"She doesn't need to stand on a higher stage; she is already the lead on a certain stage." Leaving Akane Kousaka with a mysterious smile, Ito Rin turned and left... it's really exciting to show off and then run away. The only regret Ito Rin had was that he didn't have reflective glasses on his face; otherwise, pushing them up would have been a manga panel.
Honestly, probably only Mashiro wouldn't be tempted. If it were anyone else... for example, Eriri, or Ito Rin himself, they would definitely agree instantly. Closing the door, Ito Rin stretched vigorously. This way, she should no longer harass Mashiro. After saying goodbye to the drunk Akane Kousaka, Ito Rin didn't go home or to Sagiri's house. Instead, he took out his phone and opened the chat interface with Eriri.
Most of the several missed calls on his phone were from Eriri... yesterday at Comiket, Ito Rin had asked Eriri for a signed book to give to Misaki. Ito Rin: [Are you awake?] As a manga artist, especially during a holiday, it was quite normal to stay up late and wake up late; sleeping until the afternoon was common. Eriri: [Not yet awake.] Hmm... not being awake yet was also quite normal.
Eriri: [Why are you up so early? Did you party too much and had to finish early? So you woke up early?] Eriri noticed at Comiket that day that Ito Rin had gone back with those girls before Comiket even ended at noon... If it were anyone else, Eriri would just think they were tired from Comiket and he was taking them back. But for Ito Rin... Eriri strongly suspected that Ito Rin had partied with them last night, and last night Eriri called him to confirm when to give Misaki the book, but he didn't answer. He must have been partying and couldn't answer the phone!
Ito Rin: [No, no, I fought until dawn. Eriri, have you been masturbating until dawn since you haven't slept yet?] Eriri, on the other end of the phone, twitched her mouth. You're partying, so I can only masturbate alone? Eriri: [Hmph... I found several handsome guys to have a research party with!] Her finger tapped the phone screen hard, making a tapping sound. Although she said that, what made Eriri a little sad was that she indeed masturbated alone last night. Even sadder was that the material for masturbation was from the last research party, and she was imagining Hana Ren eating Baumkuchen like a puppy. The most fatal part was that she had climaxed several times. He absolutely, absolutely must not know about this!
Ito Rin: [Research party? So you don't mind if people know you're Kashiwagi Eri?] Eriri: [Don't tell anyone!!!!! I'll kill you! If you dare to tell, I'll kill you and then myself!] Ito Rin: [Don't make it sound like a lovers' suicide. It would be terrible if people thought I was a couple with the perverted humiliation manga artist Kashiwagi Eri.]
Ito Rin: [Stop talking about that. Where should we meet? Should I pick you up at your house?] Eriri: [Why do you want to know where my house is? Do you want to attack me?] Ito Rin: [With your flat chest, I'd want to attack you? Since I don't need to pick you up, let's meet here.] Then Ito Rin sent Eriri the location of a family restaurant. It was getting late, so they could also have lunch.
Afterward, Ito Rin opened the chat interface with Misaki. Ito Rin: [I've already arranged with my friend; she'll bring a signed book by Kashiwagi Eri sensei to give to you later.] Eriri had always worked online, and besides Ito Rin and them, the equation Sawamura Eriri = Kashiwagi Eri was only known to Eriri's parents. Eriri was very envious of Ito Rin being able to chat with fans and have cute fans cosplay as his signboard girl. Although she had secretly met Misaki at Comiket, Eriri wanted to personally give the signed book to Misaki. However, not as Kashiwagi Eri, but as Sawamura Eriri.
After receiving Ito Rin's message, Misaki almost instantly replied. Ito Rin could imagine Misaki's excited expression on the other end of the phone. Misaki: [!!!!] Misaki: [Really!?] Misaki: [When? Where?] Ito Rin sent Misaki the location of the family restaurant, but the agreed time was slightly later than the time arranged with Eriri.
Arriving at the restaurant early, Ito Rin ordered a bowl of pork cutlet rice bowl and a cup of soda, and started eating with gusto. From last night until now, he had been fighting almost all night, one battle after another. Sagiri and the others were fine; they had plenty of protein and burped in their sleep. Ito Rin hadn't eaten anything all night!
"Snap~" Before Ito Rin had finished eating, a green figure sat down opposite him. He looked up to see Eriri, wearing her familiar dark green tracksuit, sitting opposite him... As expected of the Golden-Haired Tsundere, she liked to wear green clothes, just missing a green hat. Ito Rin was very familiar with the green tracksuit; Eriri had worn it at Comiket and at the last party. However, today Eriri didn't tie her waist-length blonde hair into twin tails but instead coiled it at the back of her head and wore a brown beret. With a changed hairstyle and a hat, Eriri gave Ito Rin a completely different feeling. Before, she was a tsundere with twin tails; today, she felt like a wife preparing to track down and catch her cheating husband. Even acquaintances wouldn't dare to directly go up and greet Eriri looking like this.
"You started eating without waiting for me; are you that hungry?" Eriri raised her hand, called a waitress, ordered a fried shrimp curry rice, and then glanced at Ito Rin. "You're paying today..." She paused, looking left and right, then lowered her voice like a thief. "What time did you arrange with Misaki?" Ito Rin glanced at his phone. "About half an hour... Aren't you afraid she'll recognize you?"
Under the table, Eriri gently kicked Ito Rin with her toe, then bared two small canine teeth, threatening fiercely, "As long as you don't say anything, how will she know? I'm telling you... if you dare to say anything, I... I'll really kill you and then myself!" "Don't worry, but... don't blame me if you let it slip yourself." "How could I possibly let it slip? Hmph... from junior high until now, none of my friends even know I like anime, manga, or GALGAMEs. I've never let it slip... Why are you looking at me with such pitiful eyes! As if you're pitying me for not having friends!" "Pfft... you said that yourself." Ito Rin wiped the oil from his mouth, then asked tentatively, "Speaking of which... since childhood, have none of your friends really known about your interests?" "Of course not... well, there was one, but we broke up in elementary school."
Hearing Eriri's answer, Ito Rin raised an eyebrow, a smile unconsciously appearing on his lips.