A bright April afternoon bathed the school in golden sunlight. Birds chirped cheerfully from the branches above, and the air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers.
It was the kind of day that should have brought a smile to anyone's face. And yet, in the deserted corridor of the school, Eriri Spencer Sawamura shivered slightly, as if the sun had failed to reach her.
Her expression twisted through a series of emotions—from stiffness, to horror, to a full-blown panic. She stumbled backward, clutching her modest chest, and pointed a trembling finger at the boy in front of her.
"Y-You... You... You...!" she stammered for what felt like forever. Then, as if recalling her pride at the last second, she straightened up and tried to act composed. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Despite her forced calm, her eyes betrayed her. They darted around nervously before finally settling on the calm, slightly amused figure of Kasumigaoka Touji.
Touji remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Ah, so interesting.
That reaction was practically a confession! And yet, she expected him to buy such an obvious lie?
The corner of Touji's mouth twitched in amusement. He glanced left, then right. No one else around.
Perfect.
Then he extended his hand toward her with a teasing smile. "Let's try this again, shall we? Nice to meet you. I'm Touji, a humble food and music blogger... and you, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
As soon as the name "Kashiwagi Eri" left his lips, Eriri visibly flinched. She shook her head frantically, waving her hands as if she could bat away the very words.
"N-No! I'm not... I didn't... Don't be ridiculous! You've got the wrong person!"
Touji tilted his head slightly, his voice calm. "Deny it all you want, but the facts won't change."
Eriri froze. "'..."
She bit her lip, fists clenched at her sides. Her breathing was shallow, and her chest rose and fell with each shaky inhale. Despite her best efforts, her body refused to calm down.
"H-How did you find out, you bastard?!"
Her words were sharp, but her tone carried more fear than anger. Her secret—one she had vowed never to let anyone uncover—had somehow been exposed. The thought that others might know sent a chill down her spine.
She needed to find out how Touji had discovered her identity. Only then could she figure out how to fix this mess.
And if she couldn't fix it? Well... maybe it was time to retreat, hole up at home with Kani-san, and pretend none of this ever happened.
Thanks a lot, Nayuta, Elf, Gabriel... You've all been terrible influences!
"Through a certain... mysterious channel," Touji said airily, then looked pointedly at his still-extended hand. "Aren't you going to shake my hand, Kashiwagi-sensei?"
She glared at him, mentally flipping a table.
(╯°□°)╯▵ ━ ▵
But then again... he had helped her earlier that day. And she needed to find out more.
Reluctantly, Eriri reached out and placed her hand in his.
Her hand was smaller than even Utaha's. Beneath her pinky, he could feel the familiar roughness of calluses—evidence of countless hours spent drawing. But the rest of her hand felt soft and delicate.
Touji gently shook her hand up and down like a teacher humoring a shy child. "Great. Now that we've officially reintroduced ourselves..."
Eriri yanked her hand back and scowled. "So? What's this mysterious channel? Spill it!"
"A mysterious channel is called that for a reason, you know. If I told you, it wouldn't be mysterious anymore."
She puffed up with frustration, ready to scream, but Touji spoke again, this time in a gentler tone. "Don't worry. No one else will hear about this from that source. You have my word."
He turned slightly, gazing out through the corridor window at the serene sky.
Eriri opened her mouth to argue, to demand more reassurance, but the way he looked at the sky—so calm, so certain—stopped her.
Somehow... she believed him.
"...Fine. I'll believe you. Just this once."
She crossed her arms and eyed him cautiously. "Let's keep each other's secrets, got it?"
But even as she said it, guilt tugged at her heart.
Touji's secret being exposed would probably just make him more popular. More views, more clout, more everything.
Her secret, on the other hand... social death. Immediate. Total. Irreversible.
Totally unfair!
Touji raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? If you want to reveal my secret, go ahead. I don't mind."
A chill ran down Eriri's spine.
...Wait.
Why did that sound like a trap?
Her gut told her she was about to regret everything.
Kasumigaoka Touji's calm voice echoed down the empty corridor.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura froze.
A terrible chill ran up her spine.
She felt it.
The premonition of doom.
And sure enough, it arrived.
"However…" Touji's smirk widened, baring neat, gleaming teeth, "Eriri Spencer Sawamura, you don't want the fact that you're Kashiwagi Eri-sensei to be exposed, do you?"
"E-E-EH?!"
Eriri's voice cracked like a glass cup hitting tile. She stumbled back a step, her twin tails bouncing like panicked squirrels as her face drained of color.
'How could you…?!' her eyes seemed to scream.
As a veteran doujinshi artist, she had drawn this scene dozens—no, hundreds—of times! The classic blackmail trope: 'You wouldn't want this to get out, would you, student?' Cue flushed cheeks and melodramatic reactions.
But this time—SHE was the heroine!?
Her face flushed bright red.
She clenched her fists, shaking with a mixture of fury and shame.
She loved drawing doujinshi. Loved it! But she didn't want to become one!
"Kasumigaoka-kun, do you want to end up like Anjima, Masahei!?" she growled, baring her small canine tooth in a gesture that was more adorable than threatening. Still, her tone was anything but.
"You're a beast!" she declared, voice trembling with betrayal. "I thought you were a decent student, but no! You're hiding your true colors! A total animal, that's what you are!"
Her mind whirled.
This corridor was deserted. The setting was perfect. Was this where the so-called "true intentions" would be revealed? Would he grab her shoulders and whisper sinister threats in her ear?
Touji's mouth opened.
Eriri's fists clenched harder.
If it came to it, she'd go full NEET! Lock herself in a room with Kani Nayuta and never come out again! At least she wouldn't be the only one—Yamada Elf, Nayuta-senpai, even Gabriel had all done it. She had backup!
But instead—
"Why are you bringing up Anjima, Masahei?"
Touji blinked and tilted his head, his expression innocent and a little amused.
"Relax, I'm not trying to blackmail you," he said at last, his voice calm. "If you don't want me to tell, I won't... as long as you help me draw a manga."
Eriri's brain short-circuited.
"...Hah!?"
She tilted her head like a confused anime heroine.
"What did you just say!?"
"I said," Touji repeated with a slight smile, "help me draw a manga. I've been planning a theme manga for my track, unravel. But my art is trash-tier, so I thought... why not ask a real pro?"
He paused, then added, "Of course, I'll pay. I'm not a slave driver."
"STOP, STOP, STOP—!"
Eriri held up her hands like she was warding off a ghost.
"Are you hearing yourself!? You want to make a manga based on a song?! I've seen a lot of weird stuff in this world, but this is on a whole new level!"
Usually, music came after the story. The soundtrack enhanced the mood and action. But this guy wanted the story to follow the music?!
She was so flabbergasted she actually forgot to be mad.
"Well, now you have," Touji said coolly, shrugging.
"..."
She was speechless.
The last time she'd been this stunned was the last time someone mistook her for a middle schooler.
"Sorry," she said at last, arms crossed, lips tight. "I don't have time to mess around. I'm super busy."
—Busy gaming. —Busy drawing. —Busy reading shoujo manga and crying at cliffhangers.
Her schedule was packed, okay!?
"Eriri Spencer Sawamura…" Touji began again.
But she cut him off immediately. "Are you trying to threaten me again!?"
This time, her glare was sharper than a freshly inked G-pen.
Now that she knew what he really wanted, her fear was gone.Not only was she not afraid, but she also wanted to punch him—a little. It honestly felt like she'd just been played like a total baka by this smug, unpredictable guy.
She was fuming!
If he dared to threaten her again, Eriri Spencer Sawamura would make sure he tasted her Twin-Tail Hurricane Slash firsthand!
If a tiger doesn't roar, do you think I'm just some fluffy house cat—!
"No, it's not..."
Touji waved his hand coolly, his demeanor flipping like a switch. In an instant, he transformed into a wise dream mentor, complete with sparkles and dramatic background music.
"I heard that all doujin artists want to become professional manga artists someday... to draw their own serialized manga properly and legitimately. Doesn't Eriri Spencer Sawamura have such a dream too?"
"You're talking to me about dreams?"
Eriri blinked, completely caught off guard. Then she scoffed, crossing her arms and glaring.
"You want me to help you draw manga and become a manga artist?"
She gave him a look that screamed, are you delusional?!
"Please, have a little self-awareness before you speak! Don't you know how unreliable you are?"
Touji didn't flinch. He just shrugged casually.
"So, you don't believe I can create an interesting story, huh?"
"Exactly!" she declared without hesitation, jabbing a finger at him.
Touji nodded thoughtfully, like a samurai accepting a challenge.
"Alright then. Tomorrow—no, I won't even wait that long. I'll write the first few chapters tonight and send them to you."
He sounded serious.
Eriri nearly choked on her own breath.
Are you for real? You're gonna write it tonight?! Do you think creating a compelling story is that easy?!
A part of her was offended on behalf of all creators. Still, the other part... was just a little curious.
She let out an annoyed breath and waved him off. "If Kasumigaoka-san can really write something interesting, then... helping you draw manga isn't completely off the table."
She pointed at him, eyes fierce.
"But it has to be interesting! Got it?!"
Touji grinned like a mischievous shonen protagonist.
"I understand! No problem!"
He raised a hand in a high-five pose. "It's a promise!"
"You're such a pain..."
Eriri rolled her eyes but high-fived him anyway. "It's a promise."
Then, with a softer tone, she glanced sideways and muttered, "About me being Kashiwagi Eri..."
"I won't tell anyone."
"What if your story sucks and I refuse to draw your manga?"
"Then I'll still keep your secret."
Eriri narrowed her eyes. Then she nodded, satisfied. "Good."
Touji looked just as pleased. He had full confidence he could come up with something that would touch her heart.
With mutual understanding in the air, they nodded, then turned toward the classroom to grab their school bags.
But just as they took a step—
A gentle voice, soft like petals drifting on a breeze, chimed in behind them:
"I won't tell anyone either~."
"Eh!?"
Touji and Eriri turned their heads sharply in unison, eyes wide with shock.
Standing there, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, was a familiar figure...
...