Don’t Look Back, Megumi Kato [23]

“Izumi-sensei, these are the character designs I created based on your novel. What do you think?”

Once the awkwardness of her secret being exposed faded, Eriri snapped right into work mode.

Sitting upright, she spoke earnestly with Izumi Yuu about their project, clearly eager for deeper artistic exchange.

She pulled a few character sheets from her backpack, carefully spreading them out on the table in front of Yuu.

Even after handing over her illustrations, Eriri’s small pale hands clung to her skirt hem. Her delicate face was filled with tension as her sapphire-blue eyes fixed on Yuu, watching for his reaction.

Her knees were pressed together under the table, and her petite frame shifted nervously in her seat—just like a student awaiting her teacher’s critique.

“Whoa~!! As expected from Kashiwagi-sensei’s meticulous hand—these character sheets have your signature sensuality, but also that unique beauty and detail your style is known for!”

Yuu gently picked up the drawings, carefully studying the lifelike illustrations. “They’re all completely SFW, but under your pen, even a nun’s outfit with white stockings ends up somehow more alluring than if she wore nothing at all. When it comes to capturing feminine allure, Kashiwagi-sensei, you really are an expert.”

He wasn’t just flattering Eriri; even someone like Yuu, who wasn’t a hardcore otaku, felt the urge to keep her works as treasures to appreciate quietly at night.

“Of course! I’m a professional!”

Riding high on Yuu’s praise, Eriri shot up from her seat, straightened her (impressively flat) chest, raised her swan-like neck, and declared with pride, “No matter how much you praise me, I won’t get conceited! This is just the norm for me!”

B: 79.9 W: 56 H: 86.

Yuu couldn’t help but size her up as she stood, making quick mental calculations.

My eyes are as good as any measuring tape.

He was very confident in his observational skills.

His conclusion: Eriri’s chest was, tragically, as flat as legend claimed. Still, her figure was otherwise close to flawless—aside from being a bit lacking in one department, there really wasn’t much to criticize.

But wow… this girl really had textbook tsundere energy!

Still, Eriri seemed to thoroughly enjoy the praise, so long as it was aimed at “Kashiwagi Eiri” the pen name and her works—not at the real girl behind them. For a doujin artist, getting no “reaction” from readers was the biggest insult of all.

Your work leaves me totally unmoved— that, for a doujin artist, would be the harshest possible denial.

[You look at the girl’s poor-yet-proud chest. Being naturally charitable, you suddenly hatch a philanthropic idea. You want to reach out and offer her a helping hand, to form a deep bond with her. Surely she wouldn’t reject your goodwill—after all, childhood friends are the most romantic pairing. Just be careful: the girl might be a bit spiky, and her shrieks could draw everyone’s attention.]

Are you sure you mean philanthropy, and not harassment?!

Yuu shot the trashy narrator a contemptuous look in his mind.

If I actually tried that, I’d be arrested for harassment and dragged straight to the Tokyo police station!

“Kashiwagi-sensei, when you talk like that, maybe keep an eye on your mouth—you’re about to smile all the way to the ceiling.”

Yuu ignored the narrator and looked at Eriri, who was already grinning from ear to ear.

Her “pouty mouth” was just too easy to bait. No wonder even someone like Aki Tomoya could run circles around her—guys like Tomoya specialize in sweet-talking girls with their “yasashii” nice-guy routine.

“Hmph! Well? Being able to work with a genius, beautiful illustrator like me is a once-in-a-lifetime honor for you, Izumi-sensei!”

Realizing she’d gotten carried away, Eriri blushed slightly, turned her head, and puffed herself up even more.

“If your work hadn’t caught my interest, I wouldn’t have agreed to this. I’m aiming to be a top artist, and I have club activities too. I barely have time for a project like this!”

“Kashiwagi-sensei really is an incredible illustrator. I’m honored to work with you. Actually, my dream used to be becoming an illustrator too.”

Yuu sighed, a bit nostalgic.

“Huh?! Izumi-sensei wanted to be an illustrator?”

Eriri looked at him in surprise. “Did you ever achieve your dream?”

“Not yet. But if you’d cooperate with me, it just might come true.”

Yuu grinned.

“Eh?! Are you saying you want to have a deep exchange of drawing techniques with me?”

Eriri blinked in confusion.

“Exactly. If Kashiwagi-sensei would give me the chance to really learn, maybe even let me check your elementary—uh, your fundamentals—I’m sure my dream would come true.”
Yuu nodded, feigning seriousness.

“Unfortunately, I can’t today! I have other things to do, so next time, okay?”

Eriri shook her head, a little regretful.

“No worries. There’s always next time.”

Yuu smiled.

“I’m sure I’ll get plenty more chances to work with a top-tier otaku illustrator like you.”

“Hey! Don’t call me ‘top-tier otaku’! I don’t want to be lumped in with Tomoya!”

Eriri shot back with a glare, her mood instantly shifting.

In their school, whenever anyone said “otaku,” the first person who came to mind was always Aki Tomoya.

Aside from Tomoya, no one else would get into arguments with the club advisor, or campaign to host an anime screening at the school festival, or push the library to stock light novels. He was infamous for being the school’s top-tier otaku.

But Eriri’s own otaku side was a well-kept secret—hardly anyone knew she was a secret R18 doujin artist!

“Tomoya?” Yuu raised an eyebrow, looking at the indignant Eriri.

“You mean Aki Tomoya from our school?”

“That’s right! That useless, annoying idiot!”

Eriri huffed, cheeks puffed out.

[You see the girl falling for your bait, and begin scheming how to lure her further in—turning her into your loyal puppy. But being generous, you don’t want to hog her all for yourself. You decide to let that hopeless otaku witness how his childhood friend is slowly falling, step by step, until she finally belongs to you…]

Shut up! It’s not trickery—it’s salvation! This is the rescue of a lost girl by the god of pure love! Keep it up and I’ll sue for slander!

Yuu rolled his eyes at the narrator’s nonsense, muttering internally.

I’m saving a lost girl from a scumbag—is there anything more pure than that? Stupid narrator!

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This is a fan translation of 加藤惠别回头，我是伦也君 by 故人归 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!