[TSSIM] Chapter 451: A Wholesome Comedy

""Waaah...""

""Hiks...""

At this moment, several girls were crying, and a few of them were crying so obviously that it was so audible.

Not only were there a few with red eyes, but even those who were the least affected still sniffled occasionally. 

Clearly, everyone was wrapped in a sad atmosphere.

"Meow? (What's wrong with them?)" Haru asked curiously.

She had seen this kind of situation a few times before but still didn't understand what it was all about.

Homura, carrying Haru, walked to the backyard before he finally replied.

"Well, it's because they can't control their emotions. Just like when you first found Hachi, you couldn't hold back your emotions too, right?"

Haru nodded, then asked again.

"But why are they crying?"

"Because I drew a story that makes them cry..."

"Why would you draw that kind of story?"

Homura: "..."

Haru had unknowingly turned into a million-questions machine, causing Homura to feel a bit overwhelmed.

'Why draw sad stories? Obviously because some people like that kind of thing.'

With this thought, Homura sighed softly before answering Haru's question.

"Maybe because sadness touches people more deeply..." 

Upon hearing this, Haru nodded, half understanding and half not. 

However, one thing was sure—Haru's adorable expression as she nodded made Homura dote on her even more.

Seeing that the girls had almost finished, Homura carried Haru back inside.

"Homura-kun!"

Seeing Honoka and Kotori rushing over to him with reddish eyes, Homura immediately placed Haru on his head, preparing for their small fists to hit him.

"Was the baby at the end Chtholly?!" Kotori asked with enthusiasm.

'Oh, so it was a question, not fists...' Homura sighed in relief. 'I thought they'd come to punch me again.'

"What do you think?"

Instead of answering, Homura threw the question back.

Kotori: "..."

Hearing Homura's response, Kotori understood.

It was undoubtedly another cliffhanger.

"Still, you're leaning toward the baby being Chtholly, right?" Eriri asked while sniffling. "After all, you drew the baby to look just like her."

"Yeah, I think so too..." Homura sighed lightly, agreeing with her.

Regardless, that was how he felt.

If he hadn't thought that way, he wouldn't have been able to accept it either.

"You dummy! You made us shed so many tears again..." Eriri exclaimed with annoyance.

"Yeah, you're so mean, Nii-san!" Sagiri accused.

"You've seen nothing yet." Homura waved his hand. "Wait until this gets serialized, that's when the real waterworks will start!"

In that instant, the sad atmosphere lightened considerably after his words.

"Umu, I support you!" Elf chimed in, always ready to stir things up. "Manga is meant to make people feel, after all!"

"Senpai, why did you wait until The Promised Neverland ended to start serializing this?"

Nayuta couldn't help but ask with a frown on her face.

"I feel like this is going to take you a long time to finish. A great series like WorldEnd should come out sooner, right?"

Homura: "..."

Girls: "..."

"What do you suggest, then?" Homura asked with a curious smile.

"Serialized it after Teasing Master Takagi-san ends!" Nayuta replied without hesitation.

"Teasing Master Takagi-san will still run for a few more months though." Homura shrugged.

Nayuta: "..."

"In that case, just do four series at once, Senpai! You've already finished drawing this one, right?" Nayuta suggested.

Homura's mouth twitched.

"Doing four at once isn't that simple, y'know… Once I start, there's no going back. If I lower the number later, it'll be tough... I'll seriously turn into a manga-making machine."

"So what are we supposed to do then?" Nayuta pouted.

'You just want to make the fans cry over the manga, do you?' Homura rolled his eyes. 'When did this girl become so mischievous?'

He thought for a moment before sighing softly.

"I guess I can't say no to you... Let's go for a bi-weekly release, then. WorldEnd will alternate with Love Live! every week."

"Yatta!" Nayuta perked up instantly. "Let's start the serialization next week, Senpai!"

"No, next week won't work." Homura shook his head. "Next week is the eighth chapter of Love Live!."

"Then the week after!"

"Alright, I'll let Ayano know when I find the time." Homura chuckled bitterly. 'Has Nayu found some joy in this?'

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but after he agreed to Nayuta, it seemed like everyone's mood suddenly lifted.

'Seriously? Where did Nayu pick up this kind of attitude?'

'Elf? Or Utaha?'

Lost in thought, Homura didn't realize he was the culprit.

===

The next morning.

"Homura! I'm here for a free meal!"

Ayano came to the kitchen and greeted Homura, who was busy cooking.

"Except for free meals, it isn't easy for you to come over." Homura shook his head with a smile. "Anyway, you're welcome."

"Since we didn't go into much detail on the phone last night, I figured I'd ask you properly today." Ayano nodded.

"Ask about what? Where we're going?"

"Yeah, depending on the place, the preparations are different, so of course I have to ask."

"Well, the time's not set yet, but the place is a private island owned by Elf's family." Homura said while keeping his hands busy. 

"A private island?" Ayano raised an eyebrow. "Not gonna lie, that's pretty impressive."

"Well, just prepare for the beach and come to my place when you're ready." Homura continued. "We'll all head out together."

"Got it."

Ayano nodded again before glancing at the ingredients in Homura's hands.

"Homura, is that ramen? Don't you think it's a bit heavy for breakfast?"

"Light broth ramen isn't heavy at all." Homura lightly shook his head.

"Light broth, huh... I don't think I've had that before. You always have something different for breakfast." Ayano chuckled, sounding a bit nostalgic.

"Homura—huh? Ayano, you're here!" Elf walked in from outside.

"Hehe, here to mooch some food!" Ayano giggled.

"I see..."

Elf nodded, thought for a moment, and then asked a question.

"By the way, did Homura tell you already?"

"About the trip to your island? Yeah, he just told me." Ayano nodded.

"Well... that's one thing, but I was talking about something else."

Homura: "..."

"What?" Ayano asked with a curious expression.

"Homura's new manga!"

"New manga?" Ayano rubbed her chin. "Hmm... is there a new one?"

"Let's talk after breakfast, okay?" Homura cut them off.

If Ayano got too excited after reading the manga, she wouldn't be able to eat in peace.

"Fair enough. I just didn't expect Ayano to show up right after we talked about it yesterday." Elf shrugged, finding the current situation quite amusing.

"Now I'm really curious..." Ayano muttered, thought for a moment, and then asked again. "Can you at least tell me what genre it is?"

"It's a wholesome comedy!" Elf answered without hesitation.

Homura's hand slipped, almost tearing the noodles in half!

'What the hell? Wholesome? Comedy?' Homura thought speechlessly.

"Wholesome comedy?" Ayano blinked her eyes. "Isn't there already Teasing Master Takagi-san for that?"

"It's in a fantasy setting, so it's different!" Elf said with enthusiasm.

Homura: "..."