That afternoon, after club activities wrapped up, Eriri left through the school gate and headed home as usual.
She was almost at her neighborhood when she heard someone call her name.
She glanced around—and spotted Aki Tomoya a short distance away.
He walked over, stopping in front of her. "You were completely zoned out. I called your name like four times."
"Me? Zoned out?" Eriri pointed at herself, ocean-blue eyes blinking in surprise.
"Who else?"
She blinked again. Fair point. She'd been a little off ever since lunch with Mio—especially whenever Mio crossed her mind, which kept happening, along with a parade of thoughts she really couldn't explain.
Worse, a lot of those inexplicable thoughts were turning into doujinshi ideas.
She'd never had this much inspiration from a single person before—let alone a girl. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, she genuinely wasn't sure.
Pushing the spiral aside, she looked at Tomoya. "What did you want?"
He perked up immediately. "Did you read the manga I sent you yesterday? First impressions?"
"You just sent it yesterday. Who asks for feedback the next day?"
"It only just started serializing, so there isn't that much content yet. I figured you could finish it pretty quick."
"I read it. But there's not enough out yet—ask me again later." A thought struck her, and she added with a hint of anticipation, "Hey, are you coming to help at Winter Comiket?"
"Obviously," Tomoya said without hesitating. "Same as always, right?"
A faint smile crossed Eriri's face. "Good. I'm heading home then."
He looked like he wanted to say something. Then, just before she could leave — "Actually... I think I saw someone saying Kashiwagi Eri-sensei has a pretty girlfriend. You know anything about that?"
Eriri nearly choked on air.
"It's a misunderstanding," she said flatly, cheeks puffed.
And I'm going to make Mio pay for this.
"Yeah, that rumor did seem a bit much," Tomoya admitted. "Though I guess they don't know Kashiwagi Eri-sensei is a girl."
"Okay, bye."
She didn't wait for a response. She walked straight into her building and didn't look back.
Back in her room, Eriri dropped her bag, collapsed onto her bed, and immediately pulled out her phone to message Mio.
Eriri: Mio, because of what you said yesterday, I got misunderstood today. What are you going to do about it?
She wasn't actually that bothered by the rumor. This was mostly about payback—Mio had been teasing her all day, and she was owed.
Smug little...
Something made her lips twitch upward anyway. She rolled over once on her bed without quite meaning to.
Her phone buzzed.
Mio: I'm really sorry that Sawamura-san got misunderstood. As an apology, I'll do whatever you ask. Anything you want~
Even without Mio in front of her, Eriri could perfectly picture the expression that came with that message. That sweet, butter-wouldn't-melt face, delivering absolute chaos without batting an eye.
Clearly, Mio assumed Eriri wouldn't actually come up with anything outrageous. Which meant Mio was wildly underestimating her.
She was Kashiwagi Eri. World-renowned doujinshi artist. She could come up with plenty.
...Except right now she couldn't think of anything. She had an entire brain full of unhinged ideas, but actually deploying any of them on Mio in real life? She'd probably just get labeled a pervert.
After a moment's deliberation:
Eriri: I haven't decided yet. I'll let you know when I do. You absolutely cannot refuse.
Mio: Wow, I can't believe Sawamura-san actually has something weird in mind for me. Whatever shall I do~
Mio even sent a shocked emoji.
Eriri's fists clenched. Hard.
When they'd first met, Mio had been all soft and sweet and helpless-looking. Eriri had genuinely believed that was just who she was. It had taken getting close to her to discover the absolute little gremlin hiding underneath.
The worst part?
She couldn't even be mad about it. She actually found it—maybe, fractionally—kind of cute.
Her brain started running away with itself again. She cut it off decisively, sat up, walked to her desk, and opened her drawing software. Better to channel this somewhere productive.
Across town, Mio noticed Eriri had gone quiet and didn't think much of it. She switched over to a contact saved as "Queen" and started her regular progress check-in.
Mio: Any developments today, Your Majesty~?
Miura: No.
Mio: But I definitely saw you walking home with Hayama-kun. Nothing happened at all?
Miura: Tobe and the others showed up right outside the gate.
Even through a screen, Mio could practically feel Miura Yumiko's exasperation radiating off the message.
Mio: That's rough. But there'll be more chances. Oh—you asked if I was free this weekend. I checked, and it looks like I don't really have time.
Miura: Fine, next time then.
What Mio didn't see: on the other end, Miura read that message, let out a quiet, involuntary sigh, and felt her mood sink in a way she didn't quite register.
Then another message came in.
Mio: That said—you can always make time if you squeeze a little. If Your Majesty is willing to treat me to something good, time has a funny way of opening up.
Miura stared at the screen.
She could see it clearly. Mio's little scheming smile. The absolute audacity.
Anyone else pulled this on her and she'd have snapped. But with Mio, she'd apparently built up some kind of immunity—or more accurately, she found that she couldn't get properly angry. The corner of her mouth did a thing she didn't authorize.
Miura: Fine. Consider it a deal. I'll make sure to treat you to something very good.