Comfortable!
Eriri felt truly at ease now. Even on her way to school, she was grinning from ear to ear, looking anything but ladylike. Passersby glanced at her sideways, wondering if the girl had found a pile of money or was having some sort of seizure.
Normally, Eriri would never act like this. She was very self-conscious about her public image; only at home did her true nature typically emerge. But today was different. She couldn't help herself whenever she thought about the "prize" Sakata Gintoki had drawn. The exhilaration of revenge was addictive.
It wasn't until she reached the school gate that Eriri finally suppressed her laughter. She had spotted a familiar figure: a boy with short hair and black-framed glasses, carrying a black satchel. He was looking at her with a burning gaze, as if he had finally met his savior.
This was her childhood friend, Aki Tomoya.
"Is there something you need?" Eriri asked, watching him approach while she frowned slightly.
"Yes, I have something personal to discuss with you," Tomoya said, pushing up his glasses. "Why didn't you come to the multimedia classroom last night?"
"Strange. Why should I have to listen to you?" Eriri curled her lips and crossed her arms. "Besides, I really have no interest in that game proposal of yours. You should find someone else."
"No interest at all?" Tomoya gasped, looking at her in disbelief. "Why?"
"Because it's boring," Eriri answered bluntly after a moment's silence. "Besides, I've decided to try something new."
A new attempt? Is Eriri going to quit the doujinshi industry?
Tomoya stood stunned, his expression blank. He had never imagined his childhood friend would say such a thing. Was this still the Eriri he knew? "How about you reconsider?"
After coming to his senses, Tomoya still intended to persuade her. He had no idea that Eriri had already made up her mind to sever their emotional entanglement; she certainly wasn't going to join his gaming club.
But since they were old acquaintances, Eriri didn't give him a complete cold shoulder. "We each have our own path to walk. Since we can't reach the same destination, let's just wish each other well. There's no need to force it."
Without another look, Eriri walked straight past him.
"You seem a little different." Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind her.
"Do I?" Eriri paused and turned, meeting the gaze of a girl with long, straight black hair and a white headband. "How did you come to that conclusion, Kasumigaoka-senpai?"
"You wouldn't have rejected him so easily before," Kasumigaoka Utaha said confidently, crossing her arms. "Could it be that you've found a new love?"
Eriri's lips curled into a bright smile. "Without an old love, how can there be a new one? Your premise is a false proposition, Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"Is that so?" Utaha raised an eyebrow. She suddenly realized the Eriri before her was far different from the one she remembered. This version was more articulate, more mature.
What happened to cause such a drastic change?
As Utaha lowered her head in thought, Eriri spoke up one last time: "I advise you not to waste your time on a destined ending."
"What?"
Before Utaha could react, Eriri had already vanished into the corridor.
Once she sat down at her desk, Eriri immediately opened the chat group.
Curly-Haired Boy: "Enough. Enough is enough. There is nothing left in my life, or my future, worth looking forward to. Goodbye, you bastards. [Image]"
The photo showed a window. Sunlight streamed through the glass like a tunnel leading to another world.
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Gintoki, do not be so upset."
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Yeah, Gin-san, calm down! You won't die if you jump from a second-floor window anyway!"
Pfft!
Upon seeing the message, Eriri nearly spat out her water. She quickly replied: "Hahahaha! Ruiko-chan, that was a brilliant finishing move! Well done!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "You truly have no compassion, you bastards! Your lovely Gin-san is about to disappear from this world, and you're making sarcastic remarks? Shouldn't you be comforting my fragile heart?"
This is an Actor: "That is because everyone knows that, given your level of moral integrity, you would never give up over something so trivial."
Scarlet Snake Fairy: "Social death?"
This is an Actor: "Ah, it refers to a total loss of reputation."
Curly-Haired Boy: "A trivial matter? How can this be trivial, you bastard! Gin-san is in grave danger of total social annihilation!"
Book Artist: "So, what actually happened?"
Eriri initially thought he was just upset about his bad luck with the lottery. How did this lead to "social death"?
Angel of the Hidden Rain Village: "To put it simply, Kagura and Shinpachi walked in on Gintoki just as he was about to try on his raffle prize."
Book Artist: "Try... try it on?"
Eriri gasped, her mouth twitching.
Skirt-Lifting Maniac: "Yes, he was trying it on. When Gin-san asked in the chat earlier, I told him he definitely couldn't wear it, but he didn't believe me."
Curly-Haired Boy: "Who knew it would be so small, asshole!"
As he sent the message, Sakata Gintoki gripped the sides of the bear-print panties and pulled wildly until the veins on his hands popped out. However, as expected, the fabric remained motionless. Clearly, the "never wear out" property made it indestructible regardless of how much it was stretched.
Book Artist: "You really are a pervert, aren't you?! I knew you were weird, but this is a new low! You were actually trying to wear women's underwear? And you got caught? You idiot, you're bringing shame to the whole group!"
Curly-Haired Boy: "What are you talking about, jerk! This is my prize! Shouldn't I make the most of it? I was just discovered by accident!"
Make the most of it...
Eriri didn't even know how to begin complaining. Is this really the behavior of a human being?
This is an Actor: "You don't necessarily have to wear it to use it. Since it has the property of being indestructible, why not use it as an enchantment?"
Curly-Haired Boy: "Enchanted?! Like... putting it on my head during a battle? You're so good at this, An Ran-san! Are you a genius?"
This is an Actor: "?"
Aizen had actually been thinking of tying it to a sword hilt or a blade so the weapon wouldn't break. He never expected Sakata Gintoki would find such a... creative alternative.
As expected, this was a man who could not be judged by common sense.