"I wasn't wrong, was I, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
"But... but I really don't have talent like yours."
"No, you just haven't triggered your potential for the time being. Besides, haven't you been distracted by trivial matters for a while? This doujin exhibition shouldn't just be the start of your resurrection, but also the stage where you reveal your brilliance!"
"If you doubt yourself before you even do it, then no matter how hard you try afterward, you won't do it well. Because from the very beginning, you didn't believe you could do it well. Eriri, since you believe in your own eye for art, you should believe in my judgment even more. Your potential is far higher than you imagine."
Jhin's infectious words moved Eriri. Apart from her parents, no one in reality had ever praised her, supported her, or even understood her like this.
She bit her pink lip tightly, forcefully holding back the hot tears swirling in her eyes, not letting them escape her sockets. Eriri didn't like crying in front of others; it made her feel weak. Using the motion of rubbing her face to wipe away the tears, she spoke firmly, her voice carrying a slight nasal tone:
"I will definitely complete this book in its best state for you to see!"
"That's the spirit!"
Jhin extended his right hand to Eriri, pulling her up from the floor. The two looked at each other and smiled. At this moment, he proposed an idea:
"Eriri, although I don't study painting, I can still provide help in that aspect."
"Do you have any good suggestions?" Eriri now completely regarded Jhin as a close friend, looking forward to him proposing another good idea. She even forgot to let go of their clasped hands.
"Since the storyline is your weak point, why don't we split the production of the book like a normal manga? I'll handle the story script, you handle drawing the visuals. I can even handle scenes like backgrounds for you. What do you think?"
Eriri wanted to agree immediately to this method, which was all pros and no cons for her, but she couldn't bring herself to brazenly freeload off Jhin. If it were Ryo, and Jhin composed songs for her for free and cooked for her every day, she'd probably just kidnap Jhin and take him home directly.
"Jhin... is it really okay for you to help me with such dedication?"
"Apart from giving you a slightly larger share of the doujinshi sales, I can't give you any other return. And in your eyes, that bit of return is just a simple string of numbers..."
Jhin let go of Eriri's boneless, soft, and fair little hand, which felt excellent to the touch, and grinned:
"Eriri, do you know how Kazuki evaluates me?"
"Kazami-san? I don't know."
"Kazuki, she says I'm just like those people who can't help but bring home stray cats and dogs in cardboard boxes when they see them on a rainy day. As long as I see a problem girl, I can't set my mind at ease and will actively go to help them, like a mother hen who is always worrying about others."
Jhin chuckled heartily. He didn't think there was anything wrong with this personality. It wasn't like he helped those in trouble without any bottom line.
"What? Do I look like a problem girl to you too?" Eriri bared her little tiger tooth at Jhin with an unkind expression.
"Let's not talk about that for now. At least you've encountered a problem, haven't you?"
"Hmph... I suppose that barely counts. I'll remember the favor of your help for now. Sooner or later, I'll find a suitable way to repay you."
"Alright, then let's continue working. I'll put the Egg Fried Rice in the fridge for you first."
Eriri returned to the desk, pumped her small fist in the air to motivate herself, and then buried her head to start grinding away at the manuscript.
During the first half of the three and a half days, they drew manuscripts until two in the morning. Jhin only realized something was up when he hadn't received a new draft from Eriri for a long time; she was already lying quietly on the table, fast asleep.
Her chubby little face lay on the drawing paper, her nose wings fluttering slightly with her breathing. Her flowing gold hair was scattered across the tabletop. She looked like a sleeping princess—it was just a pity that this beautiful princess was resting her head on manuscript drawings that would make one's blood boil.
"The World"
In the stopped time, Jhin placed Eriri onto the bed, then closed the door and left the room.
....
The piercing ring of the alarm clock stabbed into her ears. Eriri opened her eyes instantly. Half-awake, she rolled over and reached out to turn off the alarm, then buried her head in the soft pillow to continue sleeping, her hand resting on the alarm clock without retracting.
Just before sleepiness could drag her into the dreamland, Eriri remembered she still had to draw the book. Instantly, all drowsiness vanished, and she sat up like a spring.
"Eh? Why am I sleeping in bed?"
Eriri frantically patted her hands over her body.
Fortunately, her clothes hadn't changed.
She let out a long sigh of relief, reached out to put on the glasses next to the alarm clock, and out of the corner of her eye, glimpsed a sticky note on the small tea table. Eriri went over and picked up the note: "Saw you fell asleep, so I didn't wake you. Remember to eat when you wake up."
I wasn't carried to the bed by Jhin, was I?
Did he use a princess carry or some other posture?
F-Forget it, I've already been hugged by him anyway, no problem... no problem... Mn... B-But I can't give him a pleasant look. It wouldn't be good if he misunderstood me as a frivolous girl.
Not knowing what she was thinking herself, Eriri stuck the note Jhin left beside her computer screen and walked toward the fridge humming a cheerful tune.
In the following time, the two were busy until late every night. Jhin's work was no longer limited to helping Eriri draw backgrounds; he offered suggestions on character movements from his own perspective. Possessing practical combat experience, he often made Eriri, a novice, blush crimson with his words.
Jhin only actively brought up such matters with Eriri when discussing movements, so she wouldn't be blushing all day long with an anti-wolf taser kept at hand at all times.
...
"Hello, Mom. I've finished drawing the book for the doujin exhibition. Mn, I'm sending it to you via expedited delivery. That's it, I'm going to catch up on sleep."
Eriri hung up the phone. Her book for the doujin exhibition was finally completed after grinding through the afternoon of the third day. Without Jhin's help, it would have taken her at least half a month no matter what. His drawing speed was simply too astonishing.
Eriri felt as if she were floating like a fairy, every step feeling like she was stepping on cotton. She barely mustered the energy to write her home address on the package and handed it to the courier.
Watching the courier leave, Eriri felt relieved of a heavy burden. Now she just needed to go back to her room, have a wonderful sleep, and wait for the notification that the printing was complete tomorrow. She didn't need to be present at the doujin exhibition herself; it was all handled by her parents.
Eriri didn't sleep through to the next day; she was woken up by frequent incoming call ringtones. She muttered angrily, "If I had known, I would have switched the phone to vibration mode."
"Hello?"
"Eriri, are you sure you sent the original draft home?"
"Mom!? The courier hasn't arrived yet?"
"No. You child, you didn't fill in the wrong address, did you?"
Eriri was so scared her hands and feet went ice-cold. She glanced at the time.
"23:42"
This time, it was really over!
____
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