The dark night sky is dotted with stars, and the quiet of the evening allows thoughts to wander. In the Bunkyo Villa District, Yamada Elf lies in bed, her breathing shallow. Her golden hair is spread out like a cloud, contrasting with her fair, delicate skin. Her long, slightly shiny eyelashes flutter, making her look like a porcelain doll. Half-asleep, she can't shake the worry from her brow.
In her dream, the world is dark, with only a tiny light in the distance. She walks alone in the dream. In a daze, she sees a blurry figure in the light. Tap, tap, tap. Yamada Elf runs toward the light in her red leather shoes. As she gets closer, she sees the person's face. She feels a sense of relief, for she knows the boy.
"Ryosuke? Why are you here? Where are we?" Meeting a familiar person in a strange place, instead of walking alone in the darkness, dispels some of her fear. The boy doesn't answer. He just looks down at her, silent.
Suddenly, a tall woman with an excellent figure, whose face is also unclear, appears next to Hiratsuka Ryosuke. Yamada Elf takes two steps back in shock. She points at the blurry figure, her voice trembling. "Who... who is that?"
Ryosuke reaches out and wraps his arms around the woman. A smile she has never seen before, full of arrogance and contempt, appears on his usually calm face. "Yamada Elf, Teacher Kashiwagi Eri is mine now! She won't collaborate with you! There can only be one god who creates the perfect light novel, and that is me—Hiratsuka Ryosuke! Hahahaha!"
"Kashiwagi Eri? Wait, Ryosuke, where are you going? Don't go!" Ryosuke ignores her pleas. He holds Kashiwagi Eri and walks away. His arrogant laughter echoes in the dark space. Yamada Elf tries to chase them but can't catch up. She can only watch as their backs become smaller and smaller until they disappear.
"No!"
In reality, Yamada Elf wakes up with a jolt. She sits up in bed, panting heavily, her heart still pounding. Her back is soaked with sweat, and a thin layer of perspiration covers her pale forehead. After a while, she looks out the window. The night sky is vast, and the wind rustles the leaves, sending a cool breeze into her room.
"It was just a dream..." she whispers, shaking her head.
She gets up and pours herself a glass of water, gulping it down. The dream was so real that it made her uneasy. Yamada Elf takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly, and finds Hiratsuka Ryosuke's name on her phone.
"Come to my house tomorrow. I have something to tell you."
"By: Yamada Elf."
After sending the message, she collapses on the bed, lying flat on her back. After a long time, she falls into a deep sleep again.
In the morning, Hiratsuka Ryosuke arrives at Yamada Elf's house. He doesn't know why Elf sent him a message in the middle of the night, but it seems urgent because she didn't use her usual chuunibyo persona. A normal Yamada Elf's message would be, "Guardian Knight, come to the crystal castle where the fairy lives tomorrow."
He pushes open the old iron gate and walks into the yard. A melodious tune floats out from a side window. Ryosuke walks past the bushes to the half-open window. A gentle breeze carries the scent of grass and trees. The curtains inside dance to the rhythm of the piano, like an experienced dancer.
Ryosuke looks into the room. Yamada Elf is smiling, her head bobbing as she plays a cheerful song on the piano. Elf is completely naked, but it's not a provocative sight. Her fingers dance on the keys, and she becomes one with nature, like a real fairy from a fairytale—beautiful, pure, and natural.
Ryosuke's heart is as calm as ever. He walks to the front door of the villa and rings the doorbell. Elf's voice comes through the intercom, sounding a little rushed and full of resentment. "Who is it? I don't have a manuscript for you!"
Ryosuke bends slightly toward the intercom and says calmly, "Miss Yamada, may I ask why you are playing the piano in the nude?"
Inside, Yamada Elf freezes, the receiver in her hand. Her eyes are wide, her mouth is agape, and her eyebrows are furrowed in a confused state. She is motionless for a moment, then, like a wind-up toy, she springs to life, running around the room and muttering to herself.
"Wh-where are my bloomers? One stocking, two stockings, two shoes, too! What shoes do I even wear at home?" Thump, thump, thump The sound of her hurried footsteps comes from inside the house.
Click! The villa door opens. Yamada Elf, wearing a pink Lolita dress but with her small, white feet bare, holds a broom high in the air. "You pervert!" she yells, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Ryosuke stands still, his expression calm as he meets her gaze. "Oh? Ryosuke, you're here so fast?" she says, lowering the broom in surprise.
"So, Teacher Elf, why were you in the nude in this place?" Ryosuke asks, holding up a hand. His voice betrays no emotion.
"That's because... it's my hobby!" Elf says, timidly at first, then with confidence as she puts her hands on her hips. She spins on her toes, her skirt ruffles fluttering. "After a bath, when I play the piano naked, great stories pop into my mind!" she says, winking with her large, expressive eyes.
Ryosuke shakes his head. "So, why did you message me in the middle of the night, Teacher Elf?"
At the mention of business, Yamada Elf moves to the side, inviting Ryosuke into her "crystal castle." In the living room, Ryosuke sits on the sofa. Elf brings a teapot from the kitchen and pours him some tea. She acts like a prim and proper lady, without her usual hyperactivity or chuunibyo antics, which makes Ryosuke, who knows her well, a little uncomfortable. He glances at the piano in the distance.
Yamada Elf follows his gaze. The air freezes for a moment. "I... I'm asking you, what are you imagining when you look at my piano?" she says, her face flushed, her cheeks puffed out.
"So, now can you tell me why you called me here?" Ryosuke doesn't lie, so he changes the subject.
Yamada Elf doesn't dwell on her embarrassment. She has something more important to do. She takes a sip of her tea, puts down her cup, and gets straight to the point. "Ryosuke, you know Kashiwagi Eri, right?"
Ryosuke nods. He finally realizes why the name sounded so familiar. He had heard it once before during his summer vacation. Ryosuke stays silent, waiting for her to continue.
Yamada Elf thinks about her dream from last night and can't distinguish between reality and fantasy. The sight of her friend holding a tall, sexy Kashiwagi Eri with an arrogant look on his face makes her feel inexplicably wronged. She looks down at her lap and clenches her fists. After a deep breath, she looks up, her voice becoming strong and confident.
"I know she's yours now, but I will make Kashiwagi Eri change her mind and draw the ultimate light novel illustrations for me!"