How could Liu Ming not see through Kyoko's thoughts? After meeting the school's Person in charge, he explained her request to him.
Transferring to a class with acquaintances would help her integrate into school life faster. Such a reasonable request was not rejected by the school, and they readily agreed.
Although Kyoko on the side said it wasn't necessary, the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden, and her eyes were almost crescent-shaped.
"Be sure to get along well with your new classmates," Liu Ming said gently, ruffling Kyoko's head.
"En, thank you, Manager," Kyoko smiled happily.
After Liu Ming left school, he originally wanted to visit Xiao Hina at the kindergarten. However, after checking the current time, he dismissed the idea, as kindergarten had probably already started.
Upon returning to the shop, Liu Ming found himself free. Just as he was about to play an online game he hadn't touched in a long time, several customers arrived.
There were four people, all women. One of them was his former editor, Hiiragi Suzuna. Of the remaining three, Liu Ming had already guessed who the two young girls were the moment he saw them.
The blonde twin-tailed girl should be Eriri Spencer Sawamura.
The other two should be Sagiri and her mother. They looked so much alike; Sagiri's mother looked exactly like an enlarged version of Sagiri.
"Teacher Liu, I brought them over," Hiiragi Suzuna led the three to Liu Ming.
"Teacher Liu, hello, my name is…"
Liu Ming didn't even think, directly chopping down with a hand.
"Ouch, that hurts~" Eriri immediately squatted down, clutching her head.
"Can you speak properly now?" Liu Ming asked.
"Even so, you don't have to hit people. She's always looked up to you as an idol, so she's bound to be a little nervous meeting you in person. Really, if you have such a hobby, you could just hit me!" Hiiragi Suzuna said, dissatisfied.
Liu Ming glanced at her. That last sentence was probably what she really wanted to say, wasn't it?
After being lightly struck by Liu Ming, Eriri's nervousness about the name "Teacher Liu" immediately dissipated a lot, and she no longer stuttered when she spoke.
Although still a bit unnatural.
"Hello, Teacher Liu, my name is Eriri. It's truly a pleasure to meet you. Please give me an autograph."
Eriri didn't blame Liu Ming for his rudeness; her eyes even sparkled as she looked at him. This was the living, breathing Teacher Liu! She never thought she'd have the chance to meet him in person.
However, Teacher Liu being so young truly surprised her.
Of the remaining two, one was Chiba Sagiri, and the other was her mother, Chiba Mako.
Because Chiba Mako had not yet remarried to Izumi Kotetsu, both of them still had the surname Chiba.
What Liu Ming didn't expect was that Sagiri was already so shy. At this moment, she was hiding behind her mother, secretly observing him.
Perhaps Sagiri, like Eriri, hadn't expected the world-renowned Teacher Liu to be a young man in his early twenties.
"Hello, Teacher Liu, my name is Mako, and this is Chiba Sagiri. Thank you for giving Sagiri the opportunity to draw for your work." Chiba Mako pulled Sagiri out from behind her.
"Sagiri, don't be so rude. Quickly greet Teacher Liu."
"Hello," Sagiri said weakly.
Liu Ming nodded, led everyone to an empty table, and asked Tohru to bring some tea.
After everyone was seated, he spoke, "I already know why you've come. Although you were introduced by an editor, for the sake of my work, I need to see your drawing abilities first. If you can't satisfy me, I can only refuse."
"Of course, that's a very reasonable request. We also don't want to bring shame to Teacher Liu's work," Chiba Mako nodded in agreement.
Then, she took out more than a dozen drawings from her bag and placed them in front of Liu Ming.
Seeing her actions, Eriri also hastily took out the drawings she had brought.
Liu Ming was not in a hurry; he picked up the drawings and slowly began to examine them.
Even though there were only a little over twenty drawings, Liu Ming spent a full half hour looking at them.
After finishing, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and said with a somewhat complex tone, "As expected of Kashiwagi Eri and Eromanga Sensei, they truly have…"
Sagiri suddenly interjected, "I don't know anyone by that name."
Although her voice was a bit low, the distance between everyone was not far, so they heard it clearly.
Liu Ming couldn't help but look at her curiously.
Chiba Mako, fearing Liu Ming would misunderstand, quickly explained, "Sagiri is a very shy child. She always thinks that pen name is a bit suggestive, so she resists it, but her drawing ability is definitely not a problem."
Liu Ming extended his hand, signaling the other party not to be so nervous. He said, "I was just a little curious, you don't have to be so tense. And I've already seen her drawing ability in these pictures. Kashiwagi Eri, yours is the same."
Hearing Liu Ming say this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
If they truly had the opportunity to illustrate Teacher Liu's work, their status would greatly improve.
"Although the drawing ability is very good, there are still some minor flaws," Liu Ming said calmly.
Everyone's expressions immediately became serious, listening attentively.
Liu Ming didn't keep them in suspense and directly said, "The work you're going to illustrate this time is 'the little mermaid.' It's a fairy tale, primarily for children, so please don't draw it so provocatively."
The pretty faces of the two girls, Eriri and Sagiri, immediately flushed.
They didn't think so much when drawing, but now that it was pointed out to them directly, it truly made them feel ashamed.
"Pervert," Sagiri hid behind Mako again.
Liu Ming looked at her speechlessly.
He had only said one such sentence and was branded a pervert, so what was she, the person who went by the name Eromanga Sensei?
"Teacher Liu, please rest assured, I will take this seriously and definitely not disappoint you," Eriri, being a high school student after all, quickly composed herself.
"Very good," Liu Ming nodded in appreciation. He was very satisfied with this attitude.
Then his gaze shifted to Sagiri.
This time, Chiba Mako did not speak for Sagiri, as Sagiri was now Eromanga Sensei, and she, the original, had become a thing of the past.
Sagiri, being stared at by everyone, her legs began to tremble, and she buried her face tightly in Mako's back.
Liu Ming scratched his head, speechless once again.
Sagiri should be over 10 years old now, right? How did she seem even less capable than a 3-year-old Xiao Hina?
She was just too shy.