This is not the date I wanted.

(…I really want to go home.)

Suddenly, it doesn't matter anymore. Erya couldn't help but think dejectedly.

I'm going to die today anyway, so why should I take such a crowded bus to go to the convention? I won't need the money after I die anyway, so why should I work?

Why not stay at home and use the remaining time to finish as many anime and novels as possible?

——Because this is the agreement with them.

Such a voice came from somewhere in my heart.

That’s right, in the world of the second dimension, agreements are often a very important thing.

Cherish the agreement, value the agreement, stick to the agreement, and carry it through to the end. It is very simple and easy, but it is very difficult to achieve.

Many stories are very touching because of a promise made by the protagonist.

If possible, before she dies, Erya hopes to be a person who keeps his promises.

(Maybe after I die, I can travel to the second dimension. It would be best if there is a world with beautiful boys like Tokiyoshi Yai, hehehe...)

Ahem...sorry for the loss of composure.

Honjo Niya believes that humans should have dreams at all times.

(and……)

Thinking of this, Erya quietly raised his head and glanced at Mengyue.

[However, since Bilijiang dares to say this, then in your eyes, you must have seen the beautiful side of people, right?]

[…Tomorrow, you will know.]

Maybe in my heart, I still have some expectations.

————————————————————I am the dividing line for arriving at the venue————————————————

“We’re here—ah.”

I got out of the car and took a long, deep breath. This extremely familiar atmosphere made me feel as comfortable as a fish entering water.

At the Tiangong Square, at the entrance of the gymnasium, thousands of Honjo Erya compatriots were queuing in a long queue waiting for the gymnasium to open.

Before entering the gymnasium from the backstage, Erya couldn't help but look back, open his arms, and shout proudly.

"Look! The crowd is like garbage!"

"...This joke has been played out for a long time." Looking at Erya in silence, Mengyue sighed and urged him with her hand, "Hurry up, or you won't even have time to set up the stall."

Books! Peripherals! Cosplay! One piece exists! !

A world like heaven surrounds Niya Honjo, making Niya intoxicated in it and gradually finding her own rhythm.

The Honjo Niya who just wanted to stay at home and die must have lost his mind.

"Bili-chan... As expected, people should live in the present."

Bending over to peek at the absolute territory formed by the long legs and miniskirt of a famous cosplayer, Honjo Niya sighed like a saint who had attained enlightenment.

"...Uncle erotica."

Meng Yue said indifferently. To this, Erya retorted unhappily.

"How rude! I am still a beautiful girl."

"Beautiful girl... hum..."

Meng Yue sneered disdainfully.

"Hey! What did you mean by that just now, Bili-chan!?"

"There's nothing~ If you've seen enough, stop dawdling and leave quickly."

Looking at Mengyue striding into the venue, Erya hurriedly followed.

Of course, seeing through everything is a lie. Erya knew that he just wanted to immerse himself in the world he loved and then numb his fear of death. Simply put, it was a form of escape and bravado.

I'm afraid that Liangyi Mengyue has seen through her thoughts.

Walking into the east hall of the venue, Nia quickly noticed Gokawa Shido and her sister whispering in a corner.

(Just scare them a little.)

An idea of ​​playing a prank came to Erya's mind.

"Hoo~ What are you calling me for~ Koto-ri-chan?"

“—Ghost aa ...

Seeing the other party's reaction, which was not unexpected, Erya couldn't help but feel very satisfied.

but--

(Already know this?)

Noticing the two people's attitudes when they saw him, Erya keenly realized that the other party already knew about Erya's affairs.

In fact, it is not surprising. I did not ask Mengyue to keep it secret. Even if she reported to the teenagers that she had observed her own death in the future, Erya had no right to complain.

(But shouldn’t this be kept confidential?)

Indeed, if someone could sympathize with her and care about her, Erya would feel a little better.

But the only thing she didn't want was for them, who were about to compete with her, to have pity on her.

Fortunately, what she worried about did not happen.

"Just wait for it! Honjo Niya! Our work will definitely make you admit defeat sincerely!"

——You don’t need to be pitied because you are not a tragic heroine at all.

——We will definitely save you.

Erya could read this emotion from the two people's determined gazes.

(Really... you guys are so handsome.)

In response to such feelings, Erya raised the corners of his mouth in high spirits.

"Of course, come on!"

21 victory or defeat

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

After finishing the setup of the "Honjo-do" booth with the staff, the clock struck ten and the opening announcement was made in the hall.

Like soldiers charging towards an enemy camp, the crowd poured into the venue from the entrance like a wave.

As a stall opened by a famous and passionate cartoonist, as expected, a long queue soon formed in front of Erya's store.

"Please give me a new issue."

"Okay, five hundred yen."

"I want two!"

"A total of one thousand yen."

(So, what are you going to do next? Boy, Bilijiang.)

While checking out the customers who came to make purchases, Niya glanced at the stall of Gokawa Shido and his friends next door.

(oh oh……)

Erya felt a little surprised.

The reason was actually nothing special. She just saw Tohka Yatogami, Yoshino Yoshino, Kotori Itsuka, and Miku Yuiya wearing bunny girl cosplay and soliciting customers outside the store.

The honey trap is a very simple and effective trick. From another perspective, if Erya was greeted by such a cute girl, even if the books in that stall were of poor quality, he would be curious and take a look.

(And... there is also To.)

Although the line in front of the club's "Ratatoskr" store is not as long as Erya's, there is still a considerable number of people. However, there are a lot of inflated people among them. From their attitudes, Erya can tell that many of these customers are probably acquaintances of the members in their club.

"But even so, it's still quite remarkable that we were able to gather this many people."

Niya praised quietly. She didn't dislike such unorthodox methods. Rather, if Gokawa Shido didn't have the spirit of winning by any means, it would be a fantasy to surpass her in sales.

However, a side path is still a side path. After just ten minutes, the teams on both sides changed.

The team of "Ratatoskr" over there is gradually decreasing, while that of "Honjo-do" is constantly increasing and has now extended to the other side of the road.

"What a shame, young man."

Nia looked at Shidou with a look of pity.

"Cute salespeople and lots of agents. There are also all kinds of peripherals and topics. Although it is indeed an effective means to attract attention, it is only temporary at best. Although it is meaningless if a well-drawn book cannot be sold, in the end, contestants still want interesting books."

Even though there was a gap of several years, Erya's accumulated achievements are absolutely attractive to customers compared to newcomers who don't know what to paint.

This gap cannot be made up overnight.

However, Gokawa Shido did not show any sign of wavering in response to Nia's remarks.

"Don't worry, the winner hasn't been decided yet."

"Oh? Are there any cards you haven't played yet?"

Niya raised her eyebrows in surprise. In response, Shidou smiled bitterly.

"Well, we have prepared for this. But more importantly, everyone in our club thinks that our work is the most interesting in the world."

"Spiritual theory? Yeah, although I like this kind of development, reality is different from the second dimension, boy."

"You will naturally know when the time comes."

Looking at Shidao's mysterious attitude, Nia couldn't help but feel confused.

Where does his confidence come from?

By noon, Erya felt somewhat exhausted after two hours of checking out.

After asking a staff member to temporarily cover for him, Erya took out the work lunch box that was distributed uniformly and started to enjoy lunch backstage.

"Ok?"

By chance, Erya saw a comic convention attendee flipping through the comics sold at Shido Gokawa's stall.

(Ah... a rather bored expression.)

Erya couldn't help but sigh secretly. The other party's attitude towards reading comics at this time was completely an attitude of killing time. He was neither very devoted nor very careful. He just glanced at each page and turned it over.

(…I feel a little bit uncomfortable.)

Erya curled his lips in displeasure.

There are many reasons to judge a work as bad, such as the story rhythm is not good, the subject matter is rotten, the logic is not sound, the style of painting is broken, the characters have wrong values, etc. If the airwaves are not right, then the readers' attitude is understandable.

Although I understand these principles, as a cartoonist, I obviously don't like to see the results of my hard work being treated so coldly by readers.

(Eh?)

However, just when Erya was secretly depressed, the reader suddenly showed a very surprised expression when he turned to the last page of the comic.

Then, the other party took out his mobile phone and typed something on the notebook. Then he put the notebook down and looked at the phone intently, even leaving his half-eaten lunch aside.

(what happened?)

Erya couldn't help but feel confused.

Half an hour passed, just when the lunch break was about to end, the reader suddenly looked up, picked up the comic book again, and compared it with his mobile phone.

Shock, amazement, excitement, admiration - completely opposite attitudes from just now, strongly aroused Erya's curiosity.

However, in the end, the reader looked at his phone with a stunned expression, and quickly tapped the keyboard with an expression that could be described as uncomfortable or impatient.

(What on earth was he watching on his phone?)

It should be said that the reader's facial expression was so wonderful that Erya felt his heart itching as well.

In the afternoon, the second half of the game.

"This is……"

Erya's eyes widened in surprise.