Cartoonists and their assistants

The two girls bickered for a while longer.

Mizuki Machi had some free time, so he watched the show from the sidelines with a playful expression.

He's been a little unaccustomed to the fact that he doesn't have any entertainment options lately.

However, watching girls argue can be quite interesting.

.......

Tokyo Big Sight.

It's that time of year again for Summer Comic.

"Hello, I'm Sakura..."

"My name is Kousaka."

"My name is Saori, please call me whatever you like."

They first gathered outside so that people who didn't know each other could get to know each other.

"Tsukishita-sensei, Yuriko-sensei, it's nice to see you again!"

When Kirino Kousaka clasped her hands together and looked at the two of them, her eyes were filled with starry admiration.

“When we’re out in public, I can just use our surnames.”

"I understand, the teacher wants to keep a low profile, which is truly admirable..."

After the meeting, everyone used the excuse of being a vendor in Kurusu to enter the venue via a shortcut.

Along the way, Sakura Chiyo and Kousaka Kirino, both newcomers, were quite excited.

The sheer number of doujinshi (fan-made comics) was overwhelming for them.

"Oh, there's even a 'Anohana' fan comic! Can this be risqué?"

Sakura Chiyo picked up a doujinshi (fan-made comic book) from the table, flipped through a few pages, and her face quickly turned bright red.

"Where! Where! I want to see!"

Kirino Kousaka quickly squeezed through.

"Hey, don't you feel ashamed to do this in front of...Kanzuki-kun?"

Ruri Gokou muttered a comment from the side, then picked it up and looked at it herself.

"Aren't you the same?"

“Mine is critical reading! It’s different from yours.”

This remark made everyone laugh.

.......

In the afternoon.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, as if the heavens were wearing a gloomy face.

"Why is it dark?"

"Looks like it's going to rain!"

"It's time to go back."

"On such a hot day, the afternoon should be a good thing."

As soon as they stepped out of the venue, everyone noticed that the sky looked strange.

"Zhenzhi, what's wrong?"

Eriri noticed that her childhood friend was looking at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.

"It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered a classic plot... In comics and novels, when there is abnormal weather, it is always a kind of omen. For example, cloudy weather usually means that something bad is going to happen."

Mizuki Machi looked at her at a 45-degree angle, with a slightly frightening expression.

"Stop spouting nonsense! This is reality!"

The girl wasn't interested, and mumbled something.

"Perhaps everything we've experienced is just a choice made by Steins;Gate."

"Stop being a chuunibyou and hurry up! If we get wet in the rain, it's all your fault!"

She couldn't take it anymore and quickly pushed her childhood sweetheart away.

Just as everyone walked out of the exhibition hall and arrived in front of the station.

"Teacher, please call me again next time if you have the chance, I have plenty of time..."

Kirino Kousaka was busy fawning over her idol, completely unaware of the figure approaching from the front.

"Kirino?"

A questioning voice suddenly called out, causing her pupils to shrink.

"Aya...Ayase?"

Kirino Kousaka turned her head and said in a hoarse voice.

Long, lustrous black hair, slender legs, and a clear voice...

The person standing before her was none other than her best friend from school, Ayase Aragaki.

Unlike herself, who loves anime and manga, Ayase happens to be the one who hates otaku the most.

135 Then let her be lazy!

this is not……

Is it all over?!

At that moment, Kirino Kousaka panicked and gripped the plastic bag in her hand tightly.

"I can't believe it, I actually ran into them here... By the way, Kirino, who are these people?"

Ayase Aragaki's gaze was drawn to the others.

Especially the only man present.

She had never seen Kirino so enthusiastic towards other boys before.

Could it be the boy Kirino likes?

If that's the answer, she'll feel a little disappointed, but it's not unacceptable.

"You could say we're... friends I know?"

Kirino Kousaka hesitated for a moment.

"Hey...why are you dressed so strangely?"

Ayase Aragaki noticed Kuroneko's cosplay outfit and Makishima Saori's otaku attire, and became suspicious.

"This is...their personal hobby!"

"Oh, I see."

"By the way, why is Ayase here?"

"I'm taking a break now because of my work as a print model."

She tried to distract her best friend, but her best friend wasn't so easy to deal with.

"Let's go first."

Ruri Gokou had no time to get involved and gestured to the others with her eyes.

Several others from Chiba received the signal, said goodbye to the others, and the remaining three seemed more normal.

"By the way, is there any event today?"

"It seems to be... a summer doujinshi convention."

"A doujinshi convention? What's that?"

"Uh."

During her conversation with Ayase Aragaki, Kirino Kousaka completely lost her composure.

"We also..."

Mizuki Machi originally wanted to leave, not wanting to get involved.

As a result, someone nearby pulled him back.

He turned his head and noticed that Eriri's eyes looked a little strange.

Perhaps it made a connection to something.

After all, the two are in similar situations; neither dares to express their fondness for otaku culture.

They felt a sense of shared suffering.

"I just can't do anything with you."

He changed his mind, a wicked sense of amusement rising within him.

Wouldn't it be interesting to corrupt girls who hate otaku culture and turn them into shut-ins who can't live without comics and novels?

"Your expression is so strange, Kirino. Are you hiding something from me?"

"No... Ayase, I... I'll go now."

"Kirino, why did you run away?"

"I didn't run away..."

"You're lying! You're lying! You're lying, you're lying, you're lying! Don't lie to me! Didn't you run away? You ran away, didn't you? You ran away!"

"No... Ayase, calm down, can we talk later?"

"Calm down? I'm perfectly calm! Kirino, you should know that, right? I hate being lied to! You're not saying anything because you think you have nothing to say to me, right? That's so hurtful. I considered you a good friend, but it turns out I misunderstood everything..."

Ayase Aragaki's piercing gaze put Kirino Kousaka under considerable pressure, making her want to escape immediately. However, her best friend held her arm tightly, and her heavy words and broken expression made it difficult for Kirino to breathe.

"Kirino, you haven't introduced this person to me yet. Is this your friend?"

"I'm Kirino's good friend. May I ask who you are?"

The sudden sound of heavenly music attracted Ayase Aragaki's attention and pulled her out of her dark state.

"Nice! Teacher Yuexia!"

Kosaka Kirino shouted in his heart.

“I’m Kirino’s cousin, Mizuki Machi. I was having a get-together with friends today, and since Kirino was free, I invited her along.”

Mizuki Machi said with a smile.

"Kirino's...cousin?"

"Yes, Ayase, let me introduce you. This is my cousin, whom I've been very close to since childhood..."

Kirino Kousaka immediately understood and laughed.

Ayase Aragaki felt much better immediately.

No wonder Kirino looked at the other person with such high regard.

If it's my cousin, then it makes sense!

"Since you're Kirino's cousin, I'll just call you Machi-nii. And Machi-nii, just call me by my name, Ayase."

She instantly felt a fondness for this identity.

“Okay, Ayase.”

He responded quickly, and his acting was flawless.

"This guy actually adopted two younger sisters?"

Eriri was dumbfounded and resentful, completely forgetting that her actions had caused the current situation.