"You know it in your heart. Just don't hold Sagiri back."
Izumi Chihiro looked at her askance.
"I'll reiterate, I'm not joking anymore! My goal is to create the ultimate light novel and become the savior of the light novel industry! Eromanga-sensei, who is with me, will enjoy the same, supreme glory! From now on, Eromanga-sensei and I are the best combination!"
Yamada Elf lifted her white-stockinged feet and placed them on the sofa cushion between his spread legs, striking a pose of impassioned self-indulgence, as if giving a thrilling speech.
"From a certain perspective, someone who can say such things without wavering is indeed formidable. Even I wouldn't dare to speak with such confidence."
He looked down at the beautiful, snow-cream-like legs in white stockings that were translucent against her skin, then slowly looked up and said.
"If a person has no dreams, what's the difference between him and a salted fish? Is that your perspective, Chihiro? No wonder you only write depressing novels!"
Yamada Elf bent down, her palm-sized face magnified before his eyes. She poked his chest a few times with her finger, speaking in a tone of 'hating iron for not becoming steel'.
"What does this have to do with perspective? Are you just too lacking in self-awareness, Miss Elf?"
Izumi Chihiro raised an eyebrow and said, "Also, don't you think you're talking too close?"
Their eyes met, and as they spoke, they could even feel the warmth of each other's breath.
Yamada Elf only then realized it, a blush rapidly creeping up her ears, and she took a step back, facing away.
"I'm going to find Sagiri."
She hastily left a remark and rushed to the second floor.
On the spot, Izumi Chihiro's gaze was deep, lost in thought.
… …
The exchange conference, in addition to bringing everyone professional growth, also brought about some subtle changes.
The biggest change was that more and more people knew his address, so more visitors would be coming.
He hadn't told Nayuta his home address before precisely because he was worried this issue would affect his creative work.
"But now it doesn't matter. I've already entered a stable period in my career, unlike before when I was easily influenced by external factors."
Izumi Chihiro muttered to himself.
He was now completely at ease with whatever came his way, so he didn't pay it much mind. Ultimately, he wasn't someone who was good at refusing, and he had already prepared himself for this situation before it arose.
"Senior ~ Good afternoon!"
Another afternoon, a Silver-haired Girl in a blue and white checkered dress, full of youthful vigor, came to visit with a sweet smile.
"Good afternoon, Nayuta."
Izumi Chihiro responded, then softly said, "I'm starting work today, so I can't play with Nayuta for a while."
"Hmm…"
Kani Nayuta's expression was a little disappointed.
"Ah, alright, actually, I can also switch to working at night."
He sighed.
He had flexible ways of dealing with things.
"Then, Senior, let's play a two-player co-op game!"
Kani Nayuta instantly beamed with joy, her face full of smiles.
"Playing games, that's fine, but…"
Izumi Chihiro looked towards the second floor.
He hadn't forgotten a promise he once made to Sagiri, which was to always call her when playing games.
Soon, the two came downstairs.
"Huh? Didn't you say you were preparing to work? How come you changed your mind when Nayuta came over?!"
Yamada Elf immediately questioned.
"This shows that Senior has me in his heart ~"
Kani Nayuta replied with full confidence.
"Hmph? Aren't you thinking too much?! Maybe he just took pity on you, so he indulged you a little."
Yamada Elf immediately glared at her, her gaze gradually becoming disdainful.
"Hmph! You're just jealous, aren't you! Senior's affection for me is clearly greater than for Teacher Yamada…"
Kani Nayuta bared her teeth.
"I don't admit such a thing…!"
Yamada Elf gritted her teeth.
"Those two are still arguing over there."
Izumi Chihiro, who had just started the game, looked back.
Is this a love triangle?
No, it was just a simple quarrel.
"Ni-san, let's play our own game, don't mind them."
Sagiri grabbed his wrist with her left hand, and raised the controller with her right, eagerly.
"Okay…"
Just as he was answering, the doorbell suddenly rang again.
"Hmm? Someone else? Could it be Senior's childhood friend?"
Kani Nayuta immediately became alert.
"No, it should be that guy."
Yamada Elf shook her head.
He opened the door.
A girl with a cool, stern, watermelon-cut hairstyle, dressed in a kimono, appeared before everyone.
"It's you, Senju Muramasa!"
Yamada Elf said, as expected.
"Hmm? Why are all of you here?"
Senju Muramasa looked wary.
"She's here for Ni-san again!!"
Sagiri bit her lip.
Her blood pressure was really going to rise! There were too many rivals!
"Hmph…"
She took a deep breath, calming herself down.
While a fierce battle was raging on this side, the competition on the other side officially began.
"Is this Shiina's second submission? She's improved so much, and the theme is school idols! One of the characters looks so much like… could it be Chihiro's help?"
Eriri looked at Mashiro's second manga submission for the Newcomer Award, almost gritting her teeth as she read through it all, even pinching her thigh until red marks appeared.
Although this short manga submission wasn't perfect or astonishingly brilliant, it was very clear how much the creator had improved compared to her last one!
Whether it was the paneling or the character portrayal, everything was approaching the creation of a normal manga. At this point, Mashiro's amazing drawing skills came into play, helping her to quickly rise to the top of the Newcomer Award rankings!
"This is absolutely too strange!"
The blonde twin-tailed girl pulled her legs up, curled into a ball in the computer chair, and let out a frustrated growl, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
This feeling brought back memories of the fear of being dominated!
Before, she watched as the other person gradually widened the gap, reaching an unattainable level, and that feeling of powerlessness was unforgettable.
Now, although she was in the lead, she couldn't help but imagine herself being surpassed step by step, and then reliving that despair… No, that would be an even more profound and painful future!
"I thought I had overcome that fear, but… now it seems, am I still that useless?"
Eriri looked down at her palms, muttering to herself with a vacant stare.
"No! It shouldn't be like this!"
She clenched her fists again, her voice hoarse.
"The current me… has nothing left to fear!"
Even if she was all alone.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter