"Just now, Eriri praised me."
After Aki Tomoya left, Shirai Mio immediately sidled up to Eriri, a brilliant smile blossoming across her face.
Eriri, who had long since realized this would happen, merely shot her a look and said, "That was all just empty pleasantries. Don't tell me you can't even tell the difference?"
"Nope. By the way, weren't you just saying that Volume 2 is up to the author? In that case, let me give you some good news."
"What is it?"
"The truth is, I've already finished writing Volume 2. I'm in the middle of drawing the illustrations now, so you should be able to see it before too long."
Hearing Shirai Mio's words, a flash of surprise crossed Eriri's eyes. "Really?"
"Of course it's true. If you want to read it, I can even show it to you early."
It would be a lie to say she wasn't tempted, but after hesitating for a moment Eriri still shook her head. "Your illustrations are really well drawn. I think I'll just wait until Volume 2 officially goes on sale to read it."
"Suit yourself."
Shirai Mio had already made up her mind: when Eriri read Volume 2, she was absolutely going to be right there at her side.
She just wondered whether, without the anime, it could still make people cry.
The truth was, Shirai Mio had wanted to make a short animated film herself, but there was no one on the System's conquest list who knew how to make animation, so naturally she had no way to obtain the corresponding ability either.
She had no choice but to settle for the next best thing and prepare to make a MAD instead.
She was already drawing the material for it.
As for the music, with her experience playing music before her transmigration plus the powerful memory the System had given her, recreating it wouldn't be all that hard—she had already set about preparing that too.
After that, the two of them chatted about doujinshi-related topics again, right up until lunchtime arrived.
Shirai Mio went ahead and made Eriri a lavish lunch, and once they'd finished eating, she got ready to take her leave.
Having already changed into her shoes at the door, Shirai Mio looked at Eriri, who'd come to see her off, and said, "School starts tomorrow, so don't stay up late tonight. There's still plenty of time until the summer Comiket, so you can take your time drawing."
"I know, I know. How are you even naggier than my mom?" Eriri put on an air of impatience.
But she was actually rather happy about Shirai Mio's concern.
If it weren't for school starting tomorrow, she might even have wanted Shirai Mio to stay over one more night.
Stepping out of Eriri's home, Shirai Mio set off in the direction of her own house.
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"Ring, ring, ring~"
Only a few seconds after the alarm went off, Shirai Mio switched it off.
The idleness of the break had thrown her body clock off just a little, so she'd set the alarm just to be safe.
She figured, though, that after using it for a while it would no longer be necessary.
Carefully climbing out of bed—although it had been a while since she'd gotten up early to make breakfast and a bento, Shirai Mio's movements weren't the least bit rusty.
She had breakfast and the bento ready with ease.
Returning to the room, she gently nudged Shiina Mashiro. "Mashiro, wake up. It's time to get up."
Shiina Mashiro slowly opened her eyes. Looking at Shirai Mio right in front of her, she mumbled hazily, "Let me sleep three… three more hours."
No sooner had she said it than Shirai Mio flicked her on the forehead. "What are you thinking? Today's the first day of the new term. If you don't get up, you're going to be late!"
"Then, give me a kiss, Mio, and I'll get up."
Hearing Shiina Mashiro's words, Shirai Mio's expression instantly turned a touch complicated. Her first thought was that Rita had been stirring up trouble again.
But she had no time to deal with Rita right now. Shirai Mio bent down, gave Shiina Mashiro a kiss on the cheek, and then set about getting her dressed.
Thanks to Shirai Mio's efforts, they finally made it out the door with time to spare.
Even so, Shiina Mashiro still looked half-asleep.
There was no helping that. Even after being told there was school that day, Shiina Mashiro still hadn't gone to bed early the night before.
Although spring break had been under half a month long, coming back to school again, Shirai Mio still felt a little out of sorts.
Now that she'd moved up to her second year, there were no real changes among her classmates—it was just a different classroom.
Arriving at the door of Class 2-F, Shirai Mio first double-checked the class placard, and only after confirming there was no mistake did she step into the classroom.
The moment she walked in, she heard Yuigahama Yui's voice ring out. "Mio, over here."
Hearing the voice, Shirai Mio went over to Yuigahama Yui's side and said, "Yui's here bright and early as always."
"Well, it is the first day of the new term."
Even though that was what she said, the main reason Yuigahama Yui had come to school so early was excitement—the start of the term meant she got to see Shirai Mio every day again.
Over the break, Shirai Mio had first gone traveling, and after she came back quite a few people had made plans with her, so it was hard to find a chance to see her.
Unlike at school, where, barring anything unexpected, they could basically see each other every day.
Just as the two of them were chatting, Miura Yumiko's voice chimed in. "What are you two talking about?"
"Good morning, Yumiko~" Shirai Mio greeted Miura Yumiko with a beaming smile.
They'd seen each other only a few days earlier, so there was no need for any "long time no see."
Before the mood among the gathered three could turn awkward, the teacher had already walked into the classroom.
Now that they'd moved up to their second year, their student-life guidance counselor was still Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Her arrival instantly quieted the noisy classroom.
"Today is the first day of the new term. Everyone, please make your way to the gymnasium in an orderly manner for the opening ceremony."
"I hope this time the principal keeps his speech a little shorter." Miura Yumiko, still seated beside Shirai Mio, whispered to her.
"Is the principal that long-winded?" Shirai Mio, having transferred in partway through, had never experienced an opening ceremony here.
"Long-winded doesn't even begin to cover it." As if recalling something, even Miura Yumiko's face took on a look of distaste.
The group made their way to the gymnasium, then found their respective seats under the teachers' direction.
Miura Yumiko and Yuigahama Yui sandwiched Shirai Mio between them, one on each side.
This left Shirai Mio feeling just a little helpless.
Being surrounded by two beautiful girls ought to have been a dreamlike, blissful stretch of time, but why—why had it turned out like this?
Putting her scattered thoughts away, Shirai Mio, while the opening ceremony had yet to formally begin, turned her gaze toward the newly enrolled first-years.
After scanning the crowd, she finally spotted a familiar figure among the many new students.
Isshiki Iroha.
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