Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Eriri's Aura Failure Activated!
Chapter 108: Eriri's Aura Failure Activated!
"From today, fall in love seriously..."
Kato Megumi read the title of the show.
"That's right, it's short for KoiKoi, a super popular dating show."
Eriri looked very excited.
Seeing that Kato Megumi still seemed not to understand, Kasumigaoka spoke up to explain:
"A dating show means a group of famous stars act out a love story in front of the camera."
"Usually, they claim there's no script, or it's called a reality show, where the crew just films, and the stars express themselves freely."
"But in reality, it's just a bunch of people wearing masks, cooperating to make money, creating surprise situations to increase viewer ratings."
"I didn't expect you, Sawamura-san, to like this kind of show... Oh, it's because no one loves you in real life, right?"
Eriri: !
"Why explain like that, and then attack me!? You're the one no one loves!"
"Besides, even in variety shows, some people really fall in love, and some even got married in previous seasons!"
"You just have a gloomy personality, so you see everything in a negative light!"
In response to Eriri's rebuttal, Kasumigaoka Utaha only smiled faintly.
Then, she leaned toward Yukima Azuma beside her.
This simple action made Eriri immediately fly into a rage.
Yukima Azuma reached out to hold Eriri back as she lunged toward Utaha, trying to mediate between the two.
"Azuma! You tell us, who's right?"
Held by the forehead, Eriri looked toward Yukima Azuma.
"That's right, Lonely-kun, tell this idiot how dark the world really is."
Kasumigaoka Utaha also looked toward Yukima Azuma.
Being seen as the referee, Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Everything you two said, when added together, is pretty much how things really are."
"The basic goal of dating shows is to make money, so there's always some element of acting involved."
"But that being said, even without the cameras, no one easily reveals their inner self."
"This isn't at home, where you can be free; you still have to wear a mask, right? Stop it, you two."
Under the sofa, Eriri's white legs and Kasumigaoka Utaha's black legs were tangled together.
Secretly kicking and shoving each other.
Almost knocking over the drinks on the table.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's judgment, the two girls finally quieted down.
Although, because Yukima Azuma didn't side with one of them, both were somewhat dissatisfied.
But Yukima Azuma's words made sense.
After all, Utaha was an icy girl at school, a talented light novel author.
And Eriri, a girl with twin blonde braids, was a perfect Oujou-sama at school, a half-blooded artist.
Only when at Yukima's house could the two freely kick each other and argue back and forth.
"Naruhodo."
Kato Megumi clapped her hands once, indicating she understood.
What exactly she understood, though, only Kato Megumi knew.
...
The dating show began airing.
Three men and three women, six guests, all high school students.
There were actors, singers, and YouTubers.
The filming location was also at some school.
The director probably wanted to create a feeling of a school romance-comedy story.
When a short-haired girl with purple-blue hair appeared in front of the camera.
"Wow." Eriri softly exclaimed. "It's Kurokawa Akane, she's really participating in this dating show."
"Ah, I think I've seen her on TV." Kato Megumi said softly.
"She's a fairly famous actress; in a movie adapted from a game I like, she played the second female lead."
"Really?"
Yukima Azuma looked at the girl on the screen, thinking for a moment.
Kurokawa... Akane.
Kasumigaoka Utaha curiously leaned closer.
"What's up, do you know her?"
Yukima Azuma shook her head.
"I don't know her, just remember someone like that, but never mind, it's not important."
Seeing Yukima Azuma shake her head, Kasumigaoka was slightly suspicious.
Because Yukima Azuma's expression just now clearly suggested there was something more.
At this moment, Yukima Azuma pointed at a blonde girl with devil horns on the screen.
"I know her."
This statement immediately caught the attention of the three girls.
When all three looked toward her, Yukima Azuma briefly explained:
"She's a YouTuber, named MEM-Cho, with 370,000 followers and many active followers."
"When White Album was looking for online promoters, they invited her."
"Her trial videos have the highest views among YouTubers in the same price range, and her results are excellent."
"She's someone we've worked with before."
Upon hearing this, the three girls immediately understood.
Their gaze at the girl with devil horns softened considerably.
After all, she was someone who helped promote the club's work.
Of course, the money has been received in advance.
.....
The first two episodes of the dating show didn't stand out much.
But the director managed to create a very good sense of youthfulness.
Moreover, the actors were all real high school students.
So overall, it was still quite interesting.
...
Time passed quietly until noon.
Yukima Azuma stood up and stretched.
"I'm going to cook, who wants to help me?"
Normally, Kato Megumi would be the one to help cook.
Because Kato Megumi's cooking skills were very high.
But today,
Eriri raised her hand.
"I, I'll help!"
Kato Megumi, who was about to stand up, silently sat back down when she saw this.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma didn't say anything like, "Can you even do it?"
He simply nodded.
At this moment, Eriri was visibly excited.
Finally, it was her turn to show off her skills!
Since the midterm exams,
Eriri had been learning to cook under the guidance of Sayuri, her mother.
The goal was so that at times like this, she could actively step in and stay in the kitchen with Yukima Azuma.
The position in the kitchen was something Eriri had long been looking forward to.
Moreover, as long as she could demonstrate her excellent cooking skills,
She was sure it would make Yukima Azuma feel her charm!
Eriri thought to herself.
The two were about to head into the kitchen.
Then, Yukima Azuma's phone rang on the coffee table.
"Azuma-san, your phone."
Kato Megumi picked up Yukima Azuma's phone, flipped it over, and then picked it up.
She didn't glance at the screen out of curiosity, simply handing it back to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma didn't care.
"Ah, can you check who it is? If it's not something work-related, I won't bother. Cooking is more important."
Hearing this, Kato Megumi turned the phone back over.
Then,
Kato Megumi's eyes widened slightly.
After a brief pause of less than a second,
"This is a Line message, sent by a girl with an anime character avatar in pink."
Kato Megumi's light description made the atmosphere grow tense.
Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, as if she had used teleportation, immediately moved next to Kato Megumi to look at the phone.
"The sender says: 'Hello, sorry to bother you, I really like you...' the rest is cut off."
"It seems the Line name is EroManga."
The tense atmosphere seemed to gradually boil over.
It felt like there was wood burning in the room, crackling.
Yukima Azuma took the phone and sat back down on the sofa.
Without any attempt at concealment, he unlocked the phone and opened the Line interface.
The best solution here was to speak directly.
After all, Yukima Azuma had nothing to hide.
After all, there was no way Sora Ginko would suddenly send a message like this.
Hmm... and she couldn't possibly be using a pink animated avatar.
When the phone was unlocked,
The Line interface appeared.
It fully displayed the content of the message.
It was a friend request message.
The full text was:
"Hello, sorry to bother you, I really like your light novel, and I would love to illustrate your novel by any means."
After seeing the entire message,
Kato Megumi's tuberose-colored eyes returned to their normal state.
"Ah, Azuma-san is writing a light novel?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up and yawned.
"How boring, I'm going to lie down for a bit. Call me when it's time to eat."
As for Eriri,
Eriri was extremely worried.
"Light novel? Illustration? What's going on? When? Why didn't I know about this?"
"Why did Azuma's light novel hire other illustrators for the job?"
"I don't understand! Why not pick me, someone as talented as this, and choose some stranger instead?"
"I'm Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, you know!"
Eriri loudly proclaimed her identity as an R18 illustrator, something she had never admitted before.
After her "mixed blood" trait was threatened by other,
After being mocked as "just a close friend" who knew nothing,
Even the "rights" to her illustration work were taken away.
It's ruined.
Now, she truly has no place anymore!
Upon hearing Eriri's declaration,
Yukima Azuma only had a confused expression.
"But, Eriri, didn't you complain every day about your work piling up and being unable to keep up?"
"Yesterday, you even said 'I'm in such a rush, the deadline is almost breaking my hands, I'm so exhausted,' or something like that."
"Since you said that, I was left with no choice but to hire other illustrators."
"I didn't want to hire any subpar illustrators, after all, this is a light novel I've invested my heart and soul into."
"But compared to the work or the piece itself, of course, Eriri is more important."
After hearing Yukima Azuma's explanation,
Eriri froze.
Her eyes slowly lost their light.
She had only wanted to complain about the workload to receive encouragement from Yukima Azuma.
Words like "Gambare Gambare, Sasuga Eriri, Sugoi, Saiko" that she had seen on Line these past few days had made her so excited that she felt like she was flying.
But the result came too quickly.
Eriri was almost on the verge of crying out of anger at herself.
"Sorry, I... Anyway, if the illustrator isn't good enough, can I... can I do the illustration work?"
Eriri realized this was the result of her own making, and since she had matured a little, no longer being (still trying) the tsundere girl, she quietly proposed her thought.
"Umu, of course, that's fine."
Yukima Azuma replied, but in his heart, he sighed.
Could Eriri's luck really be this bad? Is this the "failure aura of the female leads" from legends?
And receiving the confirmation from Yukima Azuma.
Eriri looked at Kato Megumi with hopeful eyes.
"By the way, what was the name of the illustrator applying?"
Kato Megumi, upon hearing that, tapped her cheek and thought for a moment.
"Seems like the name was Eromanga, it does sound a bit special."
Immediately, Eriri buried her head into the sofa.
Only the two blonde braids hung down behind her.
Eriri: It's okay, I'm fine.
Eriri: I just need to cry for a month and it'll be fine.
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