"..."
Setting aside the three options, what bothered Chisato more was what "the most important next step" specifically meant.
Was it finally about being unsatisfied with just holding hands and wanting to take things further?
That seemed a bit too fast. Wouldn't revealing his true intentions so quickly scare Eriri away?
Judging by the description in the simulator, it appeared that she still had a faint, lingering affection for Tomoya Aki, whom she'd grown up with.
But thinking about it now wouldn't help. All he could do was choose the most appropriate and cautious option to ensure things didn't end tragically.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, that stubborn woman, ran off with her daughter even after years of marriage, and that simulation ending still made him uneasy.
This time, he was determined not to repeat a similar outcome.
It had to be a Happy Ending, not a Bad Ending!
Option three.
[This is an important decision, so you don't rush it and instead spend the entire night contemplating.]
[If you want to deepen your relationship with Eriri, the aquarium isn't the best choice because your time together would be short.]
[You'd go in the morning and return by evening.]
[Plus, the aquarium is a public place, and considering Eriri's personality, the most that would happen would be holding hands—unlikely to lead to anything more intimate.]
[The location isn't ideal.]
[Therefore, you cross out the idea of going to the aquarium.]
[You then consider the idea of inviting Eriri to your family's ranch in the countryside during summer vacation.]
[At the ranch, you could show her all sorts of cute animals, and with the excuse of teaching her to ride a horse, you could sit her in front of you, naturally holding her waist.]
[You could also take her to the stream behind the mountain to catch fish and shrimp, and maybe even have her wear a swimsuit, which would be quite a treat for the eyes.]
[But there are a few concerns. If you invite only Eriri, would she become suspicious of your intentions and grow wary?]
[If you want to avoid that, it's simple: you could just invite Tomoya Aki as well. However, that would mean losing the opportunity for the private moments you were hoping for.]
[You set this plan aside for now and think about the last option.]
[The final option is a bit different. Instead of inviting Eriri somewhere, you plan to ask her to teach you the basics of manga composition and design.]
[Of course, this isn't a genuine request. It's a way to strengthen your bond, allowing you to visit Eriri's room or have her come to yours during the summer.]
[This plan is excellent because it's both long-lasting and private.]
[As the one learning, you control the pace of the lessons. As long as you keep having questions or haven't fully learned, you can continue to spend time with Eriri.]
[The best part is that you'd be in a private room while she's teaching you drawing techniques.]
[Eriri wouldn't have to worry about others' opinions, and as long as things don't go too far, she'd likely accept them with a bit of shyness.]
[For you, this is a great opportunity. Since the environment is familiar to her, you have more room to make moves.]
[The most crucial aspect is that the manga you're asking about isn't something that could be published in a mainstream magazine like Shonen Jump.]
[Instead, it's the kind of mischievous, slightly naughty manga that isn't entirely proper.]
[In such an intimate learning environment, it's hard to imagine you wouldn't ignite some sparks between the two of you.]
[After careful consideration, you choose the third option.]
This was truly a well-thought-out plan...
If he applied this level of dedication to my studies, he'd be the top student in the grade by now. Getting into Tokyo University wouldn't be difficult after graduation.
[A few days before summer vacation, you and Eriri have lunch together on the rooftop, and you ask about her plans for the summer.]
[Eriri mentions that her parents are planning a vacation abroad and that she's thinking about whether to join them.]
[You laugh and say that it would be strange for her to join them on a couple's trip. Eriri pouts and admits that it would be odd so she decided not to join them on vacation.]
[You gently remove a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth and then bring up your desire to learn manga.]
[Eriri shows interest and volunteers to teach you, and thus, the plan is set in motion.]
[The school term ends, and summer vacation officially begins.]
[Tomoya Aki is still the same, either working or on his way to work. You've warned him multiple times to take care of himself, but he brushes it off without much concern.]
[You start visiting Eriri's house daily.]
[In the mornings, she teaches you manga techniques, at noon, you cook lunch for her since she's not great at cooking, and in the afternoons, you nap in her bed.]
[When you wake up, you watch movies or anime together. Eriri becomes increasingly accustomed to having you around.]
[You feel that the time is right, so today, while in Eriri's room, you ask her about the specifics of creating adult-themed doujinshi.]
[Eriri didn't expect you to bring up this topic suddenly, but she tries to answer your questions despite her embarrassment.]
Switching to first-person perspective
In a well-air-conditioned room...
Eriri is lying on the bed, propping her chin on her hands, with a manga in front of her.
Her bare, fair feet sway rhythmically in the air.
I sit at the desk, holding a pen. Suddenly, as if something occurred to me, I slowly shifted my gaze toward her.
"By the way, Eriri, you're actually a pretty famous artist online, right? If I remember correctly, your pen name is Eri Kashiwagi."
"Yeah, why are you asking about that now? Didn't I tell you before?"
"Your works must be quite popular, right?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it manga... It's more like content that's not really suitable for kids... Wait, why are you asking about this now?"
"It's nothing special, just curiosity. I wanted to give it a try."
"Huh? Are you saying you want to draw adult-themed doujinshi too?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Not exactly... You're as good at drawing as I am, so it's not impossible. It's just a bit strange."
"Wanting to try something new isn't that strange, right?"
"After learning so much from you these past few days, I want to see what I can create."
___
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