I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Women are such a hassle!

Chapter 64 Is Someone Being a Lemon? (6/12)

Why can't his childhood sweetheart be someone like Bo Island Sai?

Aki Tomoya felt that if he spent any more time with Eriri, he might just die.

Are you upset about a few words of concern?

Hey!

He said, "In this sweltering heat, you're all bundled up, your hat pulled down so low, and your mask is completely on full blast. Do you want to become a furnace?"

There were hundreds of thousands of people at the CM doujinshi convention, and every exhibition hall was packed with people. With so many people, especially in August, it would be strange if they didn't get incredibly hot.

To put it bluntly, Aki Tomoya felt unbearably hot just looking at Eriri.

Since Eriri didn't want to listen, Aki Tomo stopped talking and silently led her to the booth for the Hashima Island sea excursion.

"Senior!!!"

Bo Island waved and shouted from afar as they sailed out to sea.

Seeing the junior running towards him, her skirt swaying, Aki Tomoya instantly felt much cooler.

Compared to Eriri, Hashima's outfit for going out to sea looks more normal.

The light blue dress swayed gently, instantly bringing comfort to Aki Tomoya on a hot summer day.

This is what normal dressing is like!

Looking at Eriri next to him, Aki Tomoya sighed inwardly again.

Childhood sweethearts in my imagination, childhood sweethearts in reality...sigh...

"Hey, heading out to sea."

Aki Tomoya smiled, thinking how nice it was to have a junior who wouldn't cause him any trouble.

"Hey, who is this?"

At this moment, Hashima also noticed Eriri next to Aki Tomoya.

Wearing thick-rimmed black glasses, a beret, overalls, and a jacket, with a face mask on, the look in his eyes as he set sail from Po Island carried a hint of something unusual.

The temperature inside the exhibition hall is gradually turning into a giant steamer as the number of people increases.

Doesn't the person who came with Aki Tomoya get heatstroke?

You have to admire Eriri for being able to hold on at this point.

"Eri Sawamura, um, we went to the same elementary school, do you remember when we went to sea?"

"I think I remember this..."

After introducing Eriri to her, Hashima Island remembered a few things.

However, seeing Eriri dressed like this, she still couldn't understand it.

"Well, it's been so long, it's normal not to remember. She's my friend, and she came to hang out with us today."

Aki Tomoya added that if they let Hashima go out to sea, they should just treat Eriri as someone who's there to have fun at a doujinshi convention.

"H-Hello, Sawamura-senpai... Aren't you hot?"

Hashima greeted Eriri somewhat awkwardly as they went out to sea. To be honest, in this kind of weather, Eriri's outfit was already quite eye-catching, even if she didn't want to attract attention.

Eriri's forehead was already covered in sweat, but at this moment, facing her junior's departure for the sea off the coast of Hashima, she had to pretend to be very tough and reply, "No problem, it's fine!"

Aki Tomoya almost laughed when he heard that.

He had already seen Eriri's red forehead; she would feel better soon.

"It's about to start, let me help."

Aki Tomo didn't pay any attention to Eriri; let her continue shining if she wanted to.

As we arrived at the Po Island Going to Sea booth, the number of people in the exhibition hall gradually increased.

"Thank you so much for coming today, senior. You must have been studying very hard lately."

After seeing Aki Tomoya's schedule on the day of the invitation, Hashima Izumi also knew how Aki Tomoya spent his summer vacation.

To be honest, the dense handwriting really surprised her.

Although Aki Tomoya said he had arranged his rest time, she was still a little worried.

"No, I should be thanking you. I was able to relax for a day thanks to you."

Aki Tomoya shook his head and laughed, saying that his schedule was indeed quite tight, and it was good to be able to relax a bit.

I've been doing tutoring lately, so it's nice to relax my mind occasionally.

Seeing the two people already chatting, Eriri felt that she had been excluded without realizing it.

Although she was invited by Aki Tomoya, she has nothing to do with it now.

She had no chance to join in their conversation.

And it's getting hotter and hotter...

Eriri's forehead gradually turned red, and she felt as if she were in a giant furnace.

I was trying to keep a low profile, but it seems I've made things worse.

I was initially really looking forward to this doujinshi convention, but now it seems like I brought this trouble upon myself...

"Take off your coat."

Aki Tomoya suddenly turned his head and said.

Noticing that Eriri's eyes were already glazed over, he knew that she probably wouldn't last much longer.

If this continues, I'm really going to get heatstroke.

Eriri puffed out her cheeks, but at this moment she had no choice but to obey Aki Tomoya's words and take off the coat she was wearing.

After taking off her coat, she felt much more relieved and breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as I was about to take this opportunity to exchange a few pleasantries with Aki Tomoya, I turned around and found that he was chatting with Hashima Sailing again.

After that, Aki Tomo was either helping out or, when he had free time, he would go out to sea with Hashima and talk about other things.

Do we really have that much to say to our junior classmates whom we haven't seen for years?

Aki Tomoya's interactions with the island of Hashima far exceeded those with his childhood friend, Kazuya.

But what can be said at this point?

Eriri lay on the table, feeling somewhat dejected.

"Only twelve copies have been sold, even though the illustrations are so good..."

Aki Tomoya glanced at the stack of doujinshi still on the table. Unlike Eriri, Hashima Izumi didn't draw anything restricted.

However, after watching it, Aki Tomoya felt it was a good work, but unfortunately, Hashima Izumi was just starting out and didn't have the same popularity as Eriri.

"No, no, no, I'm already very satisfied. Being able to see so many like-minded people here, fellow anime lovers, and share my story with everyone, is already more than enough!"

The trip to Po Island was not disappointing.

This was her first time exhibiting her work, and she didn't print out too many copies. Selling even a small portion would be her best hope.

"But it's such a pity that such good works can't all be sold..."

As he flipped through the doujinshi about Hashima's departure from the sea, Aki Tomoya sighed.

That's how it is for newcomers. Even if they have good ideas, they can't sell them if they don't have popularity, since nobody knows them.

"Is it really that good...?"

Eriri wrinkled her nose, leaned on the table, looked at the doujinshi in front of her, and muttered to herself.

She hadn't read any of the fanfiction about Hashima Sailing yet, but she heard Aki Tomoya talking about it at length.

Whether it was meant as comfort or a genuine affirmation of Hashima's capabilities, Eriri was now eager to see for herself.

"Confirm it with your own eyes."

Aki Tomoya looked over, and his gaze made Eriri want to find a hole to crawl into.

She really didn't expect that her mutterings could be overheard by Aki Tomoya.

I want to die...

Meanwhile, Aki Tomoya was suppressing a laugh. Why did Eriri's mutterings sound so sour?

Chapter 65: Eri Kashiwagi - Her Story (7/12)

Eriri is a veteran who has been in the industry for many years, and her name, Kashiwagi Eri, is so prestigious. Yet now she's having doubts because of a newcomer.

Putting the doujinshi about the departure of the island of Hashima in front of Eriri is pointless; it's better to let her see for herself than to rely on others' opinions of the work.