Shino Aki directly called Senju Muramasa.
"Um, um… Muramasa-sensei, you didn't… with Izumi-sensei, did you?"
"Which 'that'? That's nonsensical."
"It's that, you know, what boys and girls do, what Uncle warned about before…"
"Ah!?"
Senju Muramasa shrieked, her entire body steaming like a locomotive.
"No?"
"Of course not! I just slept over at Yamada-sensei's house next door last night, we didn't do that kind of thing."
"Oh, I misunderstood. I'm sorry, Muramasa-sensei…"
She then hung up the phone and turned around, meeting the surprised gazes of the crowd.
Upon seeing Izumi Chihiro, she immediately avoided his gaze, like a startled little rabbit.
"What kind of thing are you referring to?"
Kani Nayuta showed a mischievous smile, then, with a flash, placed her hands on her shoulders, pretending to whisper, but actually speaking very loudly.
"Th-th-th…"
Again led on, Senju Muramasa couldn't help but imagine certain indescribable scenes, becoming even more flustered.
"It's doing X, isn't it!"
Kani Nayuta had no reservations, her smile becoming even more amused as she spoke.
Senju Muramasa's body trembled even more violently, a blush gradually coloring her neck.
"You imagined it, didn't you! Hmph, outwardly cool, but actually Muramasa-sensei is a very lewd girl! This indeed is a subtle contrast, maybe Senpai would like it, you know…"
Kani Nayuta smiled playfully, then turned her head and said proudly, "But it's nothing, I'll tell everyone a secret: I often reward myself while fantasizing about Senpai!"
"Thank you for revealing a useless secret."
Izumi Chihiro raised his hand and said with a straight face.
However, besides him remaining calm, the other two present, Yamada Elf and Sagiri, had faces that turned into red apples.
Without mental preparation, facing Kani Nayuta's vulgar words, they couldn't always maintain their composure.
Once everyone had arrived, they didn't go directly to the bookstore, because it would be easy to block the entrance at that time. So they first had breakfast, and then they took action.
During this time, Shino Aki also arrived at the Izumi house and got to know the others.
After Kani Nayuta confirmed that the other party posed no threat, she turned her attention to him.
"Senpai, I can't wait any longer! It's time to go buy books together!"
The Silver-haired Girl tugged on his arm, acting cute and spoiled.
And so, the group majestically arrived at Takasago Bookstore, even startling Takasago Tomoe.
It wasn't that she hadn't seen so many people before, but the identities of the visitors truly shocked her. Leaving aside figures like Kani Nayuta, her favorite creator, Senju Muramasa, had actually arrived.
"Muramasa-sensei! I've admired you for a long time! Please give me an autograph!"
Saying this, Takasago Tomoe took out a copy of "fantasy demon blade chronicles."
"Mhm, mhm…"
Senju Muramasa was also facing such a situation for the first time and was a bit unaccustomed, but as soon as she remembered that the other party was Chihiro's friend, she nodded in agreement, even signing an entire set.
While they were busy there, the purchases here had already been completed, and they were ready to pay.
"Welcome back anytime!"
After paying, Takasago Tomoe enthusiastically waved goodbye for the first time.
…
Gathered again at the Izumi house, everyone sat together, except for Mashiro, who could stay indoors and focus on her drawing.
Since everyone was present and had the same purpose, they simply turned it into a book discussion convention. The theme, of course, was the eighth volume of "Re:zero - Starting Life In Another World" in their hands.
Everyone's gazes converged, filled with anticipation.
Next, the Sanctuary Arc would officially begin.
…
After bidding farewell to Crusch, Natsuki Subaru and Emilia, along with the villagers and the unconscious Rem, embarked on their journey home.
On the way home, Natsuki Subaru confessed to the half-elf girl: "Rem is just as important as Emilia."
This finally settled it!
Rem had been given the same standing as the heroine, and spoken from the protagonist's mouth, this also represented the author's intention.
This brought a little comfort to the previously resentful Rem faction, who had been blocking the doors.
The Rem faction members present visibly smiled, especially Kani Nayuta. She particularly liked characters who, once conquered, would dedicate themselves wholeheartedly, which gave her a strong sense of immersion.
Although Rem was temporarily offline, it was still much better than the setting of some supporting characters who accompany the entire journey but can only leave sadly in the end.
After all, there are too many pseudo-harem stories now, and being able to get a recognized position in advance is already a very rare thing.
"Senpai's thoughts, I understand!"
Kani Nayuta suddenly looked up at him and said.
Izumi Chihiro was utterly confused.
What did you understand?
…
After everyone returned to Arlam Village, the 'unexpected' happened, as readers had naturally anticipated: half of the villagers who had evacuated did not return home. Natsuki Subaru had no choice but to go to the Sanctuary with Emilia to investigate.
Just as they entered the Forest of Bewilderment.
In a trance, under the blue sky and white clouds, he saw a white-haired Witch on the dream-like grassland.
"My name is Echidna, or perhaps 'Witch of Greed' is a better self-introduction?"
A new character made a stunning appearance, and it was the Witch who had always been shrouded in mystery, instantly piquing everyone's interest.
Although the Witch of Greed Echidna was very charming in her various expressions, the readers had all seen the Sloth Archbishop's appearance before, so they wouldn't naively assume she was just a cute and innocent girl.
After a conversation and being granted the right to challenge the [Sanctuary], Natsuki Subaru awoke from the ruins, only to encounter Garfiel, whom he had been warned about, after stepping outside…
He passed through with some difficulty, but Roswaal informed him that they were under house arrest in the Sanctuary, and no one could leave unless they passed the Sanctuary trials.
Emilia took on the heavy responsibility and went to challenge it, but something went wrong with the trial. Natsuki Subaru, in a moment of urgency, rushed in and saw Emilia collapsed on the ground, but he fell down just as he was about to touch her.
"First, face your past…"
A voice from the unknown echoed.
The scene shifted, and the art style changed dramatically.
His long-lost family and daily life, as if everything he had experienced before was just a dream.
Emilia and Rem appeared in his heart one after another. Looking back at his forgotten past, Natsuki Subaru now had a different perspective on it.
If it were a typical wish-fulfillment fantasy in another world, such a plot would not be necessary, but for this story, it was very much needed.
To fill the void in his heart, to fill the blanks in his past.
In every aspect, it could further enrich the protagonist's character development, giving readers a sense of sudden enlightenment.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter