Yazuki, who was peacefully sipping his coffee, now had an enraged Eriri sitting across from him, glaring at him with gritted teeth. Her small tiger-like fangs rubbed together as if she was sharpening them, ready to bite him at any moment.
"Alright, hold still."
Megumi, using the café's first aid kit, was gently treating the swollen bump on Eriri's forehead. What had once been flawless skin now had a big red lump.
"Ugh..."
Eriri winced, her eyes welling up with tears from the pain. Then, she glared at Yazuki with even more hatred, as if she wanted to strangle him.
Her gaze landed on the ruined manuscript on the table—her spilled drink had soaked most of it.
"You're... Eriri Spencer Sawamura?"
Megumi's uncertain voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hah?"
The way she asked, as if doubting her identity, made Eriri scowl.
"Yes, Kato, this is Eriri Spencer Sawamura."
Yazuki answered on her behalf.
As soon as he spoke, Eriri shot him a murderous glare, as if warning him to shut up.
"Huh? No way, she doesn't act like the famous Eriri Spencer Sawamura. Oh! I get it, this must be her twin sister!"
"Are you picking a fight with me!?"
Since her true nature had been exposed, Eriri no longer bothered pretending. To her ears, it sounded like a taunt, so she glared at Megumi with a rather ferocious look.
Meanwhile, Megumi turned her gaze to the person opposite her, seeking further confirmation.
"As you can see, Kato, the hysterical person in front of you is the real Eriri Spencer Sawamura. What you usually see is just the facade of a refined young lady."
As she spoke, Yazuki had somehow managed to swipe Eriri's illustration drafts. Not only that, but she also picked out a particularly impactful and well-drawn piece to show Megumi.
"Who's hysterical?! And you, you bastard, give that back!"
Furious and embarrassed, Eriri swiftly snatched the drafts back from Yazuki with cat-like reflexes.
"Um… just now, did Sawamura-san forget to draw clothes on the character?"
"Kato, are you seriously asking that?"
Yazuki's exasperated voice carried a hint of disbelief. His original intention had been to startle this overly composed girl, but she still remained unfazed.
"Huh?"
"The drawing is correct. That's exactly how it's supposed to be. In simple terms, it's an R18 illustration."
Even after explaining it so plainly, if she still didn't react, Yazuki would have to admit that Megumi's calmness was on another level.
As he spoke, he and Eriri were already engaged in a battle—not with fists, but with their feet, kicking at each other under the table.
"Ah… ahhh?! Sa—Sawamura-san, you, you…!"
Megumi stammered, seemingly at a loss for words, clearly overwhelmed by the revelation.
"Alright, isn't it more polite not to pry into such matters, Kato-san?"
Leaning forward slightly, Eriri narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she spoke.
"Isn't the one drawing such things the real problem here?"
"What are you talking about? Minors are indeed prohibited from viewing R18 illustrations, but there's no rule against minors creating them!"
"Ugh—!"
Megumi was rendered speechless by Eriri's twisted logic.
"Also, the person sitting across from you is the same kind of person!"
"Hey, hey, Eriri, don't make it sound like I'm some kind of pervert. If anything, I only got into this world because of you. I was once a pure and innocent kid until you introduced me to a romance visual novel called Princess Love. And it wasn't just any version, it was the R18 edition! That was the beginning of my downfall!"
Yazuki's voice was laced with grievance as if he were the real victim. If he was a degenerate, then it was all Eriri's fault for leading him astray.
"Hah?! What nonsense are you spouting? I gave you the all-ages version, but you deliberately swapped it for the R18 version! I got totally embarrassed in front of my parents because of that!"
Eriri's anger flared up. This was complete slander! She had nearly fallen into social exile because of it. Thankfully, her parents were hardcore otaku themselves, or else it would have been a lifelong trauma.
Now utterly furious, she launched a double twin-tail assault. Yazuki, on the other hand, dodged her attacks like a wobbling tumbler toy.
"Oh? You sure know how to act innocent. Do you think I don't know your true nature? You deliberately timed it so that guy was around that day, making it seem like I made you cry. Because of that, I got beaten so badly at home that my butt was practically blooming!"
Yazuki spoke through gritted teeth, recalling one of the worst beatings of his life. He had to lie on his stomach for an entire week, followed by a month-long house arrest.
"Wait… you mean my dad was there that day?"
Eriri's round eyes widened in shock, her mind going blank. Her body wobbled unsteadily as if she were about to collapse.
"A-Anyway, this is all your fault. Yes, it's your fault, Kato!"
"Huh?"
Megumi, who had been silently witnessing their argument, was left dumbfounded when her name was suddenly thrown into the mix.
"If you're looking for friends, a boyfriend, or even a casual fling, don't pick this unreliable chuunibyou!"
"Uh, that last term is a bit too disrespectful, don't you think?"
"Just be careful around him. He might act like he's helping you make friends, but in reality, he's just using you as a model for his doujinshi."
"Eriri, stop making things up! I'm only interested in 2D girls. Kato, you're a real-world girl, so don't worry, I won't have any improper thoughts about you."
"Uhh… why does that sound kind of hurtful?"
Megumi's pale expression carried a trace of speechlessness. Somehow, she had been dragged into their chaotic dispute and had ended up taking unexpected damage.