I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Page 102

Eriri glanced at the copy of the Tokyo University Red Book in Aki Tomoya's hand and sighed.

This time next year, the other person will be taking the exam.

"No, let's go somewhere else?"

Aki Tomoya packed his things and, instead of refusing Eriri, suggested they go somewhere else.

Regardless of how many people are in the library, it's clearly not a place to discuss things.

The fact that she took the initiative to find him at school, and looked so troubled, surprised Aki Tomoya. He wondered what had happened to her.

Ignoring Yoshihiko Uesugi's look, which seemed to say, "Explain yourself, you bastard!", Tomoya Aki gave him and Megumi Kato a slightly apologetic nod, and then left the library with Eriri.

The entire library was incredibly quiet. What was originally filled with a tense atmosphere of study gradually became filled with an air of gossip.

Seeing such explosive news in the first week of the new school year is a bit too much for them.

"When exactly did they get together, and why are they calling each other by name? Aren't you surprised at all, Kato-kun?!"

Yoshihiko Uego clutched his head and shouted, almost expressing the sentiments of everyone in the library.

He stared in shock at the backs of the two people, a stark contrast to Kato Megumi.

Ignoring everything else, I focused solely on studying the classics!

"Instead of gossiping, Shangxiang should really think about the mock exam in a few months. That would be more realistic."

"Ah, I'm dead!"

=

Chapter 124 Buy Illustrations and Get Toilet Paper Free (1/4)

Following Eriri into the multimedia classroom, Aki Tomoya casually placed the red book he was holding on the table.

Aki Tomoya has some connection with this multimedia classroom.

In his first year of high school, Aki Tomoya achieved the feat of having an anime screened at school, and thanks to that, he became famous.

"You scared me, Eriri."

Aki Tomoya pulled out a chair and sat down, smiling at Eriri, who was leaning against the window.

On the second day after school started, he took the initiative to find me at school. Before long, the whole school will probably be talking about it.

The fact that they can address each other by their first names suggests that their relationship is definitely not simple.

"I don't have time to think about other people at school right now; I'll be graduating next year."

Eriri is quite carefree now. Anyway, she's going to be a third-year student soon, and whether or not she hides their relationship is pointless now.

"Are you planning to go to a national art university or a private one? With the awards you've won in the past two years, you should be able to get a recommendation for admission, right? Or are you going back to China and studying abroad elsewhere?"

Aki Tomoya asked casually.

Eriri could have an easy time getting into university. Even without a family background, with her artistic talent and the awards she won in high school, getting a recommendation would be a piece of cake.

However, few people know that Eriri is also a doujinshi artist.

"If I stay in Tokyo, I'll probably go to Tokyo University of the Arts."

Eriri has no interest in returning to Japan, let alone studying abroad elsewhere; she might be interested in that kind of thing in a few years.

But now, Eriri wants to stay in Tokyo and do what she loves.

"Toyonosaki Academy is really lucky!"

At least one student from a top private university and one student from a top national art university have been confirmed.

In the years that followed, Aki Tomoya didn't believe that his alma mater didn't use this publicity to attract students.

"Rinya, what do you think of Akane Akasaka?"

Just then, Eriri mentioned Akane Kousaka.

When this name is mentioned, Aki Tomoya thinks of Akane Kousaka's club and the events of last New Year's Day.

Standing at the top of the doujin circle, maintaining its peak performance for ten years, this is Akane Akasaka.

"An upgraded version of Kasumigaoka?"

"How distorted must it be for Kasumigaoka to upgrade to that version?!"

Eriri retorted instinctively.

But Aki Tomoya's words still made her think.

"Thinking about it carefully, it seems like Kasumigaoka is trending in that direction now..."

"Huh, really?"

This time, it was Aki Tomoya who was somewhat surprised.

Although he described Akane Kousaka as an upgraded version of Utaha Kasumigaoka in some way, he didn't think that direction was any better.

Akane Akasaka is very talented and good, but now Tomoya Aki has absolutely no feelings for her.

"Yes, you know, on New Year's Day, Kasumigaoka and Akane Akasaka got into a fight because of our new work that had only been released for two volumes. I've never seen her so excited before."

Eriri spoke, a hint of unease still in her eyes.

Eriri went to see Akane Akasaka with everyone on New Year's Day, but ended up being sandwiched in the middle and could only tremble with fear.

Seeing her expression, Aki Tomoya chuckled and said, "That's why I said the two of them would never get along, especially since Ms. Machida isn't there."

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Akasaka Akane undoubtedly need a middleman now, and Machida Sonoko is very suitable, or rather, no one but Machida Sonoko is acceptable.

"It's Ms. Machida!"

Eriri said in a strong voice at this moment.

The thing she wanted to tell Aki Tomoya was related to this.

"what?"

Aki Tomoya looked at her with a puzzled expression.

What happened to Machida Sonoko again?

"Now Kasumigaoka is completely ignoring what Ms. Machida says. I really don't know who she can listen to now!"

Eriri replied with a full of complaints.

The same question Akane Akasaka asked that night, Sonoko Machida had already addressed long ago.

However, Kasumigaoka Utaha ignored both Akane Akasaka's and Sonoko Machida's reminders.

In Eriri's eyes, she is now wrapping her work in layers and putting on shackles, protecting it so strictly that it is almost extreme.

"...Could it be that the senior student doesn't trust Machida-san anymore?"

Aki Tomoya asked in surprise.

Although he didn't know the specifics, Aki Tomoya gleaned some clues from Eriri's words.

At the same time, Aki Tomoya recalled a casual remark Machida Sonoko had made that day: Kasumigaoka Utaha's new work had a fatal flaw.

That's probably where their argument lies.

"I don't know, but Ms. Machida didn't say anything."

"What about you? She wouldn't distrust even her collaborators, would she?"

"Rather than a collaborator, I've realized I'm more like someone working for her!"

"...At this point, you should tell her that these days light novels are basically just buying illustrations and getting toilet paper for free, so have some confidence."

"If I say it, I'll definitely be killed!"

At this point, Eriri sat down opposite Aki Tomoya and then slumped weakly onto the table.

As the illustrator of the work, Eriri doesn't have much say right now, not to mention that even she can't convince Kasumigaoka Utaha to formally address the issue.

"You've really worked hard."

"...So, Tomoya, in what way does Kasumigaoka surpass me?"

Eriri suddenly raised her head and stared into Aki Tomoya's eyes with a questioning look that came from the bottom of her heart.

In the end, Eriri didn't think Kasumigaoka Utaha was anything special; she only saw her increasingly extreme protectiveness towards her work.

But as things stand now, their new work is indeed half successful, but the issues that Machida Sonoko and Akane Akasaka mentioned still linger in Eriri's mind.

"I haven't seen the work, so I can't say anything. But that senior might be insecure or she might be taking her anger out on someone. It's hard to say. But if there are no problems in the area you're in charge of, you don't need to worry."

"why?"

"You're just an illustrator. In the light novel industry these days, you get free toilet paper with every illustration you buy. Even before I quit being an otaku, this trend was becoming more and more common. Even if a work really fails, Eriri doesn't have to take any responsibility. You're just an illustrator. Even if it really starts strong but ends weak, people will feel more sorry for you as an illustrator. Otaku love the characters more than the plot."

Aki Tomoya was analyzing things for Eriri.

The news I heard from people around me before was that their new work was doing very well. So if it really starts strong but then declines, the main responsibility will be borne by Kasumigaoka Utaha.

On the contrary, as an illustrator, Eriri, people should feel sorry for the character designs drawn by Eri Kashiwagi.

"However, this is the work of both of us."