My girlfriend is Saiki Kusunoki

When Eriri heard the door open, she thought it was a club member who had forgotten to take their things. But when the door opened, she found a stranger walking in.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

Eriri instinctively became wary upon seeing two unfamiliar people suddenly enter the room.

Eriri, a homebody, instantly conjured up a short essay of over 10,000 words in her mind and immediately visualized the scene.

At dusk, a horrible demon extended its poisonous hand to a young and beautiful girl.

After learning that the girl had not returned home in the evening, he then did various things to her.

"Wait! Please don't make things up! We're not like that! We just came to ask for your help!"

Seeing Eriri's strange expression, Naoto was immediately dumbfounded.

What on earth was that guy thinking?! Was he really going to go that far?!

"Looking for my help?"

After hearing Naoto and Hachiman's explanation, Eriri, the perverted girl, temporarily regained her composure.

..............................

"So, you're the author of 'Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei,' the one who's more like a penguin? I never imagined you were like this in real life."

When Eriri saw Hachiman's appearance, her eyes were filled with disappointment.

Before, Eriri thought that the author of Zetsubou-Sensei would be a literary youth who complained about everything.

In the end, the author turned out to be a dead fish with eyes that exuded a sense of decadence.

Hachiman could only force a smile as he looked at Eriri's words.

Who can deny his dead fish eyes and decadent aura? These are, after all, his personal characteristics.

"You want me to draw illustrations for your novel? Let's forget about that. I'm very busy lately, attending this art award ceremony. I don't have time to draw illustrations."

Just as they had guessed, Eriri refused Hachiman's request without hesitation.

In fact, they had already guessed that Eriri would refuse.

Eriri's family is quite wealthy, and illustration and fan art are just her personal hobbies.

Therefore, the amount of salary was not within her consideration.

However, they already had backup plans.

"Eri, you haven't finished your artwork for the art competition yet? That's strange. As the ace of the academy's art club, shouldn't you have finished it by now? After all, the topic was quite simple, wasn't it?"

At that moment, Naoto suddenly spoke to Eriri out of the blue.

That smug expression immediately ignited a nameless anger in Eriri's heart.

"Who are you anyway? How dare you say such a thing?"

"Me? Naoto Yamashita."

For some reason, watching the two talking, Hachiman suddenly felt an urge to leave.

(Yukino, I hope your idea works. If it doesn't, we're doomed!)

Chapter 179: Poaching from a Straight Man

"You're Naoto Yamashita? What are you doing here?"

At this moment, Eriri looked at Naoto in front of her and carefully examined him.

Although Naoto is a celebrity at school, Eriri has never met him directly.

Although he looked somewhat familiar, I didn't think of him as a straight man.

That's why Eriri is surprised now.

"Of course, it's because we've heard that the famous Eriri from the Art Club is the famous Eri Kashiwagi, so we came here to ask you to draw illustrations for Hachiman. Didn't we already talk about this?"

"Is it really that simple?"

"What other reason could there be? It can't be that we asked you to draw the script, can it?"

Eriri blushed noticeably when she heard Naoto mention drawing doujinshi.

This is not something you can tell outsiders. If other people find out that a beautiful girl is actually a doujinshi artist, her life will be ruined.

"How...how did you know I was here...?"

"The renowned Kashiwagi Eri is not only extremely skilled in illustration, but also a veteran in drawing doujinshi on par with Eromanga artist Eromanga. She is a writer who works in both manga and illustration. If I didn't know such a famous person, you would be underestimating me. After all, I am ONE."

Eriri looked at the confident Naoto and a nameless anger flared up again. This arrogant guy, who doesn't know you're the strongest young manga artist right now! Does he have to be so arrogant? He even uses drawing doujinshi to talk about it. This guy is so annoying.

"If you're here to ask me to draw illustrations, then forget it. As you can see, I'm currently preparing for an art award and don't have the time for that at all."

Naoto and Hachiman were not surprised by Eriri's rejection. In fact, Yukino had already guessed that Eriri would refuse before they arrived.

Remembering what Yukino had said earlier, the two of them showed expressions of certainty.

"Listen up, you two. Eriri is the ace of the school's art club, so she will definitely refuse your request for now. However, there is still a chance."

"A turning point? What turning point?"

"Actually, I had already asked around before. Although Eriri is the ace of the art club, she doesn't actually have many friends. Rather, Eriri is the one who is ostracized in the art club. She is actually not happy in the art club."

"Not happy? Feeling ostracized?"

Upon hearing Yukino's words, everyone in the creative club became very curious.

"That's right, because Eriri's talent is just too strong. Although Eriri is very nice to others, from what I've observed, Eriri doesn't have many friends. It may be related to her inherent pride, or there may be some other reason."

According to Yukino, Eriri's strong abilities led to her being ostracized by many members of the art club.

Eriri herself doesn't like staying in the art club all the time.

Rather than creating things she doesn't like, Eriri prefers to create various fan works.

Otherwise, Eriri wouldn't have debuted as Kashiwagi Eri.

"But what does this have to do with us inviting her?"

"This means that we can bring her into the creative community."

"Huh? You want to bring Eriri into the creative club?!"

Even Naoto was stunned by Yukino's audacious idea.

Putting aside the question of how you managed to get Eriri to join the club, even though you wanted her to draw illustrations...

Is it really okay for you to poach people so blatantly?

If they really manage to kidnap Eriri, the art club will probably fight them to the death.

"What's the big deal? Once Eriri joins our creative club, Hachiman's illustration problem will be solved. Besides, don't you think Eriri is a perfect fit for our creative club?"

Regardless of whether Yukino's suggestion will succeed, if you're going to poach someone's talent, you have to come up with a plan, right? You can't just say it and expect them to join you.

"Of course, I've already thought of a way. Do this first, then do this."

As Yukino spoke, Naoto and Hachiman's consciousness returned to the Art Club.

"Ahem, Eriri-san, I heard you're not happy in the art club. Is that true?"

Eriri did not answer Hachiman's question.

Although Eriri didn't say anything, Hachiman and Naoto probably guessed that this matter was true.

Eriri is indeed somewhat dissatisfied with the art club.

As things stand, if it weren't for the art club president constantly persuading Eriri, she would have already left the club.

"It seems Eriri isn't very satisfied with the art club. How about we consider our creative club?"

"You want me to join the creative club?"

Eriri was somewhat surprised to hear Naoto's invitation. She hadn't expected that he not only wanted her to draw illustrations, but also wanted her to join the creative club.

"Why don't you consider it? Our creative club upholds the principles of creative freedom and freedom of action. We won't force members to do anything they don't want to do. If you join the creative club, you can draw whatever you want, right?"

Eriri listened to Naoto's words and couldn't help but start to consider them.

Eriri had also heard of the Creative Club, this strange club. It was said to be a club created by a group of weirdos from the entire school, and although it had been established for several months, it had never held a single real club activity.

In short, it is indeed a very free community, just as Naoto said.

"But why should I join this club? I'm doing just fine in the art club, what's the point of joining yours?"

Regarding Eriri's question, Naoto began to recall Yukino's final plan.

"Eri-kun, how about we make a bet?"

"bet?"

"That's right, let's make a bet on whose work is better this time at our art awards ceremony."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, if I win, you join the creative club and draw illustrations for Hachiman; if I lose, I'll give you all the privileges the school gave me, how about that?"

This bet by Naoto is hardly impressive.

It's important to know that schools offer many privileges to straight people.

For example, students can leave campus freely and take as many vacation days as they want each month. There are even exclusive scholarships available.

This is incredibly tempting for students.

"Are you looking down on me?"

"No, I just feel that I'm stronger."

Seeing Naoto's confident gaze, Eriri felt even angrier.

Chapter 180: The Selection of the Art Awards

"Naoto, thank you so much this time. Without you, things probably wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

After signing the bet with Eriri, Hachiman and Naoto walked home together.