After the family trip, the long summer vacation was still ongoing.
Besides maintaining his daily work progress, Izumi Chihiro occasionally played console games with Sagiri, read novels, and balanced work and rest.
Daily life was much calmer than during school, with no opportunities to interact with classmates, nor the occasional encounters with his childhood friend on the way to school.
But such days didn't last long.
Finally, one day, Eriri came knocking.
"Are you going to the Summer Comiket? I heard that several major circles have new releases recently… If you don't have time, you don't have to come along; I'm quite comfortable browsing by myself."
She asked directly, getting straight to the point, and then added a useless remark.
"Yes, since Eriri, you've said so, of course I'll be interested. It's a good chance to add some stock."
Izumi Chihiro said.
Upon receiving this answer, Eriri left contentedly.
When the day of the Summer Comiket arrived.
Eriri changed into a disguise: denim overalls and black-rimmed glasses, with her proud golden hair hidden under an earthy-colored hat.
It was a very otaku style, and a clever disguise; it would be hard for anyone not intimately familiar with her to recognize the young lady of the Sawamura family at first glance.
Although ACG culture wasn't widely accepted on campus, its influence was indeed present, so it wasn't impossible to run into schoolmates at the Comiket.
To avoid exposing herself, such a disguise was clearly necessary.
"Chihiro."
Eriri's gaze suddenly fell on him.
"I don't need to do that. I don't have the same burden as you, and it doesn't matter if people find out… If I really get discovered, couldn't you just ignore me at school then?"
Izumi Chihiro said, shrugging his hands.
He had never deliberately shown his preference for ACG culture at school, so he wouldn't be seen as 'weird.' As his childhood friend, Eriri's reputation wasn't harmed either, so their relationship at school also seemed good.
"O-okay."
Eriri pouted, remaining silent for a long moment.
Because a strange feeling of emotion welled up in her heart.
She actually knew in her heart that if it weren't for a deep bond, he wouldn't have said such words.
To be understood like this, a childhood friend is indeed the best kind of character!
The two entered the Comiket venue.
The two followed the crowded flow of people all the way to the innermost part.
"Chihiro, come with me for a moment."
In the crowd, Eriri grabbed his wrist and walked towards another direction.
Izumi Chihiro knew in his heart that she wanted to see how her own circle was doing.
"It looks like we might sell a lot on the first day."
Eriri looked at the queue of people, a smug expression on her face.
"Yes, Teacher Kashiwagi Eri is truly amazing!"
Izumi Chihiro complimented her from the side.
"Of course… No, wait!"
Eriri turned her head, her tone a little resentful, "How do I feel like Chihiro, you're being sarcastic! No matter how well I sell, it can't be better than you, right!"
"Eh eh eh, Eriri, you've misunderstood me. I spoke from the heart. After all, your doujinshi can't be sold openly like mine, and the actual audience will only be smaller, so to sell this many is truly impressive."
He said with sincere eyes.
"Then I'll believe you this once."
Eriri looked at him suspiciously.
The market for doujinshi comics is indeed too limited. Kashiwagi Eri, with her current status, has almost reached the pinnacle, but her fame in the ACG circle now pales in comparison to Izumi Masamune.
There's nothing she can do about it; this is a natural disparity. No matter how well she draws, it's the same, and everyone's selling point is identical. How much better can it really be?
The drawing skills of those veteran artists might not even be inferior to hers.
"By the way, Eriri, it seems like a new work is being released this time, right?"
He changed the subject.
"Yes, it's because your work progress is too slow, and I can't just do nothing, can I? So, according to everyone's requests, I drew two characters from Senju Muramasa-sensei's 'fantasy demon blade chronicles'... What, are you interested?"
Eriri feigned the composure of a doujinshi artist, unaware that the blush on her face had already spread to her earlobes.
Being a doujinshi artist, but still pure at heart... there's nothing wrong with that, right?
"Are you talking about physiologically, or psychologically?"
Izumi Chihiro replied without changing his expression.
He felt that if he asked any further, the conversation would really veer into some strange topic, so Eriri, as a doujinshi artist, proactively changed the subject.
"That kind of thing doesn't matter, right! Don't forget our purpose for coming today. If we keep dawdling, our time will run out."
"It's you, Eriri, who's dawdling. Otherwise, we could have already gone to queue up and buy them."
"You're still talking! Aren't you going?"
Eriri raised her delicate eyebrows.
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye. It wasn't until the morning session ended that the two managed to purchase the games they wanted by queuing.
In fact, it wasn't impossible to get them through connections, but in that case, the items in their hands would lose some of their 'hard-earned' value.
At this moment, at the Izumi.
"Is Ni-san still working in his room? I'll go call Ni-san out..."
Sagiri sat down in her chair, only to find that the familiar spot was empty.
"No need, Chihiro went out to a comic convention. Since traveling back and forth is too troublesome, he ate out."
Mrs. Izumi stopped her action.
"He went to a comic convention?!"
Sagiri's expression showed surprise.
"Mm."
Mrs. Izumi nodded.
"Ugh..."
Sagiri looked wronged.
Ni-san abandoned me!
"Speaking of which, Sagiri has never been to one before, right? But it's still too early for Sagiri to go there. Wait a few more years, then let your brother take you together."
Mrs. Izumi suddenly remembered.
That kind of place is also a mixed bag. Although with her brother's protection, safety is not an issue, she was afraid of being exposed to some inappropriate works.
"Ah? Still a few more years?"
Sagiri was almost in tears.
"Yes, at least until you, Sagiri, go to middle school."
Mrs. Izumi's tone was unquestionable.
"I understand..."
Sagiri replied weakly.
...
At the comic convention.
Izumi Chihiro and Eriri found a random restaurant outside to have lunch.
"Come on, Chihiro, draw lots! Whoever draws it pays!"
The girl started playing a game as well.
Paying was a drop in the ocean for the two of them, but being the European Emperor versus the African Chief was a different feeling!
The results were clear.
Eriri, won!
"Hahaha..."
Izumi Chihiro was inevitably teased by her and reluctantly pulled out his wallet.
After a short wait, the afternoon exhibition reopened.
At this time, the number of people had not decreased much, so it was still a bit crowded, but this still couldn't stop everyone's enthusiasm, and no one was willing to back down.
After purchasing games from major publishers in the morning, the afternoon was the equally important gold-panning session.