Chapter 10

【※Supplementary (It's okay to skip this part)】

In the chronological order of the story (in-story time):

- December 2020, end of the year

This story

- August to September 2021

The God Writer, Window Editor

- May 2022

Kakuyomu's Romantic Comedy

At the end of the year, I was participating in Comiket at the International Exhibition Hall.

In the morning, I had sold out of my doujinshi and was guiding my classmate, Rika, who is into Nisekoi, around the venue.

"Ah, there's no room to walk..."

The view was packed with people.

The sellers and buyers both seemed quite cramped.

"Ouch!"

"Rika! Are you okay...?"

Rika, who had been bumped into, fell on her bottom.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Can you stand up?"

I extended my hand to Rika.

She blushed and took my hand, standing up.

"Thanks..."

I tried to let go of her hand... but Rika held on tightly.

"What's wrong?"

"Let's hold hands..."

Rika, with her ears turning red, said in a barely audible voice.

Eh, eh!?

S-Such a thing... holding hands on a date!

"Don't get the wrong idea! This is... yeah! So I don't get lost! To save the trouble of looking for me!"

"Ah, I see... It would be bad to get lost. ...Ouch, ouch, ouch! Why are you pinching the back of my hand!"

"Not at all! Hmph! Shin-chan is so insensitive! Let's go!"

Hmm, I thought her mood had improved just now, but she's upset again.

Is it really that difficult to fall in love with a shut-in...?

Well, we are in a fake relationship, after all.

"...A silver lining! We're holding hands!"

"Rika? What did you say? I can't hear you with all the people around."

"Nothing! Come on, let's go!"

We weaved through the islands (booths) and looked at the doujinshi.

"Wow! They're selling acrylic keychains!"

Rika said, impressed, looking at one of the booths.

"Yeah, they're handmade."

"Handmade!? Really!? Amazing... It's as good as professional!"

"Some professionals do doujin work too."

"Hmm, Shin-chan is so knowledgeable. You really are the King of Doujin."

"Stop it... that's embarrassing..."

I'm not the King of Doujin or anything.

Rika nodded, impressed.

"No, really, it's impressive. Among all these exhibitors, the ones who can draw crowds... the top circles. You really are the King of Doujin."

"B-But... Rika, you're teasing me!"

"Yep, I am♡"

"Ugh!"

Rika stuck out her tongue and smiled.

...Ah, how wonderful...

If such a beautiful person were really my girlfriend, it would be the best...

"Ha...sigh..."

"What's wrong?"

"Wh-What? N-Nothing!"

I can't tell her I was thinking about what it would be like if we were really a couple.

She might think I'm creepy.

After all, we're just in a fake relationship...

Sigh...

"Hey, Shin-chan, is there anywhere you want to go? I've been showing you around."

Rika suddenly said.

"Ah, yeah. I should go around and greet people."

"Greet people?"

"Yeah. I want to say hello to some artist friends and my [Master], who I always get help from."

I showed her the paper bag in my other hand.

"Oh, you brought those to distribute."

"Right, sample copies."

"Okay. Let's go greet people then."

I went with Rika to visit my artist friends...

"Hello!"

"Ah! [Shinshin]! What a surprise!"

The artist, who was selling, smiled at me.

"Shinshin?"

"My pen name."

"It sounds like a panda. Shinshin... cute♡"

Ugh... I was called cute...

As a boy, that's a bit...

The artist, who had sold out, looked at me and Rika.

"Hey! Shinshin! Who's this gal?"

"A friend. She helped me with selling."

"Hmm... beautiful... Is she a cosplayer?"

"No, no. Just a regular person."

"Wow! But if she's this beautiful as a regular person... she must look amazing in cosplay."

Indeed, Rika is tall and has a good figure, so she would probably look great in cosplay...

But... would she do it?

"Oh, sorry. Here's the new issue. Sample copy."

"Hey! Thanks a lot. Here's the new issue. Hope you enjoy it!"

I finished greeting and left with Rika.

"Cosplay, huh..."

"Interested?"

"Uh? Umm... a little... maybe."

Rika in cosplay... she would look amazing... and probably sexy.

"Are you thinking something naughty?"

"Hehe, no way."

After that, I visited more artist friends.

We also went to see my [Master].

"Master?"

"Yeah. A nickname. And the person who taught me the basics of drawing."

We reached the wall side.

It seemed all the new issues had already sold out.

"Kou-chan Master? Hmm? Maybe in the bathroom."

"It seems so. Look at the table."

There was a message card.

"I'm in the bathroom. If you need to talk to Kou-chan, please come back later."

"Really. I wanted to greet him."

"Leave the new issue. He's probably busy being in the top circle."

"You're right."

I left the new issue and some snacks.

"That's all I needed to do. What's next?"

"I have a booth I want to go to!"

"Let's go then."

We walked around the venue.

Rika was holding my hand quite naturally.

Usually, it would be embarrassing, but at Comiket, people don't really pay attention to their surroundings.

"Where do you want to go?"

"I want to get a doujinshi. Here!"

Rika took out a copy of the Comiket catalog from her bag.

The Comiket catalog is so thick, like an old phone book, so people usually don't carry it around.

They print or tear out only the necessary parts.

Rika showed me a copy of the catalog.

"Oh... here, huh?"

"What's wrong?"

I hesitated whether to say it, but I decided to mention it first.

"I think... there's a high chance it's already sold out."

"Eh!? It's just a little past noon... it's only been two hours since it started."

"Yeah, but this is a popular circle. Look, we sold out in the morning too."

"T-That's true... what should I do..."

Rika looked disappointed.

...Seeing her like that, I felt a knot in my chest.

"Anyway, let's go check. Maybe it's still there by some miracle."

"Y-Yeah!"

As we walked, I wondered why my chest felt heavy seeing her sad...

We soon arrived at the destination.

But...

[New Issue Sold Out]

"Ah... I knew it..."

Rika looked disappointed.

My chest ached again.

"Well, there's nothing we can do. Let's go home."

Seeing Rika's weak smile, I... unusually, took the initiative.

"Excuse me!"

I called out to the person selling at the circle.

"Yes?"

"Ah, um... I'm Shinshin. Nice to meet you!"

The seller's eyes widened in surprise.

"Eh!? Shinshin... the one from Circle [Rika]!?"

"Ah, yes! You know me?"

"Of course! I'm a big fan! Wow, wow, it's you in person! I'm so excited!"

I shook hands with the seller.

"Um, I know this is a very impolite request... but could you spare me a copy of the new doujinshi?"

"Eh!?"

Rika looked at me with wide eyes.

Yeah, I know it's against the rules.

But... I don't want to see you sad. I don't know why.

"Of course! No problem! I have a sample copy, so that's fine!"

The seller took out the new issue from the back and handed it to me.

"Thank you! As a thank you, I can give you one of mine..."

"Wow! Rika's new issue! The one that sold out in 30 minutes! I'm so happy!"

The seller, with tears in her eyes, bowed repeatedly to me.

"Thanks a lot! I'll never forget this!"

"No, no! Thank you! It really helped me!"

We followed each other on Twitter and left the booth.

I handed the doujinshi to Rika, who was standing there.

"Sorry for the wait. Here you go."

"Shin-chan... are you sure?"

"Yeah! It's a gift! Thanks for always helping me."

Rika hesitantly took the doujinshi.

"I'm so happy..."

She hugged the doujinshi tightly.

She smiled softly... with tears in her eyes.

"I'm so happy... a gift from Shin-chan..."

"You're overreacting."

Rika shook her head and then smiled brightly.

"Thank you, Shin-chan♡ I'll treasure it!"

Seeing Rika's radiant smile...

My heart skipped a beat.