This is not the date I wanted.

"After getting a taste of success, I started to wonder if I had talent in that area, so I wanted to try dot paper. But I found out that it was a disposable product but extremely expensive, so I gave up."

"Well……"

"Then I heard about the method of volatilization on a computer, and thought, 'This way I can use dots as I please.' Finally, I found that drawing tablets and drawing software were ridiculously expensive."

"Ahhhhhhhhhh-"

Shidou held his head and trembled slightly.

"Well, there should be more to it than that. But I feel that if I continue, it will hurt the young boy's tender heart, so let's stop here for now."

The paintbrush tapped lightly on the tabletop, Nia blinked and looked at Shidou with a smirk.

"So young man. What do you think Bilijiang outside would feel if he knew about these things?"

"...Please let me help you complete these tasks."

Holding back the bitter tears from his eyes, Shidou gritted his teeth and answered slowly.

outside the house.

(Well... Shidou, Nia didn't even close the door.)

Hearing the resentful answer in the room, which sounded as if it was signing an unequal treaty that was humiliating and detrimental to the country, Meng Yue thought with a look of shame on her face.

Well, although I noticed from the beginning that Nia was setting a trap for Shidou, I didn't expect that she could know so much about Shidou's dark history with just such a little information, which surprised Mengyue.

"But Shidou is really too sweet. He gave himself away so easily. He lacks practice."

It will be really troublesome to pretend that I didn't hear it next. Meng Yue sighed lightly, looked up at the ceiling, and said to herself in a slightly nostalgic tone.

"At this time, just answer that you have read "Bi-Man Wang" (Note*)."

Note: "Bakuman", also known as "Dream Eaters", is a very famous manga based on drawing comics.

04 Showdown

==============================

“—Finally it’s done!”

Putting down the paintbrush in his hand, Shidao leaned back on the chair and stretched lazily.

I have to say, I haven't been so nervous in a long time.

Although blackening and rubbing lines may sound simple when Erya says it, it is actually a very physically and mentally exhausting task. Although it is a repetitive action, the shapes and sizes of the parts to be painted are all different, making it extremely difficult.

Because he was worried about accidentally destroying the important manuscript, Shidao was very cautious throughout the whole process, and even his body rarely shook.

"Damn it, Meng Yue, that guy actually sold me out and slacked off himself."

With a bit of resentment in his mouth, Shidou muttered a few words of complaint. After getting up and stretching his muscles, he returned to Nia's dormitory.

"Wow!"

Shidou couldn't help but scream out in shock at the scene before him.

The comic books and magazines that were originally piled all over the floor were neatly arranged in the corners and bookcases. The whole room suddenly became much wider, and the vacated large bed suddenly became very spacious. The sheets and pillows were all put away, and the dust in the room was carefully cleaned. I don't know if it was because the contrast was too strong, but Shidao even felt that Niya's room was glowing.

For a moment, Shidou suspected that he was hallucinating because he was too tired from work, and he rubbed his eyes with his hands.

"Hey, Shidou has finished drawing the manuscript."

Just then, Mengyue, who was taking off her mask and gloves, walked over from the corridor.

"Mengyue, did you do this?"

Shidou couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Well, I have some free time waiting for your work to be completed anyway. I'll take this opportunity to tidy up this house."

Meng Yue nodded and replied.

"That's it."

Seeing that Meng Yue didn't deliberately sell herself out to be lazy, Shidao's resentment was immediately alleviated a lot.

At this moment, Erya, who was sitting at the workbench drawing comics, finally reacted. It should be said that she is worthy of being a professional cartoonist. Her concentration is abnormally strong and she didn't notice the changes around her at all.

"Well - that's great, I finally finished it on time. Boy, you're also - what the hell, where is this place?"

Seeing his room suddenly become tidy, Erya looked as if he had seen a ghost and fell off the sofa to the ground.

"Could it be that……"

Grabbing the edge of the table and climbing up, Erya pushed his glasses, looked into the room with his pale green eyes in fear, and muttered to himself with some excitement.

"I stayed up all night to finish my manuscript and overdrew myself. Did I die on the spot and travel to another world?"

"--puff!"

Shidou couldn't help but turn his head and chuckle.

"How is that possible? Maybe you've read too many cliché novels about different worlds."

Meng Yue complained unhappily as she threw a paper fan at Erya's head to shatter her delusions.

"I just tidied up your house. Since I didn't get your consent, I kept the furniture in its original position. I moved the comics in the corridor to another empty room. Considering that you might not be able to find what you want after the tidying up, I sorted the books by date, author, etc., and also put stickers with notes on them."

"..."

"Well, after all, this is just me meddling in other people's business. I apologize if I made you angry. However, since you like comics, please cherish them a little more."

Seeing Erya staring at her silently, Mengyue crossed her arms and gave her earnest instructions.

"Bilijiang—Marry me and be my wife!"

Suddenly, Erya opened his arms and hugged Mengyue, proposing to her without hesitation.

"No."

Mengyue refused without hesitation.

"Pfft - this is the first time I proposed to someone in my life and I got rejected like this."

Erya took a few steps back with a look of severe trauma, looking at Mengyue with tearful eyes.

"That's too much, Bili-chan. If you don't marry me, this room will be turned back to its original state the next day."

"I know. So I refused without hesitation."

Looking at Erya who confessed his lazy character with a righteous attitude, Mengyue couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

"Well - I can't help it, young man, you won't abandon me, will you?"

"Eh? Um... I'm afraid... I don't have time."

Seeing Nia turn her gaze towards him, Shidao's forehead was slightly sweaty. He turned his head away and refused in a more tactful way.

Besides, Erya’s move is more like he just wants to find a nanny to do the job than proposing to her.

"Pfft - I got dumped again! I got dumped twice in one day... I am such an unlucky woman."

Erya cried as if she was singing a sad drama, turned around and ran out of her bedroom, leaving a few crystal tears in the air.

"Is Erya okay?"

Seeing this scene, Shidou began to worry.

"It's okay. That guy's mental strength is not that weak. He was just playing around."

Meng Yue waved her hand and explained.

Sure enough, not long after, I heard Erya come back in a very provocative maid outfit after tossing around in another room for a while.

"Haha~ Next is the bonus time. Bilijiang, boy, does this maid outfit look good on me? Are you excited?"

Erya didn't look at all like she was hit, and she glanced at the two of them confidently.

Well. It turns out Meng Yue was right.

"Then, what are you going to do?"

After taking a few glances at Erya's cosplay, Mengyue asked curiously.

"I bought this a while ago as a reference. I wanted to cheer the young man up and give you some tips on how to kill him. Oh, and this is your reward for helping me today."

As she said that, Nia took out two envelopes. She stuffed them into her chest, hunched her shoulders to emphasize her chest, and slowly approached Shidou.

"Come on, young man. Come and get your wages~"

"Eh? Wait—"

Snap! Snap!

Just when Shidou was at a loss, two envelopes slipped from Nia's clothes and fell to the floor.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, the room was shrouded in an awkward silence. Erya fell to his knees in frustration, mumbling with a confused look on his face.

"Why... is it a sin to have small breasts?"

"Don't worry... there are still people in the world who like this."

Because it was so horrible to watch, Meng Yue patted the other person on the shoulder and said something to comfort him.

What can a man say at this time? Shidou sighed with a wry smile, picked up the envelope and handed it back to Nia, changing the subject.

"Well, now that the manuscript is finished, it's almost time for us to leave."

"Eh? Don't you want your wages?"

"It's okay, just treat it as a social learning experience. Besides, Meng Yue and I have gained a lot by being able to see the original manuscript of the comics that have not yet been published."

"Well, I personally don't mind accepting it. But since Shidou said so, I'll just give it up."

"Even if you say so, I still feel a little bit uneasy."

Looking at the envelope in his hand, Erya couldn't help scratching his hair in confusion, and then suddenly an idea seemed to flash in his mind, and he clapped his hands and said.

"By the way, I'll have a day off after I hand in my manuscript. I'll cover all the expenses, so let's go out on a date together."

"Eh?"

Obviously not expecting Nia's proposal, Shidou couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.

"Where are we going? Akihabara?"

Meng Yue leaned out and asked, to which Er Ya nodded excitedly.

"That's right. It just so happens that I haven't been there for a long time. Just consider it as payment for cleaning the room. Bili-chan, just tell me what you want to buy, and I'll pay for it."

"Um……"

Mengyue seemed to be lost in thought, feeling somewhat moved. Niya then turned her gaze to Shidou.

"Young man, what do you think?"

"makes sense……"

Shidou couldn't help but hesitate. To be honest, since Nia was suspected of being an elf and Mengyue seemed very interested, there was nothing wrong with him agreeing.

Beep——!

"Ok?"

Just when Shidou was about to agree, the phone in his pocket suddenly received a text message - it was a text message from Mengyue.

[Refuse. This is bait. If Erya is really an elf, he will show his hand when he sees that you are not taking the bait.]

"…I'm sorry. I don't intend to help you carry your bag."

After shutting off the phone silently, Shidou changed his tone and spoke.

"Shock! I was discovered!"

As if Shidou had discovered her purpose, Nia took a surprised pose.

"You really treat people like laborers without any hesitation. Don't you have any other friends to accompany you?"

"…It's useless. Haha--I don't have any friends."

Hearing Shidou's words, a trace of gloom flashed across Niya's face, but in an instant she returned to her nonchalant look and burst into laughter.