"I'm going out for a bit. Don't wait for me for lunch."
The time had already moved to the next day. After instructing Kaede and Suzu, Rin Ito left the house. Yesterday, Rin Ito had arranged to introduce Elf to Sagiri. Although they were neighbors, close enough to talk by opening a window, he still had to be the one to introduce them.
This was his third time at Sagiri's house, and Rin Ito was already familiar with the route. Rin Ito didn't go directly to Sagiri but first went next door to find Elf.
As soon as he entered the yard, Rin Ito heard a melodic piano sound. Thinking back, when Elf moved in, she mentioned that one of her pianos hadn't arrived yet. It seemed it had arrived in the last couple of days. She really is rich, buying a small Western-style house just like that, and owning a piano.
Rin Ito pressed the doorbell several times, but the melodious piano music continued inside... Rin Ito looked at the worn-out doorbell. Is the doorbell broken? Since this Western-style house was quite old, the doorbell left by the previous owner might be broken, and Elf hadn't had time to replace it since she just moved in.
Rin Ito took out his phone and dialed Elf's number, but the phone rang for a while with no answer. She's probably too immersed in playing the piano to hear it.
Just as Rin Ito was starting to worry, he suddenly remembered that when the movers called Elf the last time she came to his house, she had mentioned leaving the key under... Ah, found it. Rin Ito reached through the gap in the iron fence door and found a set of two keys under a stone. They should be the keys to the yard gate and the front door of the house.
He inserted the key into the lock, but it wouldn't go in. He turned the key 180 degrees. Hmm, still won't go in. He turned the key back to the original direction. Perfect, it went in. Keys are just like USB drives.
With a faint click, the gate lock opened. After performing the same operation at the front door, Rin Ito entered the house. Following the piano music, Rin Ito went up to the second floor, pushed the door open, and then... the Golden Elf came into Rin Ito's sight.
Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, forming a path of light, as if following the Tyndall effect, and illuminated the Elf's body, adding a layer of dreaminess to her already dazzling golden hair and making her tender skin appear even whiter. Her slender arms were raised and placed on the piano, her nimble fingers creating beautiful notes. The two small, rosy nubs on her slightly raised, flat chest and her dainty hips were squeezed into an alluring curve on the stool. The adorable girl, just like a true Elf wandering in the forest, sat at the piano, swaying her head, immersed in her performance.
Rin Ito did not gasp and shriek like a light novel male protagonist and leave. Instead, he calmly finished appreciating the moment.
Clap, clap, clap.
As the music ended, Rin Ito applauded from the doorway. Hearing the applause, the Elf sitting on the piano stool froze.
"Y-yah!!!!!" The startled Elf quickly picked up the skirt she had thrown on the floor and haphazardly put it on. As she was getting dressed, she yelled, "Pervert!!! You stalker!!!! Get out now!!!"
Only when the Elf said that did Rin Ito exit the room. After a long while, the Elf, fully dressed, opened the door with a flushed face.
"The piano playing was quite good."
"Pervert! Stalker! Why did you just walk in without knocking!" Although she was dressed, the Elf still instinctively hugged her arms across her chest.
"How was I supposed to know you'd be playing the piano naked?" Rin Ito shrugged. "I pressed the doorbell down there for so long, sent several messages, and even called you, but you didn't answer, so I just came in... Wouldn't knocking disturb you while you were playing the piano?"
"Guh-woah..." The Elf's expression froze, and after twitching her mouth, she started to explain. "Actually... the doorbell isn't broken. I usually just ignore anyone ringing the doorbell, instinctively thinking it's an editor rushing my manuscript. As for my phone... I had just finished showering, and my phone was in the room... Even if I didn't answer the doorbell or the phone, that's no reason for you to just barge in!"
"I see..." Rin Ito feigned disappointment. "Ehh... (*￣~~￣*) I finally secured an opportunity for the Erotic Manga Sensei to meet you and was eager to tell you, but instead... Why were you playing the piano without clothes on?"
"Playing the piano naked after a shower is just my habit! Nudity is the most natural clothing bestowed upon humanity by God! Being nude is the best!"
"No wonder the female characters in your novels are always nude in their first appearance." A writer having a few quirks is normal. Rin Ito had even heard that some great authors in the past would lock themselves in a room and write naked, only getting dressed after finishing their work.
"Nakedness and all that can wait. Don't talk about that; take me to see her quickly!" The Elf paused, looking at Rin Ito with excitement, her golden eyes sparkling. "How did you convince the Erotic Manga Sensei?"
"She wants to draw a doujin recently, but she's only good at drawing erotic illustrations and not good at writing plots. Since you write light novels, you must be very good at plots, so I introduced you to her... If you can win her over, maybe she'll draw illustrations for you."
"Thank you so much~~~" The Elf excitedly grabbed Rin Ito's wrist, pulling Rin Ito toward the study. "The computer is in the study; come with me."
Turning a corner, the Elf led Rin Ito to the study. Logically, the study should be her workplace, but... a handheld console, a game console, a computer, and a TV were all present. The bookshelf left by the previous owner was lined with all sorts of game cartridges.
"Hehe... My collection is pretty good, right?" The Elf put her hands on her hips and showed off to Rin Ito. "These are limited edition cartridges. I spent a lot of money to buy them."
"You really like playing games?" Rin Ito looked at the Elf curiously. Rin Ito had completely forgotten Elf's preferences over the years.
"Of course! Games are my sustenance! They are the new fuel that makes me burn! Only when I play enough games and reach MAX status can I write the best novels!"
"Alright then..." Rin Ito smiled, sat down in the chair, opened Elf's computer, logged into his account, messaged Sagiri, and invited her to a video chat.
"Wait... wait a minute! Are you video calling the Erotic Manga Sensei now?" Elf anxiously tidied up her Western-style dress, which had become a little messy from her haste, then smoothed her still-damp golden hair. After confirming the curve of her smile, the Elf sat down in front of the computer. Appearing on the screen was Sagiri, wearing a tracksuit and a magical girl mask.
The Elf took a deep breath and excitedly introduced herself. "Nice to meet you, Erotic Manga Sensei. My name is Elf Yamada! I'm a novelist who writes the ultimate light novels!"
Seeing the Elf, Sagiri on the other side of the screen was equally excited.
"So cute! Your ears are a bit pointy; you really look like an Elf! Show me your panties right now!"