Tokyo: Oreimo

The two people were closer than normal social distance.

Beside Ling Nai, Gokou Mao narrowed her eyes, her expression somewhat subtle.

"Yo." Ryosuke walked over and raised his hand in greeting, "You got them all?"

"Of course!" Ling Nai proudly held up the paper bag. "I even got the complete limited edition of 'Star Witch Meruru,' including the bonus items! This work is a huge hit this year. Although I heard it's not as good as your work, it's still very much to my liking!"

"Unfortunately, I didn't get to get a spot in the FSN doujinshi."

"You really have unique taste to be interested in buying your own doujinshi based on the original work."

Gokou Mao glanced at her and said casually.

"What, you black cat?"

"It's precisely because I'm the original artist that I need to look at those kinds of works. It can fill in the gaps in my drawing skills. I'm improving my drawing skills. What do you know?"

Ling Nai snorted and spoke nonsense with a straight face, which made Ryosuke unable to listen to it anymore.

Reading doujinshi (fan-made comics) can improve drawing skills? That's an absurd claim.

It's probably only good for fooling laymen.

Ryosuke was inwardly complaining when he looked down and saw Ling Nai leaning over and shoving the entire paper bag in her hand into his hands.

"Please keep this for me."

"Tsk, that's heavy. I'm not helping you carry it."

The bag was also filled with miscellaneous items, and Ling Nai stuffed her drinks and backpack into it.

"You're so stingy! You're a guy, shouldn't it be polite to help a girl carry heavy things?"

"Isn't that sexism?"

"I don't care, you just keep it safe!"

.....

Ruri Aragaki stood aside, quietly watching the siblings playfully bickering.

Her heartbeat hadn't completely calmed down yet.

It wasn't because of the crowds, but because of what just happened.

Ryosuke said he would help her and Ryouno express their feelings.

"He said he didn't mean anything by it to Ling Nai, but judging from his current state, it's hard to believe. Could he really be treating Ling Nai like a little sister?"

"They're clearly a blended family... and the game even hinted at it..."

"But... if my brother really had those kinds of feelings for Ling Nai, why did he say he would help me?"

This is the only thing I can't understand.

The girl pursed her lips and couldn't help but turn her head to look at Ryosuke beside her, only to find that he was also glancing at her.

The moment their eyes met, Ruri Aragaki, like a startled fawn, quickly looked away.

I don't know why, but whenever I see those eyes, I immediately think of the time when they lifted my chin.

At the time, she genuinely believed that her brother was prepared to agree to her request and do something outrageous.

It should be said that she was actually prepared at that time.

But the other person, instead of acting like an older brother, seriously educated him.

At that moment, a sudden feeling of emptiness welled up inside me.

"How shameful! Forget about it!"

Recalling that scene, Ruri Aragaki's face flushed.

I can't believe I said those words. It was so audacious. I was willing to marry Ling Nai just to live with her, and I didn't even consider her feelings before making those demands.

It was completely wishful thinking, and to make matters worse, I was decisively rejected.

Even the slightest memory made her want to run away on the spot.

"Aragaki?"

Ryosuke's voice came from above.

"Huh?"

Ruri Aragaki suddenly snapped out of her daze and realized that Ryouno and Ryosuke had stopped bickering, and all three of them were looking at her.

"Your face is so red." Ling Nai leaned closer. "Liuli, are you suffering from heatstroke?"

"N-nothing..."

Ruri Aragaki subconsciously pulled her baseball cap down further, covering half of her face.

Mao Gokou brushed her long hair behind her ear, her gaze drifting between Ryosuke and Ruri Aragaki, but she didn't say anything.

"That's good." Ling Nai didn't think much of it and took her hand. "Where to next? Liuli is interested in light novels, right? We can go to Section B. There are a lot of fan works there."

CM Expo encompasses almost every type of booth, and naturally, there is a special category for light novels.

However, this kind of work is completely different from the type published by publishing houses, and the scale of the written descriptions is much larger in every sense.

"Uh-huh."

Ruri Aragaki was clearly unaware of this, and immediately nodded when she heard that she didn't need to go to the 18+ game section anymore.

"Do you two want to come together?"

Ling Nai turned to look at Ryosuke and the other person.

"No, I'm not going." Gokou Mao shook her head. "I'm not very interested in those kinds of low-quality works."

"You're really picky, aren't you? So where are you planning to go?" Ling Nai asked.

"Find a place to sit down, have a drink, and then wait for you."

"Hey!" Ling Nai exclaimed, her eyes wide. "We've only been shopping for less than two hours!"

"My goal has been achieved."

Mao patted the canvas bag; she had gotten what she wanted.

As Aragaki Ruri listened to their conversation, her gaze unconsciously drifted towards Ryosuke.

Ryosuke was looking at the booth map in his hand and was completely unaware of her gaze.

The girl bit her lip.

"I'll send a message to my brother after the exhibition ends."

She made up her mind.

"I'm planning to browse the gaming area to get a feel for the current market. You guys are free to do as you please. Feel free to contact me via text if you need anything."

Ryosuke's gaze lingered on Ruri Aragaki's face for a moment.

The girl immediately lowered her head, completely unable to meet his gaze.

Now you know how to be shy? Let her be alone with Ling Nai for a while and calm down.

Hearing Ryosuke say that, Ling Nai pouted, "What, a workaholic...."

Ruri Aragaki opened her mouth as if to say something, but Ling Nai grabbed her wrist.

"Let him go by himself! We'll just go shopping."

"In that case, Ryosuke, I'll go with you."

Suddenly, Gokou Mao spoke up.

"Huh?" Ling Nai turned her head. "Didn't you say that the goal had been achieved?"

"I've changed my mind. I'll chat with Ryosuke about the website while I'm at it, and we'll wait for you outside after this is over."

Gokou Mao spoke without changing his expression, but his gaze swept over Aragaki Ruri.

Ruri Aragaki was slightly taken aback, and then felt a little flustered.

"Miss Luna seems very perceptive. Has she noticed something?"

"Hmph, whatever, you loner."

Ling Nai turned her head away, took Aragaki Ruri's hand, and left.

As they rounded the corner out of sight, the girl being led couldn't help but look back, searching for Ryosuke's figure, but the two seemed to have already left.

......

In Zone C, Ryosuke walked along while listening to Gokou Mao talk about the website.

After a general understanding, it appears that the website's basic functional modules have been completed.

All of these were created according to Ryosuke's wishes, referencing the original appearance of bilibili in his memory, and were divided into sections.

Due to technical limitations, online video functionality is not yet available, but Gokou Mao has specifically left an interface for this purpose.

Currently, it primarily functions as a large forum, while also incorporating features such as a user submission system, an information window, and online social networking.

"As for the server, I suggest you try it out by leasing it first, as this offers the best cost-effectiveness."

Gokou Mao gave her advice.

"This is the limit of my abilities. If we want to upgrade it in the future, I won't be able to do it alone. Technology is advancing too fast..."

To be honest, although she also wanted to praise her own work, that was just the truth.

Hardware upgrades lead to rapid technological leaps.

To keep up with the pace, you need to immerse yourself in the study, and studying takes time.

What she lacks most is time, because after finishing this job with Ryosuke, she will have to go out to work again.

With the mortgage still on my shoulders, it's certainly much easier than it was at the beginning.

"As for the actual effect, I will conduct a trial run this week, and then I will grant you access."

Ryosuke nodded, then stopped in front of a stall and picked up a game from the stall to examine it carefully.

"Okay, I will pay you the balance before the website goes live."