"Well? How is it?"
The moment Kani Nayuta set the final page of the manuscript down on her lap, Eriri Spencer Sawamura—who had been nervously nibbling on a piece of mango the entire time—leaned forward, her question bursting out with barely restrained anticipation. Her sky-blue eyes, wide behind her glasses, fixed on the silver-haired author's face, searching for a verdict.
"I think it's really good," Kani Nayuta said after a thoughtful pause, her finger tracing the edge of the crisp paper. "It has a solid narrative foundation, builds suspense effectively, and most importantly… it makes you genuinely eager to see what happens next."
The first chapter's content was a masterclass in efficient, gripping setup. It opened with a vague, almost urban-legend-like description of the mysterious creatures known as Ghouls, setting a tone of eerie normalcy.
That normalcy was then violently shattered by the protagonist's harrowing first encounter. The subsequent 'accident,' the life hanging by a thread, the desperate, forbidden organ transplant that transformed him into a half-human, half-ghoul hybrid—it was a whirlwind of dark intrigue that hooked the reader instantly. The promise of the struggles and horrors to come was palpable.
And then there was the character of Rize Kamishiro—the alluring, dangerously sexy pseudo-heroine whose introduction was crafted to make any reader's pulse quicken and their interest spike.
"What about the art style?" Eriri pressed, her professional pride as an illustrator on the line. "Any areas that feel off or need improvement?"
Kani Nayuta didn't hesitate. "The art style is excellent. More than excellent—it's meticulously detailed. I can't find any flaws, Eriri Spencer-senpai. You've drawn it with incredible care."
"Is that so? You shouldn't just flatter me because we're friends, you know!" Eriri's protest was weak, betrayed by the unstoppable upward curve of her pink lips and the delighted glow in her eyes.
Kani Nayuta waved a dismissive hand. "No flattery. It's the honest truth."
"In that case… I can finally breathe a real sigh of relief," Eriri said, her whole posture relaxing as she raised a hand to pat her modest chest with a genuine smile.
Their conversation flowed naturally from there, meandering from the intricacies of manga pacing to shared interests in recent video game releases, and eventually landing on the topic of their reclusive neighbor, Yamada Elf.
Since Eriri was visiting the area, she suggested paying a visit to Elf's place after lunch. As for whether the famously shut-in game-obsessed illustrator would welcome them… neither of them was particularly worried.
After all, Eriri and Yamada Elf were gaming comrades who had met in the real world, bonded by countless virtual battles—a friendship forged in the digital trenches.
****
Time slipped by in pleasant conversation, and before they knew it, the clock had swept past noon.
From the kitchen, Kasumigaoka Touji's voice rang out, summoning them to the feast. "Lunch is ready!"
The three girls—Kasumigaoka Utaha descending from her writer's garret, Kani Nayuta, and Eriri Spencer Sawamura—gathered around the dining table, and a collective, appreciative silence fell.
The table was a breathtaking spread of culinary artistry. Each dish was a vibrant splash of color, their tantalizing aromas weaving together into an irresistible symphony. The presentation was flawless, a testament to the chef's skill and aesthetic sense.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura, experiencing Kasumigaoka Touji's cooking for the first time, couldn't suppress an audible swallow. "This is… so lavish! And everything looks impossibly delicious…"
One had to admit, his reputation as a top-tier food vlogger was utterly deserved. Even before tasting, the visual and olfactory promise was enough to declare these dishes exceptional.
"Well, when a valuable partner—ahem, collaborator—visits for the first time, of course I have to pull out all the stops," Kasumigaoka Touji said with a grin, raising his glass of sparkling cola. "But first, a toast!"
"Kanpai!" Kani Nayuta echoed with infectious enthusiasm.
Following her lead, Kasumigaoka Utaha and a slightly flustered Eriri also raised their glasses. A chorus of "Kanpai!" filled the room, glasses clinked together with cheerful chimes, and everyone took their first sip. Kasumigaoka Touji noted with satisfaction that the formal tension around Eriri seemed to dissolve a little further.
Chopsticks in hand, Eriri stared at the array of unfamiliar, beautifully arranged dishes. "Are these all… Chinese cuisine?"
"That's right," Kasumigaoka Touji confirmed, gesturing with his own chopsticks as he named them off. "Stir-fried beef with green peppers, candied sweet potatoes, dry-fried king prawns, braised eggplant with minced pork, crab hot pot, West Lake beef soup, steamed abalone with garlic and vermicelli…" He paused, his eyes twinkling. "For a first-timer, I personally highly recommend the dry-fried prawns and the crab hot pot."
Taking his recommendation as gospel, Eriri, Utaha, and Kani Nayuta all reached for those two dishes simultaneously for their first bite.
Kasumigaoka Touji, meanwhile, used a communal serving spoon to place a portion of the tender, savory stir-fried beef with green peppers onto his own rice. His family usually practiced divided servings, but for a communal Chinese feast like this, sharing from the central plates felt more authentic and festive.
As he savored the perfectly seasoned beef, he watched the reactions across the table. Opposite him, Eriri Spencer Sawamura's eyes fluttered closed as she tasted a crispy, flavor-packed prawn, an expression of pure, unadulterated rapture spreading across her face.
Kani Nayuta, never one for restraint, was already vocalizing her praise between delighted bites. Seeing their enjoyment, a deep sense of satisfaction warmed Kasumigaoka Touji from within, brightening his own mood considerably.
****
After the leisurely, satisfying meal, the group worked together to clear the table and tidy the kitchen. With the domestic chores complete, Kasumigaoka Touji finally made his way to the sofa, picking up the manuscript that had been waiting patiently for his review.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura immediately perched on the edge of the cushion beside him, her earlier nervousness returning in a subtle wave. Kani Nayuta's approval had been a boost, but this was her primary collaborator. His judgment was the one that truly mattered.
The atmosphere in the sunlit living room grew quietly focused, almost heavy with anticipation.
Kasumigaoka Touji read slowly, absorbing every panel, every line of text, every shadow and expression Eriri had poured onto the pages. Several minutes passed in near silence, broken only by the soft rustle of paper.
Finally, he looked up.
"It's excellent. Truly, it exceeds my expectations."
His smile was warm and genuine, and like a spell being broken, the tension in the room instantly evaporated, replaced by a buoyant lightness.
"R-Really?" Eriri was caught off guard for a second by the direct praise, then let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. A proud, complacent smile bloomed on her face.
"Yes, absolutely," he affirmed with a firm nod. He meant it. The original Tokyo Ghoul, serialized years earlier, had an art style that felt somewhat dated by contemporary standards. Eriri's artwork was sharper, more dynamic, and visually stunning.
Furthermore, her character design for Rize Kamishiro—skillfully balancing allure with a sense of danger, showing just the right amount of skin to enhance the character's appeal without being gratuitous—was a marked improvement. The reading experience was genuinely elevated.
"Don't let it go to your head, though. Keep this up," he said, giving her a metaphorical shot of encouragement. "The next big manga artist is you!"
"Who would get arrogant over something this minor?! I'm not a child, you know!" Eriri fired back instantly, her cheeks tinting pink as she lapsed into a classic tsundere retort.
"Yes, yes, of course," Kasumigaoka Touji replied, his smile turning indulgent. He then picked up the manuscript and held it out towards Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had been pretending to be engrossed in her smartphone on a nearby armchair.
"Utaha, would you like to take a look?" He had a strong suspicion she was curious but was either too proud to ask Eriri directly or didn't want to break the fragile truce. The fact that she was still lingering in the living room instead of retreating to her room was proof enough.
"Hmm… I suppose I could take a glance. It's not as if I have anything pressing to do at the moment," Kasumigaoka Utaha said, turning her head with an air of casual indifference. She set her phone down and accepted the pages.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura, for her part, pretended to suddenly find her own phone incredibly fascinating, looking down at its screen with intense concentration.
Kani Nayuta watched their little dance with amusement, then leaned forward from behind the sofa, wrapping her arms around Kasumigaoka Touji's neck in a loose hug. "Winter-sensei, later, Eriri Spencer-senpai and I are planning to pop over to Elf's place for a bit."
"Oh? Have the two of you already arranged it with Yamada Elf-san?" he asked casually, tilting his head back to look at her.
"Not exactly. But she hardly ever goes out anyway, so we can just show up. She's always home."
"Alright."
"Winter-sensei," Kani Nayuta pressed her cheek against his shoulder, her voice taking on a coaxing tone as she looked at his profile. "Are you coming?"
If he wanted to join, she wouldn't mind bringing her 'family member' along at all.
"I'll pass," Kasumigaoka Touji declined without a second thought. He wasn't particularly close with Yamada Elf, and tagging along on what was essentially a girls' hangout session felt like an intrusion. It was better to sit this one out.
Hearing his refusal, Kani Nayuta didn't press the issue, simply giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze before letting go.