Tokyo: Oreimo

However, the two people from the manga research group naturally couldn't possibly know these things.

Therefore, Ryosuke cooperated with Kenji Yamashita's performance to maintain his persona as a "die-hard Aniplex fan".

"So you're a regular customer."

Tian Zhongxue nodded knowingly, but his face fell the next second. "But now is not the time for catching up. We almost got a turn in the demo version..."

Kenji Yamashita glanced at Tanaka Middle School, then at Ryosuke, his expression thoughtful.

“Since you’re a regular customer,” he said, glancing down at the counter. “When I looked up, I sighed. “I’ll just give you two more. Someone took the same number twice and I took it back. These are the last two. I don’t have any more.”

"Two?" Tian Zhongxue was taken aback at first, then suddenly straightened his back. "Two!!!"

"Are two enough?" Kenji Yamashita asked.

"That's enough!! That's more than enough!! Ayumi and Takashiro can share one card, or I can give it to Ayumi after I'm done playing. Anyway, that's more than enough!!! Thank you, Manager Yamashita!!"

Tian Zhongxue took the two number plates with both hands, his hands trembling with excitement. "Takashiro-kun! You really are the lucky star of the manga club! Since you joined, we not only cleared out our inventory, but we also got the last two SAO demo numbers!! My god, are you a god of fortune?!"

Ayumi also showed a hint of gratitude.

Although she appeared calmer than Tian Zhongchu, she also wanted to play the SAO demo version.

The impact of Aniplex's Steins;Gate this year hasn't faded yet, so of course she had to experience the new game as soon as possible.

"Even queuing up brings good luck to Gao Cheng."

She smiled at Ryosuke, her tone serious.

Ryosuke shrugged, without much modesty.

Kenji Yamashita had already turned around and walked back to his stall, continuing to maintain order in the queue. From beginning to end, he didn't glance at Ryosuke once, nor did he exchange any unnecessary pleasantries.

This is the quality of a professional store manager.

Ryosuke mentally gave Kenji Yamashita a thumbs up.

Tian Zhongxue clutched the two number plates tightly, as if they were the most precious treasures in the world, his face radiating a kind of pilgrimage-like glow.

"I'm finally getting my hands on the SAO demo...."

He muttered to himself, then suddenly turned to Ryosuke, his eyes shining. "Takashiro-kun! After we get the discs, let's go back to the clubroom and try them out together! You're an S;G Platinum player, so you must have a deep understanding of Aniplex's works. I want to hear your firsthand impressions! We can write a joint review and post it on the Future Dimension Forum!"

“Okay.” Ryosuke agreed readily.

This is exactly what interests him—being able to get game feedback from fans as soon as possible.

.....

The queue moved slowly forward, and Horiuchi Ayumi's eyes kept glancing at Ling Nai, intentionally or unintentionally.

She was still thinking about Ling Nai's painting earlier.

Thinking about it carefully, it's really impressive that they were able to create a work of that caliber in such a short time.

Should I ask you for advice?

Seeing the blonde girl leaning listlessly on Ryosuke's arm, Ayumi decided to give it a try, since the girl happened to be free.

"Gao Cheng's little sister? Is that alright with you?"

Ayumi came closer, and Ling Nai seemed a little surprised.

"Don't call me that, just call me by my name."

She didn't care what others called her, but she still didn't like being called 'little sister' in front of Ryosuke.

"Then I'll call you Ling Nai. I'd like you to take a look at this picture for me."

"what?"

Ayumi unfolded the paper and handed it to Ling Nai.

It was an illustration drawn in pencil.

The scene is a snowy alleyway. A girl wearing a kimono with a leather jacket stands in the snow, with a corpse lying at her feet. Her gaze is calmly fixed off-screen.

Ling Nai had only glanced at it casually at first.

Then her gaze was fixed on the screen.

"This is...."

She reached out and took the painting from Ayumi's hand, then looked down and examined it carefully.

Ayumi stood to the side, her heart beating inexplicably fast.

She herself didn't understand why, even though she was just asking a high school student to look at her painting, she felt like she was waiting for a teacher to grade it.

"It's drawn very well." Ling Nai was quite surprised.

This drawing is much better than the line drawing on the cover of the novel I learned in Tianzhong.

Did you draw this?

"Yes... actually, not entirely, because many people have given me a lot of suggestions for revisions and have helped me adjust many parts."

Horiuchi Ayumi's gaze drifted to Ryosuke.

“Takashiro is writing a fan fiction of FSN, and I’m the one who’s doing the illustrations. He has a lot of ideas about the characters he’s creating.”

Hearing her say that, Ling Nai frowned and shifted her gaze from Ayumi's face to Ryosuke, who was chatting with her at Wada Middle School.

Just staring at it.

Ryosuke was discussing SAO with Da Junior High when he suddenly sensed a murderous aura behind him.

He turned his head and met Ling Nai's gaze.

Those dark eyes were staring straight at him, their pupils slightly contracted, and their lips pressed into a thin line.

As Ryosuke's older brother and partner who had spent the last three years with Ryosuke, he was all too familiar with that expression.

This is the expression that says, "You'd better give me a reasonable explanation within three seconds or you'll face the consequences."

"what happened?"

Ryosuke was completely bewildered.

"What's wrong?"

Ling Nai repeated the words slowly and deliberately, turning the drawing paper over so that the front was facing Ryosuke.

This guy actually collaborated with other artists behind my back?

Chapter 238 Guidance

Horiuchi Ayumi sensed that something was off.

I just wanted to ask this girl in front of me, who looks like she's really good at drawing, for some pointers. Why does she seem angry?

Seeing his sister's expression as if she wanted to devour him, Ryosuke quickly considered a few ideas before deciding to tell the truth.

"It's a perk of the club; they can help me with illustrations for my fan fiction for free."

He winked at Ling Nai.

Takashiro Ryou walked towards him and pulled him aside to be alone.

Why didn't you tell me about the club activities?

She asked in a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, a tone that bordered on interrogation.

"It's just a preliminary idea, and you've been busy with your monthly exams lately, so I don't want to distract you. You see, last time you stayed up for several days without getting any rest because you were playing S;G."

Ryosuke explained in a low voice.

He doesn't plan to increase Ling Nai's workload in the next year. Getting into Waseda University isn't easy, so it's better to spend the extra time studying.

Even so... why didn't you come to me?

Ling Nai pressed for an answer; this was the real problem that was troubling her.

This feeling is probably similar to your trusted partner suddenly 'cheating'?

In short, the girl felt quite uncomfortable.

What? She's not the first to know about the new work, and she even has to ask someone else for the illustrations?

What, you look down on Rumiko Takashiro? Planning to find someone new?

It was one thing for Haruba Arina before, since he had given permission before allowing the two of them to work together, but what's with this newbie who suddenly appeared?

This guy is so infuriating!

"Since it's a club activity, it's more appropriate for Horiuchi to draw it."

"Who are you looking down on? It's just some illustrations. I can draw them better and faster, right?"

Ling Nai completely disagreed with what the guy in front of her said and glared at him.

That's not what I meant.

Ryosuke was both amused and exasperated.

"That's precisely why we can't let you draw it."

Ling Nai was stunned for a moment.

This answer was completely outside her expectations.

She had just imagined several excuses that Ryosuke might use: he was too busy to talk to her, or the other party had brought it up and she felt bad refusing. In any case, it was just a minor incident in the club and she didn't need to get involved.

Each one was enough to make her throw a tantrum and force him to agree to return the illustration work to her.

But what does "It's precisely because it's you that I can't let you draw it" mean?

"Explain yourself clearly."

Ryosuke leaned against a lamppost in the electronics district, his hands in his pockets, his expression much more serious than before.

"Ling Nai, how long would it take you to draw a full-body portrait of Awan Yin Ling Yu?"

"Two or three minutes, I guess." Ling Nai didn't understand why he suddenly asked this.

“It took Horiuchi nearly forty minutes to draw that scene of their first encounter on a snowy night, and that was after I repeatedly gave him suggestions for revision.” Ryosuke’s voice was not loud, just loud enough for the two of them to hear. “What you casually drew is a goal that she needs to go all out to achieve.”