Chapter 14: Kato-san is Sulking
"With these conditions set, that's the general idea for the game's production..."
After two hours of serious discussion, Aragaki Takiya sorted out the essence of everyone's debate. It basically included the game script, which Kasumigaoka Utaha would be responsible for; the game illustrations, which Eriri would create by hand; and finally, the overall game planner and producer. As for Aragaki Takiya and Kato Megumi... "'Assistant' and 'Heroine'?"
Pondering these two strange terms, Aragaki Takiya was in no hurry to voice his opinion. Or rather, his opinion might not be of much use in a scene like this.
"Now, Kato-san, make a sulking expression."
"Sulking? What's that?"
On the nearby sofa, Kato Megumi was being ordered around by Eriri. Specifically, Eriri was trying to enrich the game's heroine by collecting various expressions from Kato Megumi, but the current situation was far from ideal.
"Aaaah~ I can't start the illustration work like this at all!"
As if resigning herself to fate, the Blonde Girl who had been so confident as the illustrator was now slumped on the sofa like a salted fish. The other girl's expressions were so sparse that Eriri felt completely burnt out.
"Then I'll just practice on the side for a bit..."
Seeing Eriri looking like she had given it her all, Kato Megumi felt it was better not to interfere with her. So, she stood up and walked to the other end of the sofa, where Aragaki Takiya, who happened to have no assigned tasks, was also sitting.
"Sulking... what is it, I won't talk to you anymore..."
The Short-haired Girl recited the lines she had just been told with a blank stare, but no expression appeared on her face. This eerie situation gave Aragaki Takiya, who was sitting next to her, a chilling sensation.
"Kato, what are you doing?"
"Ah, it's because I can't make the expression Sawamura-san mentioned, so I thought I'd practice first..."
While explaining the reason, the Short-haired Girl continued to recite the lines from before. However, lacking real emotional resonance, the so-called line-reading had no effect.
"Just reciting lines like that is useless. Because you lack the actual feeling of the emotion in your heart, it's only natural that you can't make the expression."
"The actual feeling of the emotion? What's that?"
It wasn't Kato Megumi next to him who spoke up, but Eriri from not far away. Having been completely burnt out, she was drawn in by the 'actual feeling' Aragaki Takiya mentioned. Driven by curiosity, she asked directly.
"Regarding the actual feeling of emotions, I understand it in two ways: one is something you've experienced, and the other is something you're currently experiencing. It's a real emotion that bursts from the heart by observing closely or participating directly..."
"Then why can't we just use our imagination?"
Aki Tomoya, who had been listening for a long time, voiced the confusion in his heart.
"Then, Aki-san, can you imagine a scene where your girlfriend acts spoiled towards you?"
"Eh!!!"
Hearing Aragaki Takiya's question, Aki Tomoya tried his hardest to visualize the scene in his mind, but it ultimately ended in failure.
"That... I can't imagine it."
A certain otaku, after being ravaged by the brainstorm, said weakly.
"That's the best proof. Subject to various limitations, if you try to force an imagination without actual experience, Aki-san's response is the answer."
"Then how should Kato-san's illustrations proceed? Does she need to find a boyfriend first?"
"Huh? A boyfriend?! Absolutely not!"
Before Aragaki Takiya could respond, Aki Tomoya suddenly spoke up. If his chosen heroine had a boyfriend... that kind of NTR-like event absolutely could not happen to him!
"Stupid Tomoya, this is none of your business. Go away."
Eriri, who had had enough of Aki Tomoya's outbursts, decisively issued an eviction order. She was now very interested in the 'actual feeling' Aragaki Takiya mentioned and didn't want to deal with anything else.
"A boyfriend is impossible in the short term, but if it's just a regular friend, it shouldn't be much of a problem."
"A regular friend? How so?"
"Like, a friend Kato knows suddenly ignores her and keeps talking to someone else..."
Just as Aragaki Takiya was explaining his new idea to Eriri, this scene suddenly fell into Kato Megumi's eyes. Coupled with the catalyst of the current situation, a new expression soon appeared on the girl's face.
*Click~*
The crisp sound of a shutter accompanied by a phone flash easily captured the girl's sulking expression on the phone.
"Sorry, it's also my first time seeing such an interesting scene, so I took a photo."
Kasumigaoka Utaha was holding up her phone, and the screen showed exactly Kato Megumi's sulking expression.
"Eh? Kasumigaoka, let me see~"
Hearing the shutter sound and Kasumigaoka Utaha's confident words, Eriri immediately realized that the other's phone had captured something incredible. She hastily asked to see it, and Kasumigaoka Utaha obliged by handing over the phone. After a period of busy work, a picture of a cute girl sulking appeared directly on the drawing paper.
"It's drawn..."
"That's amazing."
"Hmph, of course. I've been practicing drawing since I was a child."
Hearing Aragaki Takiya's praise from the side, Eriri lifted her head like a Tsundere. After all, this was the first time someone had praised her to her face. Unlike being praised by strangers on a website, the sense of accomplishment contained within instantly gave her great satisfaction.
"Well~ it seems you, this useless young lady, actually have some skill."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, seeing the content on the drawing paper, was also somewhat shocked. After all, Eriri had finished an illustration in just ten minutes. Although it was a bit rough, her high-level drawing techniques were still evident.
"What did you say?! You gloomy woman, Kasumigaoka!"
Eriri, who had been enjoying Aragaki Takiya's praise, immediately bristled upon hearing Kasumigaoka Utaha's evaluation. This caused the harmonious atmosphere to shatter instantly, and the two fell back into their daily bickering.
Kato Megumi, sitting on the sofa, had no interest in watching what was happening between Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha. She just quietly looked at Aragaki Takiya. It was precisely this gaze, devoid of any emotion, that gave Aragaki Takiya a cold feeling down his spine.
"Kato, you're..."
"It's nothing."
"Is it really nothing?"
"Really."
"I feel like something's not quite right..."
... "It's getting late, we should head back first."
Looking at the somewhat gloomy sky outside, Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke up.
"True, it's already five o'clock, and it looks like it's about to rain. We'd better leave quickly."
Glancing at the sky outside, Eriri also agreed with the suggestion. After all, there was already a chill in the air, and rain was almost inevitable.
"Alright then, let's head back. That's it for today's seminar. I have to rush to my part-time job too."
Seeing the two reach an agreement, Aki Tomoya naturally chose to agree as well. So, the group got up to head home together. But just then, Kato Megumi, who wanted to leave, had her sleeve pulled by Aragaki Taki next to her.
"Kato, wait a moment..."
The boy beside her said in a low voice.
Hearing Aragaki Taki's words, Kato Megumi didn't know why, but she chose to listen. After everyone else had walked out of the Apartment door, the boy staying in the Living Room secretly pulled out a folding umbrella.
"This is for you."
"Eh, is this for me?"
"Yeah, but there's only one umbrella at home, so please keep it a secret..."
Aragaki Takiya's voice was very soft. Originally, he had planned to save this umbrella for Eriri, but after thinking about it, he gave it to Kato Megumi. He had vaguely guessed the reason behind her gaze this afternoon—it was likely because her friend had ignored her. So, this umbrella would serve as an apology.
"Okay, then I'll take it."
Hearing Aragaki Takiya's reply, a smile appeared on Kato Megumi's face. The small irritation in her heart instantly vanished, replaced by a sense of warmth.
"Hey! Kato, aren't you coming with us?"
Eriri's voice came from the elevator area.
"Okay, coming..."
The girl responded and then left one last sentence.
"Next time, don't just ignore a friend's existence..."
Before she could finish, Kato Megumi's figure had already disappeared from the Living Room, leaving behind only a somewhat awkward Aragaki Takiya.
"As I thought, it was because of me..."