Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

The hardest part of any task is the beginning.

Though the process had been full of twists and turns, Kanade Natsukawa and Eriri managed to finish coloring the manuscript.

The strange occurrences during the process were minimal. Occasionally, Eriri would glance over at him, only to quickly look away when their eyes met.

Kanade chalked it up to her being a perfectionist. As a professional illustrator, it was only natural for her to keep a close eye on the quality of her work—even if that work happened to be doujinshi.

"Finally done..." Kanade exhaled a long breath, stretching to relieve the tension in his body.

"And you? Are you finished, Eriri—"

The words caught in his throat as he turned and saw Eriri slumped over her desk, sound asleep.

Her delicate face was turned toward him, her nose twitching slightly in time with her steady breathing. Her lips parted ever so slightly, releasing quiet murmurs:

"Slower… no, faster…"

Kanade chuckled, amused by her dedication. "Even in your dreams, you're still working. Truly the mark of a pro."

The day had slipped by without his notice. The sky outside was already a deep shade of twilight. While he hadn't felt the hours pass as they worked, the sudden hunger gnawing at his stomach and the light-headedness from prolonged concentration reminded him how long they had been at it.

Kanade decided not to wake her. Instead, he gently scooped her up and carried her to her bed.

Sleeping while slumped over wasn't good for her posture, and it was chilly enough that she risked catching a cold. Fortunately, her bear-themed pajamas spared him the awkwardness of having to change her clothes.

"Goodnight, little golden-haired fool," he murmured, his tone warm with lingering affection.

Even though she had rejected him, Kanade didn't harbor resentment—just a bittersweet sense of regret. Eriri had handled their situation with grace, neither avoiding him nor making their interactions awkward.

After tucking her in and leaving a glass of water on her nightstand, Kanade quietly exited the house.

Too tired to think about cooking or even picking up food on his way home, he hailed a taxi and gave the driver his address.

The rhythmic hum of the car lulled him into a doze, and by the time he opened his eyes, the cab had pulled up in front of his apartment.

"Thank you," he said, settling the fare before heading upstairs.

Collapsing onto the couch, Kanade succumbed to sleep almost instantly.

When he awoke, he found himself staring into the face of a sleeping angel.

Literally.

The soft glow of morning light illuminated Mahiru Shiina's serene expression as she dozed beside him.

"...Shiina?" Kanade blinked, half-expecting to wake up from yet another dream.

But no—this was real. She was here, providing him with a luxurious lap pillow he didn't recall asking for, and looking as flawless as always.

Kanade carefully lifted himself off her lap, trying not to disturb her. On the dining table, as expected, was a neatly prepared meal.

Ever since she'd caught him eating instant noodles for dinner one too many times, Mahiru had made it her mission to bring him proper meals. It was a sweet gesture, but one that often left Kanade conflicted.

He couldn't deny the comfort her presence brought him, but her boundless kindness sometimes stirred feelings he wasn't ready to address.

Shaking his head, he quickly ate the meal and cleaned up before heading to the bathroom.

Halfway through his shower, the door creaked open.

"...Kanade…" Mahiru's sleepy voice called his name.

He turned, locking eyes with her.

For a long moment, neither moved.

Then, as realization dawned on her, Mahiru's face turned a brilliant shade of red.

"Ah—sorry!" she squeaked, covering her eyes and stumbling back out.

The sound of something soft hitting the floor followed her retreat—likely the stuffed animal she'd been holding.

Kanade sighed, running a hand through his hair. Why does this keep happening?

It seemed like every other day, he found himself in increasingly absurd situations where he was the one accidentally "exposed." Wasn't this trope supposed to go the other way around?

Once dressed, Kanade returned to an empty living room. Mahiru had fled, taking her bento box with her.

Though the situation had been awkward, it wasn't all bad. At least she'd be too embarrassed to drop by unannounced for a while, giving him some much-needed peace and quiet.

The next morning, Kanade packed his bag and headed out. His destination: Saitama.

Compared to Tokyo's bustling districts like Akihabara or Shibuya, Saitama was much quieter. It was the perfect spot for a day trip—ideal for someone looking to clear their head and avoid familiar faces.

Or so he thought.

As he strolled through a peaceful park, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

"...Kouhai-kun?"

Kanade turned slowly, his face a mix of disbelief and resignation.

Standing before him was none other than Utaha Kasumigaoka.

"...Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Why wouldn't she be here?"