Tokyo: Oreimo

Ruri Aragaki unconsciously quickened her pace.

Just as she was about to walk away, their conversation drifted over again.

"I'm so envious! I also want to see Rumiko Takashiro's original drawings..."

"?"

The girl suddenly stumbled as if she had tripped over something, then stood still.

"What's wrong, Ms. Aragaki?"

The staff in front noticed that the footsteps behind them had stopped and turned around to look.

They noticed that Ruri Aragaki was looking at the departing figures of the two young men with a conflicted expression.

Two or three seconds later, she actually walked quickly towards them.

"Miss Aragaki, where are you going?"

The staff quickly chased after them.

Chapter 88 Escaping is Shameful

"Which Rumiko Takashiro? Is there someone else?"

"She's the author of 'Moon Witch Transformation'."

"Isn't the character you're playing also created by that teacher? It's really strange to ask such a question."

"If you didn't mention it, you wouldn't even notice. Could he be a famous teacher? This outfit is so accurate!"

"Excuse me, may I take a photo with you?"

The two young men were initially annoyed at being suddenly stopped, but they couldn't get angry at all because of Ruri Aragaki's beauty.

She even showed an expression that she couldn't understand, an expression she seemed to have seen in class before.

Shy?

Ruri Aragaki did not refuse their request, since they had answered her question.

"Thank you, teacher!"

The two young men, clutching their digital cameras with excitement, bowed to her in thanks and then left.

It wasn't as scary as I imagined; it was just like being with an ordinary person.

But Ruri Aragaki had no interest in paying attention to otaku anymore; her mind was in a complete mess.

"impossible...."

"It shouldn't be like this..."

"Rumiko Takagi would be involved in the production of 18+ games..."

Others may not know the author's true identity, but Ruri Aragaki does.

That was a friend I'd known for many years, someone I always thought about. How could he possibly do such a thing?

Is someone really so bold as to risk infringing on Ling Nai's reputation by impersonating her?

If such a thing were to happen, the publisher should have notified the author immediately, right? I've never heard Ling Nai mention it at all.

and many more.....

It seems that it might have been mentioned before.

"—Um... Ruri, what are your thoughts on otaku?"

She suddenly remembered a question her friend had asked her a few months ago when they were taking a nap on the school rooftop.

An absurd idea suddenly popped into her mind.

"Miss Aragaki?"

The staff noticed that something was wrong with her and went over to ask her what was wrong, interrupting her thoughts.

"Do you know how to get to C93? I should have a few tens of minutes before work starts, could I have some free time?"

"Huh?"

......

At this moment, Ryosuke and Saori Hououin were working together to put away the three-meter-long flagpole.

Just as I relaxed, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Brother?"

A slightly puzzled call made Ryosuke turn around unexpectedly and see a figure that shouldn't be there.

"Is it someone I know?"

Phoenix Inu Saori looked the arriving girl up and down before asking Takagi Ryosuke a question.

This was a face I'd never seen before, addressing Ryosuke with the respectful title of 'elder brother'.

Could it be that he has a younger sister?

"Yes, he's Ling Nai's classmate. I'll leave the rest to you. I have some things to take care of."

Ryosuke's expression was quite strange, as if he had been caught cheating.

This amused Phoenix Inu Saori, and seeing that Ryosuke didn't intend to explain further, she stopped asking.

"Don't worry, I can handle the rest by myself. Don't forget the celebration banquet."

"Yes, I will be there on time."

.....

In a corner of the venue, Ruri Aragaki looked at the 'older brother' she had always trusted and felt as if the sky had fallen.

"what is going on?"

"Why is my elder brother here? What is he doing? Selling 18+ games? Why would he do something like that?"

"There's no need to do something like this for money. You've already collaborated with Ling Nai on a comic, so you shouldn't be short of money at all!"

Ruri Aragaki was a little excited, and her words were somewhat incoherent.

Were they exposed, or were they caught red-handed?

Ryosuke sighed inwardly.

Since they were able to find the stall directly, it means they had at least heard some key information, so there was no point in continuing to pretend.

Or rather, it's a good thing that the other party knew in advance. If they kept it a secret, it would probably be difficult to end things in the end.

"Calm down, I'll explain."

"I can't calm down!"

"Has my brother been lying to me all along? He promised to take good care of Ling Nai, but he instigated her to participate in the production of 18+ games!"

me?

That's unfair to me. She wanted to get involved herself and refused to let anyone interfere with her role.

Of course, Ryosuke couldn't say this out loud; it would only make the situation worse.

"Do you hate otaku that much?"

Ryosuke asked.

“Yes!” Ruri Aragaki answered without hesitation.

"I've always thought you were a really good person, but please forgive me for not being able to accept that you're an otaku and that you lied to me. So from today onwards, I will no longer speak to you, and please don't lead Ling Nai astray anymore."

"As for the book signing, I owe my elder brother a favor, and I will find a way to repay it."

The girl spoke with a serious expression, as if severing ties, still remembering the help the other party had given her a few days ago at the book signing event.

I may be angry, but I should reciprocate the kindness I received; that's a separate matter.

That's quite an extreme view, but that's not surprising.

There is widespread prejudice against otaku in society today, and this reaction was exactly what Ryosuke expected.

Ruri Aragaki seemed to have no intention of continuing her conversation with Ryosuke, and turned to leave with the staff, as the start time of the performance was fast approaching.

Moreover, she felt there was no need to continue the conversation.

"What if I told you that Ling Nai is also an otaku? What would you do?"

Before she left, Ryosuke called her back.

"It's clearly her older brother who led her astray. She's a girl; there's no way she could be interested in these things!"

Almost without hesitation, Ruri Aragaki immediately denied his statement.

"I mean, if that were the case, would you still be friends with Ling Nai? Or would you treat her the way you treated me?"

“…”

Ruri Aragaki stopped in her tracks when she heard Ryosuke's words.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, and her back looked somewhat helpless.

The thought of having someone you like and someone you hate so much overlapping with her own situation makes her feel utterly powerless.

"The world is not beautiful, but that's what makes it beautiful. Remember that saying? Everything exists for a reason. Some people like it, some people hate it, and that's unavoidable."

"Just like your feelings for Ling Nai, she also has the right to like other things."

"..."

Ruri Aragaki already had a vague idea in her mind; she had thought of it even before she came to Ryosuke's side.

Unable to convince themselves to accept it, they turned their anger towards this gentle older brother.

She knew her friend's personality better than anyone else; even when forced, she would never do anything she didn't like.

But she really didn't want to lose Ling Nai.

If you didn't see it with your own eyes, it doesn't count, right? Just pretend you don't know anything about it, okay?