Tokyo: Oreimo

Escaping may be shameful, but it's useful, isn't it?

If it's unavoidable that she'll see it, then I'll just have to rely on my instincts to make a judgment.

Ruri Aragaki didn't say anything more, but simply bowed to Ryosuke Takagi and jogged away.

Chapter 89 I really envy you

Ruri Aragaki left without saying a word.

Ryosuke did not stop him.

Some things can only be understood by the people involved themselves.

Back at the stall, Phoenix Inu Saori had almost finished packing up and was waiting for him.

"That girl looks like she's about to cry. You didn't bully her, did you?"

"How could that be? That's Ling Nai's friend, but she hates otaku."

Is that so?

After hearing Ryosuke's explanation, Hououin Saori could roughly guess how things would unfold.

She is well aware of how bad the reputation of otaku is in today's social environment.

"So it's all taken care of?"

"It can't be resolved for the time being."

Ryosuke shook his head, took out his phone, and planned to call Ling Nai to urge them to head to the celebration banquet as soon as possible.

This is also to avoid direct contact between the younger sister and the current Ruri Aragaki. If they met face to face, it might turn into a chaotic situation.

But the phone was hung up after ringing a few times.

This guy is absolutely crazy.

Ryosuke had no choice but to send her a text message reminding her of what had happened at the stall.

"Let's leave first. Before the celebration banquet, let's find a place to sit down. I have something to tell you about the company's recruitment of talent."

"Hmm? So soon you're already preparing to contribute to the family business? No wonder he's the man I've chosen."

“…”

The idea of ​​a family business... I still can't quite accept this guy's joke.

Ryosuke pretended not to hear and left with her.

......

The performance began at 1 p.m. in Section B of the East Hall.

One by one, cosplayers dressed in different outfits walked onto the stage, accompanied by cheers from the audience.

Ruri Aragaki also stood among them, feeling uneasy. Her gaze swept over the audience below the stage, whom she considered extremely dangerous.

Even without specifically looking for it, I noticed that beautiful golden figure at a glance.

They're so familiar with each other that it's impossible to ignore them.

Beside his friend was a girl dressed in the same costume as him.

Seeing this, Ruri Aragaki felt as if a knife had been ripped out of her heart.

Their eyes met, and in that instant, she noticed her friend take a step back as if feeling guilty.

"I can't pretend I don't know anymore... I just can't accept this kind of thing."

Ruri Aragaki noticed the flashbulbs pointing at her from below the stage, as well as the scrutinizing gazes of the otaku wearing tops depicting nude characters. They made her feel as if countless ants were crawling all over her body.

He could no longer control his expression, which revealed a look of disgust.

......

The CM exhibition ended on its last day with great fanfare, and the crowds began to leave.

4:30 PM.

Takashiro Ryouno walked out of the exhibition hall with the flow of people, looking somewhat lost, while Gokou Mao followed behind her at a slight distance.

The blonde girl was gripping her phone so tightly it looked like she wanted to crush it completely.

She never dreamed that her best friend would appear on the stage during the afternoon performance; she saw him very clearly.

The two stared at each other across the distance, and for the first time, Ling Nai sensed disgust in Aragaki Ruri's eyes when she looked at him.

"Let's break up. I've thought about it, and I really can't accept your otaku identity."

After the performance ended, Ling Nai received a text message from her friend.

It was then that she noticed Ryosuke's reminder to her.

"If only I had noticed that guy's information sooner, we wouldn't have run into each other, right?"

Ling Nai was filled with regret, never expecting things to develop to this point.

Now how to do?

She didn't dare send a text message to Liuli.

If someone dislikes you, even if you make a phone call, they'll probably hang up on you immediately, right?

They've been completely labeled as perverts.

buzz-

My phone vibrated, and the caller ID showed it was 'that guy'.

Takashiro Ryouno stopped in her tracks, pressed the answer button, and put the receiver to her ear.

Did you see him?

The voice of his adopted brother came from the other end of the phone.

"....Um."

Takashiro Ryouno didn't know what to say; she had completely lost her composure.

Ryosuke on the other end of the phone didn't ask any more questions, but said directly.

"Give the phone to Wugeng."

Gokou Mao answered the phone.

"Ling Nai seems quite listless right now."

"Yes, it's like her soul has been taken away. She's just a child. No matter how I try to provoke her, it's no use."

"I'd like to trouble you to bring her over."

"I'll take her to the restaurant where the celebration banquet is held, don't worry."

After a brief conversation on the phone, Gokou Mao hung up and handed the phone back to Takashiro Ryouno.

"What a childish thing to do. It's fine if your friends see it, but why show such a pathetic side in front of me?"

"You can talk a lot online, right? Just explain it to your friends properly."

Mao Gokou grabbed the blonde girl's wrist and dragged her toward Shinjuku.

Say whatever you want.

Normally, if Ryouno heard Gokou Mao say something like that, she would argue back no matter what, but now she had no intention of talking back at all.

Explaining this... I know my friend hates otaku, but I showed up at a large gathering full of the same kind and got caught red-handed. How am I supposed to explain this?

Unless she gives up her hobbies, Ling Nai can't think of any way she can reconcile with Aragaki Ruri.

But that's still a price I can't accept.

"I really envy you," Gokou Mao said abruptly.

"Envious of what? Envious that my closest friend dislikes me? You really are the best at provoking me."

Upon hearing these words, Takashiro Ryouno couldn't help but glare at her.

"No."

Gokyou Masao said sullenly.

"I envy you for having an older brother."

"You'll always have someone to talk to, and they'll call to check on you as soon as possible."

On the bustling streets of Shinjuku, the setting sun cast long shadows of two people.

Takagi Ryouno was being pulled forward by the wrist by Gokou Mao, her mind a complete mess.

Are you envious that I have an older brother?

She turned her head and looked at Gokou Mao's profile.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm glow on that always indifferent face, obscuring its expression.

"What's so enviable about that kind of guy?" Ling Nai muttered under her breath. "All he does is lecture and meddle in everything."

"Really? This attitude of taking advantage without realizing it is really infuriating."

Gokou Mao did not let go of her hand, but paused slightly in her steps.

"I only have younger brothers and sisters in my family."

She rarely took the initiative to say more.

"Although they are already quite sensible, when they encounter difficulties, as the eldest sister, I can only find a solution on my own. There is no one to discuss with, and no one to teach me what to do."

"After I fall to the ground, no one will help me up; I have to get up on my own."

“So…” Gokou Mao turned her head and looked at Ling Nai seriously for the first time, “I envy you for having an older brother who is willing to take care of you.”

Ling Nai was stunned.

"arrive."

Gokou Mao stopped in front of an izakaya (Japanese pub).