These past days, Eriri had been rushing to meet her manuscript deadline.
Yes, she was a manga artist.
As a veteran 2D otaku player, Eriri had naturally been deeply influenced and had long wanted to create a pure 2D masterpiece.
Eriri had been interested in drawing from a young age and had been diligently practicing her art skills. Especially two years ago when she discovered Hoshino Miru could actually publish light novels, it further ignited the girl's creative desires.
So she secretly submitted to various magazine publishers behind Hoshino Miru's back, wanting to realize her dream and properly show off to him after publication.
Unfortunately, every magazine publisher rejected Eriri without exception.
Eriri was furious. Her art style and brushwork were clearly super amazing, yet they used terrible excuses like "the story doesn't work," "no selling point," "nothing but lewdness" to reject her.
Damn it, you'll all regret this eventually!
Since these people looked down on her, they'd meet again at the peak someday!
Not long after, Eriri entered the industry.
Wait, you couldn't say she "entered the industry" - she'd already been drawing lewd stuff on Twitter.
Eriri just went further and started drawing the doujinshi that everyone loved to see.
Her reasoning was solid - once she finished practicing with doujinshi, she'd surface later and slaughter all those who looked down on her!
With this idea, Eriri officially debuted in the dark industry under the pen name "Kashiwagi Eri."
Honestly, Eriri initially really did plan to practice, but she didn't expect that drawing and drawing, she'd get somewhat addicted. Accidentally, she'd become a famous industry representative and a common guest at conventions.
Of course, this common guest wasn't Eriri herself but her doujinshi.
By now, Eriri found she couldn't go back. The fans' praise alone was enough to make the girl feel elated.
"Sensei's art style is so delicate, this pose, this look, god-tier," "The heroine is so cute," "Without Kashiwagi-sensei's new work, watashi...," "As expected of sensei, an iron-blood childhood friend partisan, so delicious"...
Every day Eriri would secretly check fans' comments. Seeing someone praise her made the corners of her mouth lift. Seeing someone insult her, she'd switch to an alt account and fiercely flame them back, having great fun.
Especially when seeing someone praise childhood friends, she felt even happier inside.
Because she drew childhood friend doujinshi.
Ahem, of course she wasn't drawing herself and Hoshino Miru - she was simply drawing childhood friends.
For instance, a tsundere childhood friend provokes the male lead then gets thoroughly disciplined by him. Or a bratty childhood friend provokes the male lead then gets completely dominated. Or even a naive childhood friend gets tricked by the male lead into having five children.
Anyway, no matter what kind of childhood friend, under Eriri's pen they could only be bullied by the male lead - first various conditioning, finally ending in pure love.
Eriri was very satisfied with her work. Because she only drew humiliation-type doujinshi of childhood friends, she was called the "Childhood Friend Appraisal Master" in the industry.
However, the more she drew, the less Eriri dared reveal anything to Hoshino Miru.
If Hoshino Miru found out she was a rising artist in the dark industry, her life as his childhood friend would probably be over, right?
Though Eriri was also somewhat looking forward to whether Hoshino Miru would develop strange feelings seeing her doujinshi, then pin her down with a half-smile asking if she wanted to demonstrate in practice.
Guh... just kill her!
Eriri covered her burning cheeks. Though she felt particularly embarrassed, her heart inexplicably looked forward to it. What kind of weird thing was this!
No no, she still had to rush her manuscript!
The reason she hadn't run to Hoshino Miru's house during spring break was because Eriri really was rushing to meet deadlines. She had to draw more during spring break, or she wouldn't have enough works for the summer Comiket collection.
Therefore, though Eriri knew Kasugano Sora would very likely cling to Hoshino Miru during spring break, she could only comfort herself that it was no big deal.
After all, Kasugano Sora clinging to Hoshino Miru wasn't just a day or two. She hadn't seen Hoshino Miru make a move on Kasugano Sora, meaning there was nothing to worry about.
After all, if Hoshino Miru were going to make a move on Kasugano Sora, Eriri felt he might as well make a move on her instead. Her looks and figure weren't much worse than Kasugano Sora's!
Plus, she was half-English, half-Japanese!
A blonde twin-tailed beautiful girl - who wouldn't like such a cute beauty!
As for Kasugano Sora, she was at most a minor character who used the sister title while clearly self-deceiving yet felt smug about it.
Hmph, but once she won over Hoshino Miru, she'd magnanimously accept this little sister.
Eriri wore loose sportswear and glasses, her legs pressed together, her bare feet without socks resting on the chair. Rather than sitting, she was more like squatting on the chair - completely unladylike.
Halfway through drawing, Eriri stopped, a troubled expression appearing on her face.
Damn it, even such an amazing artist as herself would have writer's block sometimes!
No no no no, she didn't have writer's block - she was simply tired of drawing, lacking that impulse to stimulate creative desire.
Actually this wouldn't affect Eriri. Doujinshi just needed to look exciting - who cared about story or characters?
But Eriri cared.
Doujinshi that couldn't give the author impulse - such works were meaningless!
Eriri gritted her teeth. At a time like this, she could only find some temporary inspiration!
Soon, Eriri very skillfully dialed Hoshino Miru's number.
"Good evening, Eriri."
Hearing the familiar voice, Eriri felt somewhat satisfied. Even if she couldn't see Hoshino Miru now, being able to hear his voice made her quite happy.
"What are you doing?" Eriri hugged her legs, eyes fixed on the computer screen. "Did you go out during spring break?"
"Of course I'm home for spring break. Where else would I go?"
"Hehe, I knew it would be like this. Has little Sora been clinging to you playing games these days?"
"If you're asking about Sora, she is indeed beside me right now..."
Just as Hoshino Miru got halfway through, Eriri suddenly heard Kasugano Sora's voice.
"Brother, the place you're touching feels a bit hot."
Eriri's smile instantly froze. Why did that sound so clingy, like a girl's voice when she couldn't help acting spoiled while aroused?
"Mmm... brother's palm is so big... uu... it seems to have touched..."
In an instant, Kasugano Sora's light panting transmitted through the phone to Eriri.
Eriri's eyes widened. Wait, what were they doing while she wasn't there!
"Wait a minute, what are you two doing!" Eriri panicked. You're siblings! Even if you're not real siblings, doing this isn't okay!
"No, we're not doing anything. Sora is just sitting on me." Hoshino Miru seemed to be stopping something. "Sora, don't move around."
"Huh?" Eriri's face turned completely red with anger. "What do you mean 'just sitting on you'? Don't say such easily misunderstood things - at least explain it clearly!"
"Ah... no... I really am just sitting on him, not doing anything." Kasugano Sora gasped. "Don't misunderstand brother, Eriri. He's been practicing guitar all day. I'm helping him mmm... helping him blow on it... his hand... hand is touching again..."
After saying this, she could vaguely hear Hoshino Miru's voice, seemingly telling Kasugano Sora not to move around.
Eriri's small hand holding the phone trembled. This plot was too familiar!
On the surface doing XX, but actually performing in front of the cuckold, right?
Also, what kind of excuse was practicing guitar? She'd never heard before that Hoshino Miru was interested in guitar!
"I'm not touching randomly. Didn't you grab it yourself?"
"But... doesn't brother also feel comfortable putting his palm here?"
"It's somewhat comfortable, but I'm just touching your belly."
"Mm ha... that's right... Eriri, brother is just touching my belly... nothing at all ah wu..."
"Stop acting, especially a certain someone." Eriri expressionlessly interrupted Kasugano Sora. "The acting is too poor. You're simply just clinging to Miru's body. Don't think you can fool me like this."
That's right, she wouldn't believe even if killed that Hoshino Miru would really make a move on Kasugano Sora. It must be Kasugano Sora deliberately trying to anger her.
However, after waiting quite a while, Eriri never heard a response from the other side - only faint breathing sounds.
Then the other side hung up.
Eriri froze, a strange emotion suddenly appearing in her heart. Could the other side actually be real?
Ahaha, impossible, absolutely impossible.
If Hoshino Miru really wanted to make a move, wouldn't this childhood friend be more convenient?
Eriri comforted herself, as if completely ignoring the fact that those two were cohabiting.
Damn it, she couldn't ignore it at all!
Eriri gritted her teeth. No no, she was so cute - how could she possibly be the cuckold!
At this moment, her phone vibrated lightly, showing a message from Hoshino Miru.
Eriri glanced at it and unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, then got angry again.
Because the other side sent a selfie.
Kasugano Sora held the phone with a brilliant smile, making a victory sign at the camera while turning her head to kiss Hoshino Miru's cheek. You could even see Hoshino Miru's caught-off-guard expression.
Eriri enlarged the photo and calmly observed for a while, finding Kasugano Sora was just sitting sideways on Hoshino Miru's lap. Apart from her face being a bit red, there were no strange movements.
If the two were really doing bad things, Kasugano Sora had no need to specifically send a kissing selfie - she could just send some cream puffs directly.
Eriri was completely certain now. This seemingly cute and innocent sister was just deliberately provoking her.
Fine, so you want to make her the cuckold? Don't think cohabiting is so great - sooner or later she'd send real cream puffs to Kasugano Sora!