Machida Yuanzi smiled and said, "As for the delivery deadline, the release date of Xiao Shiyu's novel is tentatively scheduled for mid-May, which means there is still nearly a month left. It's just the character design and illustrations for the first volume. For you, Mr. Kashiwagi Eri, that should be enough, right?"

Eriri was still extremely uncomfortable with being called out by her pen name so bluntly.

"A month should be enough, but it depends on whether she can give me a detailed character setting."

After meeting Eriri's gaze, Kasumigaoka Utaha said confidently, "Don't worry, I'll sort out the settings for the characters and illustrations in the novel as soon as I get home tonight. I'll give you the detailed information tomorrow. I hope that Kashiwagi Eri-sensei won't leave any blanks."

"Humph, who do you think I am? This is easy for me! You should worry about whether the sales of your novel will be bad. This kind of pure love light novel does not have a good audience."

"Don't worry about that. I have a solution."

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled and looked at Asakura Kaede who was beside Eriri: "Asakura-kun, can I ask you for a favor?"

Combined with the previous conversation, Asakura Feng also keenly perceived Kasumigaoka Utaha's intention: "You want me to help you promote the book, right?"

"Yes."

Kasumigaoka Utaha did not deny it and said, "I also know that this request is a bit excessive. After all, Mr. Hong Fengye has never recommended other novels of the same industry on his Twitter. As a promotion, I can also pay you."

"No need to charge anything." Asakura Feng smiled and shook her head. "It's just to promote the book. I will help you promote it on Twitter before it's released. Your book is really well written, and I'm not exaggerating."

"Thank you so much. I'll treat you to a meal after the novel is released." Kasumigaoka smiled sweetly, and then she noticed that when the two of them were talking, Eriri, who was next to Asakura Kaede, had a vaguely dissatisfied expression on her face.

Kasumigaoka Utaha felt that she had accidentally discovered something very interesting.

It seems that I have to properly ease the relationship with this school girl, as she is a rare target for interviews.

Chapter 31 Is this a date? (Please bookmark!!!)

In today's cooperation discussions, Eriri had actually already decided to cooperate, but because of the exposure of the identities of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Asakura Kaede, there were some twists and turns, but the overall result was still good.

After the discussion was over, Ying Lili got the contract and prepared to take it home to show her mother before signing it.

There's nothing we can do about it, it's because Eriri is not an adult yet.

Coming out of the library, Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri and said with a smile, "Then we will have a pleasant cooperation. After I give you the setting information tomorrow, you can always find me if you have any questions. Anyway, I have added you as my friend on Line."

Eriri looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha in confusion, she didn't expect that the other party's attitude would improve halfway through.

"Don't worry, no matter what, I will definitely take work seriously."

"That's good." After saying that, Kasumigaoka Utaha also looked at Asakura Kaede, "I'll also leave the promotion of the novel to Asakura-kun. At the same time, if I encounter any difficulties in writing, I hope I can also consult with Asakura-kun."

"No problem, let's make progress together."

"Then I'll take my leave now."

Kasumigaoka Utaha left first, and Asakura Kaede looked at Eriri beside her and said, "We're both going the same way, let's go together. Do you want to take the train or the bus?"

“The bus is more convenient.”

"Okay, there's still some distance, let's walk over there."

Nodding, Eriri followed Asakura Kaede and walked towards the station.

As they walked, the two also talked about Asakura Kaede's novel.

"In the novel, who will Satou Kazuma end up with? Aqua, Darkness, or Megumin?"

"Why can't it be someone else?" Asakura Feng said with a smile, "Maybe I'll add another character who falls from the sky later?"

“Really? I think Huihui is very nice!”

Eriri was a little anxious. She recalled the unreleased latest volume of Soharu signed by Asakura Kaede in her bag. Could it be that the real heroine was in this volume?

Seeing Eriri's confused expression, Asakura Feng said happily: "Hahaha, I'm kidding. I've already decided who will be the winner in the end."

"who is it?"