After clearing her head, Eriri got off the bed, sat back at the desk, and resumed drawing.
Kasumigaoka Utaha stretched and started typing.
Neither girl disturbed the other—both threw themselves into their work.
Before long, Hayashi Maki came in with drinks and handed each of them a bottle of MAX Coffee.
After thanking him, Eriri and Senpai popped them open for a little pick-me-up.
Around five o'clock, Eriri handed the draft packet to Hayashi Maki.
"A few more sheets—I'll turn them in tomorrow, okay? I've got to catch my train now, or I won't be able to get home."
As for taking a taxi? Don't be silly—taxis in Japan are insanely expensive.
Seeing Eriri getting ready to go, Hayashi Maki smiled. "I'll walk you, Eriri. Senpai, are you catching a train too?"
Utaha gave him a wounded look. "What, Kouhai-kun doesn't want me to stay? So eager to kick me out?"
"Ahem, nothing like that. I'd love for you to stay. Or… you could crash here tonight? We could workshop plot together."
As he spoke, his eyes lingered on her black-stockinged legs. Utaha's face heated. "N-no, next time. I've got things to do. I'll go with Sawamura."
She can be bold when she's teasing him, but the moment he hinted she could stay over, she chickened out.
Hayashi Maki just chuckled and let it go. He played escort, walked both girls to the station, watched them board, then headed back. Before leaving, he told Eriri to call if anything came up; as for the curse, once she finished the illustrations, they'd track down the source and settle it.
—
On the train, Eriri touched her burning cheeks and let out a long sigh. Today had been way too intense. Just thinking about it made her whole body tremble. Finding out her grade-school classmate was a mage had blown up her worldview. And she'd lost her first kiss. Most absurd of all, Kasumigaoka Utaha had watched her kiss Hayashi Maki. How was that not weird?
So what exactly was Utaha thinking? She sure seemed to like Hayashi Maki.
"Sawamura, why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" Utaha asked, feeling the gaze.
"Mm… nothing. It's just—so strange. Senpai, about what happened between me and Hayashi Maki today… you don't have anything to say?"
Utaha pouted. "Oh, I do. I want to know why I met him first, but you got to kiss him first."
"It's not like I wanted to! I didn't have a choice—it was to suppress the curse. I was forced!"
Eriri, face scarlet, was losing her mind.
"Is that so?" Utaha folded her arms and gave her a sidelong glance. "Funny—I thought you looked like you were enjoying it."
Eriri's head rang; her face went beet red. "I was not enjoying it!"
She stamped her foot, shot Utaha a ferocious glare, then turned away in a huff. One of her twin tails whipped Utaha as she turned, leaving Senpai speechless. So your twin tails are for smacking people? Can't win an argument—just turn your head and hit them? Too sneaky!
Eriri's thoughts were a mess. She just wanted to get home, shower, and calm down. Whatever the case… she'd kissed that person. What did Maki-kun think? Don't be fooled by her ero-doujin artist label and a head full of lewd "research"—in person she's a tsundere softie. Thanks to that deep, lingering kiss, she was already considering making Hayashi Maki "take responsibility."
Kissing is for couples who are actually dating. Even if it was to suppress a curse, a kiss is still a kiss. No matter how she looked at it, Eriri felt Hayashi Maki should be responsible.
When the train reached her stop, Eriri stood to get off. After a moment's hesitation, she bit the bullet and bowed to Utaha. "Um… Senpai, thank you—no matter what."
Utaha wasn't truly angry—just a little sour that she wasn't the first to kiss Kouhai-kun. Under the circumstances, that was the only option. If she'd been Eriri, she would have made the same choice for her dream.
With a sigh, Utaha mussed Eriri's hair and spoke gently: "Get some good rest, Sawamura. And about that curse—don't take it lightly. If you need to, call Kouhai-kun."
"Mhm, I will… Wait—why are you patting my head? Are you treating me like a kid?"
Eriri agreed on reflex, then immediately got mad again. Utaha just shrugged. "You looked cute, so my hand moved on its own. What—do you hate it that much?"
"Mm… not that much…" Eriri muttered, blushing. "Anyway, see you."
And she darted off the train.
For a tsundere, Utaha's straight-ball honesty was especially effective—hard to fend off. Watching Eriri go, Utaha smiled. "I've got to admit—Kouhai-kun's inspiration is gold."
Did she still need to collect "reference" and wrack her brain for the second heroine? Wasn't one right before her eyes? Eriri's reactions were just too cute. Utaha wasn't into girls, but when it comes to cute things, women are remarkably alike.
Back home, Utaha was about to shower when her phone pinged—someone being a pest.
Hayashi Maki: "Senpai, my bed smells all sweet now. I can't sleep—what should I do?"
Two girls had just napped there, so his sheets were, well, fragrant. Utaha didn't get mad; she boldly shot back:
"Use your hand."
Hayashi Maki: "..."
Well then. Senpai went there. "Use your hand," huh? As if he's that kind of guy. He's got angel Mahiru at home!
Elsewhere, Eriri got a message that made her want to die of embarrassment.
Hayashi Maki: "Forgot to tell you—Eriri, the suppression only lasts half a day. We'll need to reinforce it tomorrow. You know what that means, right?"
Oh, she knew. It meant more kissing. …So why didn't he say so earlier?! Eriri was doomed to be sleepless tonight. For the dream of becoming a famous mangaka, she'd have to offer up another kiss tomorrow—of her own accord.
Uuu, why does this feel more and more ridiculous?
While Eriri was drowning in shame, Hayashi Maki got a new visitor. Shiina Mahiru was back—bringing along another spacey blonde girl: her cousin, Shiina Mashiro.