'The readers' response is pretty good,' thought Homura with satisfaction.
"Shall we buy one to take back too?" Suggested Nanami.
Homura nodded and said, "I'll go. You guys don't need to buy it now. Just wait until the later release of the tankobon and then buy it, that's okay!"
{TN: Tankobon is a Japanese term that refers to individual volumes of a manga series. These volumes contain several chapters each and have a better quality than the manga found in magazines. Tankobon is also the usual format for manga sold outside of Japan or internationally.}
"Okay," agreed Eriri, thinking that the tankobon release would be more valuable to collect.
"Sawamura-san, do you think there will be more people buying the magazine next week?" asked Utaha, which was unusual for her to ask for someone else's opinion.
Eriri looked surprised at her but didn't argue and said, "I think there will be more people, for sure."
"What about after that?"
Eriri thought for a moment. "Maybe then there will be a lot of people who are even willing to camp overnight just to queue up."
"Right now, it seems like our popularity is higher, but it won't be long before Homura catches up and surpasses us without stopping..." Utaha then spoke.
Eriri understood what she meant. It wouldn't be long before Homura caught up with them and overtook them without hesitation. Then, they would be the ones chasing after Homura.
"Are you admitting defeat?" Eriri provocatively teased her.
Utaha was stunned for a moment, then laughed and said, "Ara? How is that possible? I, Kasumigaoka Utaha, will never admit defeat!"
"Is that so?" Eriri wasn't surprised by her response.
She knew that Utaha would say that.
Then Eriri said, "I'm actually glad to be a part of this group. If I used to draw just for fun in a place where both Mashiro and Sagiri are..... NO! I don't want to lose to them, even if Mashiro is more amazing than me. I don't want to lose! That's why I will absolutely get serious from now on!"
Eriri's seriousness in her words was clear.
"Is that so?" Utaha gave the same response and couldn't help but smile. "Then, let's cheer each other on."
"Do you even need to say that?!" Eriri made a face at her.
Behind the two of them, Megumi and Mashiro watched all of their interactions.
"Mashiro-chan, Eriri says she won't lose to you."
"Mashiro won't lose. What about Megumi?" Mashiro looked at Megumi.
"Me? I can't draw." Megumi didn't understand what she meant.
"Mashiro always saw Megumi; your seriousness, hard work, and progress... Megumi, will you lose?"
"I see." Megumi understood, and she also found that Mashiro was not as naive as she had imagined. She could tell from her words just now.
"If that's the case, then we all won't lose, right?" Megumi gave her answer, "Including Nanami, Sagiri, and even to those invited by Homura-kun in the future... they all won't lose, right?"
Mashiro was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Um."
Megumi looked around at everyone and felt emotional, "It seems like everyone is getting closer and the atmosphere is getting more harmonious. It's all thanks to Homura-kun, he's really... incredible person."
"I bought it!" Homura came over with a weekly magazine.
"Homura-kun, when you paid, did you pay attention to what the people who bought the magazine were discussing?" Utaha reminded him.
"Of course I did. Most of them were discussing "Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun", and I also took a look. They have three consecutive chapters!" Homura said unexpectedly.
Eriri didn't think much of it, "The Manke Weekly Magazine was originally lacking in works, and you also draw so fast, three consecutive chapters are not surprising at all. I even feel like there aren't enough!"
"But, won't the tankobon come out after three weeks if it's like this?" Homura was puzzled.
"Isn't that even better?"
Scratching his head, Homura said, "That's right!"
"Then let's go back! We've achieved our goal this time!"
On the way back to Minamiya's Residence, looking at the blooming sakura flower, Homura said the words he had prepared early on, "How about we do Hanami tomorrow?"
At the words, they quickly exchanged opinions with each other, and the final result was, "Sure!"
"Since everyone agrees, let's prepare everything we need to do today!" Including food, drinks, containers, picnic blankets, and so on.
"Oh, and we have to wake up early! Otherwise, we won't be able to grab a good spot!" Homura looked at Mashiro, "Mashiro, can you wake up early?"
Mashiro: "..."
Homura: "Ultimate Pineapple Bread!"
Mashiro: "I can wake up."
The women were all speechless, as Mashiro couldn't resist the temptation of the ultimate pineapple bread. She could overcome anything.
===
In the afternoon, Homura and a few others were busy working on their game, while Nanami was practicing her vocal skills in the yard, and Haru was rarely not playing around, sharpening her claws.
*Buzz~*
The vibrating sensation came, and Homura walked out of the activity room to avoid disturbing others.
"Ayano? What's up?"
Ayano's voice came through the phone, "Homura, why are you so calm? Haven't you been paying attention to the news and situation of your manga?
Faced with the sound of Ayano's voice over the phone, Homura said, "We are making a game. Who has time to pay attention to it?"
'Is this guy showing off? He must be!' Helplessly, Ayano said, "Yes~ Yes~, you're amazing. I won't beat around the bush. The weekly magazine is sold out!"
Homura finally couldn't help but say, "Are you kidding me?"
Ayano realized her mistake and quickly said, "Oh... Sorry, my words weren't very clear. What I mean is, the current situation of the magazine is sold out, but it's still a bit lower than the peak period of the weekly magazine."
"You called me just to explain that?" Homura asked.
"Of course, it's because of you. There are already many comments online, like 'Who is Minamiya?' and 'Monthly Girls is so much fun,' You're already famous you know!" Ayano's voice was somewhat excited.
"And then?" Homura asked.
"...Why aren't you excited at all?" Ayano felt that at this moment, Homura didn't seem like a high school student at all, but more like an old man!
Homura calmly said, "There's nothing to be excited about, is there? Isn't it obvious?"
'The effect caused by the "Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun" is actually quite normal, However, speaking it out loud will make you seem like showing off, so you act humble right?' This is what Ayano thought. Then she continued, "Well... since you're not interested, let me tell you something else that you might be interested in!"
Homura asked, "What is it?"
Ayano replied, "Well, guess what? Oh, forget it, I won't make you guess! The thing is, I've already taken care of everything on the side of the Otonokizaka High School!"
"Really?!"
'Finally, a not-so-calm voice.' Ayano was happy and said, "Of course! With me, Iida Ayano, it's just a small matter! Then... how about tomorrow? Do you have time tomorrow? Let's go and gather some materials for the manga!"
"Tomorrow?..." Homura asked again, "How about tomorrow afternoon? Since we are going to do Hanami in the morning."
"Hanami?!" Ayano's eager voice rang in Homura's ear, "I want to go too!"