"Eriri, time to move up."
At Aki Tomoya's words, Eriri finally realized that the line ahead of her had somehow opened up a sizable gap.
She froze for a second, then hurried to catch up with the line.
Standing behind her, Aki Tomoya said, a little helplessly, "Eriri, you seem kind of out of it today. Your head's been somewhere else all day. Were the last couple of days just too much for you?"
"M-maybe." Eriri blinked. What Aki Tomoya said didn't seem unreasonable. After all, the past two days she'd had Mio at her side, and naturally it took extra energy to deal with that white-haired little bitch.
Having found herself an excuse, she instantly felt a good deal lighter, and said, "Once we've finished this booth, I'm gonna head back first."
"Eh? Today's the last day, you know. You really want to leave this early?"
Aki Tomoya gave her another odd look. In the past, didn't she always stay until they were practically shutting the place down?
"Feels like I've already hit everywhere I wanted to hit, and I'm kind of tired too."
"Well, can't be helped, then. I'm gonna keep fighting here to the very last second." Aki Tomoya clenched his fist. He'd spent all that time recently grinding away at his part-time jobs precisely for this moment. There was no way he'd leave early.
"Then good luck out there."
Once she'd made it to the front of the line and bought the doujinshi, Eriri said her goodbyes to Aki Tomoya and left the hall.
It was a rare chance to spend the day alone with Aki Tomoya, and yet the whole day had gone by feeling like she hadn't really done anything at all.
But whatever. There'd be other chances down the road.
Wonder what Mio's up to right about now?
Wait, there she went thinking about that white-haired little bitch again.
After giving herself a little internal scolding, Eriri still couldn't resist pulling out her phone and shooting Mio a message: "What're you up to?"
A moment later, Eriri got back a photo: a slice of cream cake.
"Want some?"
"You made that?"
"Heh heh heh. Of course~"
Eriri could practically picture the smug little look on Mio's face. Still, from the photo, that cake really did look tempting. At least to an Eriri who hadn't eaten a thing at lunch, it was downright irresistible.
She'd been about to head back to the hotel, but quietly changed course and started toward a nearby dessert shop instead.
When she got to the shop's entrance, though, Eriri found there wasn't a single open seat inside. The counter was packed with people too, just as crowded as the exhibition hall.
After lining up all day, Eriri really didn't have it in her to queue up again. With no other choice, she turned and headed for the hotel.
"By the way, how come you suddenly have time to message me?"
"I'm back at the hotel." Eriri typed a few words, then deleted what she'd written and typed again: "I'm on break. Why else would I be messaging you?"
"Then should I feel honored?"
After replying to Eriri, Mio carried the freshly baked cake into Shiina Mashiro's room. "Mashiro, your afternoon tea's here~"
The instant she heard "afternoon tea," Shiina Mashiro set down her work and started in on it.
"Oh, right. In a bit, let's move your computer over to my room. Otherwise hauling it back and forth is a pain."
"Mm."
After Sengoku Chihiro had left, Mio had decided to just have Shiina Mashiro move in with her. It was more convenient that way.
Calling it "moving in" was generous, though. Really it was just relocating the computer. Clothes and the like she could come grab from her own room whenever she needed them.
And in a sense, Shiina Mashiro had moved in with her long ago. Even when Mio had been away these past couple of days, the girl had still slept in her room every single night.
Picking up a tissue, Mio wiped a smear of cream from the corner of Shiina Mashiro's mouth before finally fishing out her phone.
Seeing that Eriri hadn't replied yet, Mio pulled up Kato Megumi's contact and typed, "Megumi, I'm baaack~ Did you miss me?"
"Sorry, I've been busy with a big house cleanup these last couple of days. Haven't had the time."
"Then do you have time tomorrow or the day after?"
"I should. Why?"
"Wanna come hang out at my place?"
Right now, because she had to look after Shiina Mashiro, Mio couldn't be away for too long, and she still had the task of going on a date with Kato Megumi to finish.
So she'd decided, without hesitation, to make her own home the date venue. That way she could handle both at once.
"Sure. Is tomorrow morning okay?"
"Mm, it's a deal then. I'll be waiting at home for you."
Mio clenched her little fist. As long as Kato Megumi accepted the invitation, the task could basically be counted as done.
Then again, New Year's was almost here. Her place really could use a proper deep clean too.
At that thought, Mio stood up and said to Shiina Mashiro, "Mashiro, I'm gonna go clean up. You just stay put in your room, okay?"
"I'll help too." Shiina Mashiro crammed the rest of the cake into her mouth all at once, then said through puffed-out cheeks, words muffled and unclear.
"Eat slower. Even if you want to help, there's no rush." Mio gave a helpless little laugh, then reached out and gently ruffled Shiina Mashiro's hair.
Lately Shiina Mashiro had been wanting to take the initiative to do things for her, which left Mio more than a little touched. She even got this odd feeling, like a parent watching their daughter grow up. Though she quickly shoved that strange feeling back down.
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"I'm home."
Eriri pushed open the door to the hotel room.
But no one answered her.
Looking at the room that still seemed to carry traces of a certain someone, Eriri gave a wry little smile, then, mimicking the way Mio did it, flung herself heavily down onto the bed. Feeling the softness of the mattress, and the scent Mio had left lingering on the pillow, she couldn't help drawing in a deep breath.
And then Eriri buried her burning face and wrapped herself up in the blanket.
Because she'd realized her behavior was exactly like some pervy, sex-crazed girl out of a doujinshi.
Good thing Mio wasn't here. Otherwise she'd absolutely latch onto this weakness and never let go, using it to tease her.
It was a good ten-plus minutes before Eriri finally wriggled back out of the blanket and walked into the bathroom.
After splashing some cold water on her face, Eriri looked at her own slightly disheveled reflection in the mirror and let out a bitter little laugh.
She had a feeling she really might have a problem.
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