manga artist Kirito

Page 226

"Based on a storyline, right? In the plot we just mentioned, there's a scene where Sayuka goes on a date with the male lead... which is also a scene where she's about to confess her feelings, so you're planning to simulate it?"

"Yes!"

She nodded seriously. "Although I have written similar dating scenes before, those scenes were all based on various sources and scenes I saw in novels and anime. The real sources... well, they were the dead fish eyes of the Service Club next door and the Snow Woman."

"Clam?"

"Well, I ran into them at a shopping mall in Chiba before, and I thought they were on a date. I also needed to write a similar scene, so I observed them carefully... and then..."

"How is the result?"

Seeing his expectant expression, Kiritani quickly pressed for more information.

Dead fish eyes... I'm talking about Hachiman. This guy and Yukinoshita have been exchanging glances for a long time. It's a rare date, so he must want to know what happened.

"baffling!"

She pursed her lips. "That wasn't a date at all, was it? All sorts of random topics, it didn't feel like a date at all... But that chemistry between them did make me want to say—just get married already! Like that."

"I feel sorry for Tuanzi for three seconds!"

Even if you don't know the details, the most important things are dating and chemistry. You can talk to Yang about these two things later.

"So, teacher, will you go on a date with me?"

"Please explain your research properly—!"

Sometimes, the source material really isn't that important, at least that's what Kirito-kun thinks. He used to often turn on his computer, log into a game platform, and buy romance games to play because of certain plot points!

Yes, it's a romance novel!

He absolutely avoids games like Parachute Simulator, League of Legends, Fantasy All Dimension, 450 Heroes, Pay-to-Win Creed Origins, and Overwatch! —And he hasn't been playing League of Legends lately either, and his ID isn't Lazy Echizen.

She smiled slightly and tilted her head. "Then, please come with me to gather materials."

…………

"Hell Valley is truly unique."

"Actually, I know a place called Hell Hot Springs, and it's even more like Hell Valley than this..."

"Well, I think it's a real shame that Shiina-san didn't come along. Her drawings are really beautiful, although I don't know how to appreciate them."

Alice, Eriri, and Sinon carried their backpacks and returned from the direction of Jigokudani.

"There's a coffee shop up ahead... Hey, who do you think are those two?"

Shino's expression suddenly froze, and she raised her hand to the window seat in the coffee shop in front of her.

"Isn't that Kirigaya and Kasumigaoka Utaha? Wait a minute, Kasumigaoka Utaha rushed back just now, wasn't she supposed to be writing an outline? What's she doing here drinking coffee?"

Eriri blinked, sensing that something was amiss.

Alice smiled without saying a word, but her smile was somewhat peculiar.

"Uh huh huh..."

—A cat that steals fish!

P.S.: I'm really sorry for not taking a break yesterday (I never expected that I would get up to write at 10 pm instead of going to sleep around 7 pm last night, and then sleep on the sofa until after noon the next day... Although it was almost 17 hours, I did sleep very well, but—)

Oh my god, I forgot to close the window last night, and there was only a blanket on the sofa. I've caught a slight cold...

470

【NO.464 Dating Process】

So-called proficiency is actually honed through long-term practice. Putting aside the initial embarrassment, even after several times, one can still feel somewhat awkward when faced with the real challenge.

At least, that's what I think—damn it, who said in the book review section that I got arrested for going to a brothel?

I was clearly caught while soaking in a hot spring—well, the hot spring resort seemed unexpectedly interesting.

In short, you can never truly master something; you must always experience that feeling for the first time—that's the real key!

After saying all that, what I really want to say is that Kiritani-kun doesn't really understand what dating is all about.

Although he and Asuna have been girlfriends for a long time, they haven't gone on many dates, though not a few. As for the routine... well, there's never been a routine. Kirito and Asuna never prepare in advance for their dates; they usually choose randomly and end up going wherever they end up, completely leaving it to chance.

If fate allows, you might even end up in Kumamoto Yoshichi... and you might even meet a yokai girl who looks a lot like Ai.

"Although I'm not single and I'm good at showing off my relationship, when it comes to dating... I don't know the specific procedures."

Without feeling embarrassed, Kiritani generously explained his weaknesses: "Many of the dating scenes in my scripts are old tropes, and they're all from light novels and anime. If you insist on involving me, then you'll have to arrange the specifics."

Even so, Kiritani-kun still has two options, for example—

Hotel room - home - bathroom - park - bus - glass-walled building — cough, sorry, this is a date process for doujinshi only, please do not imitate it (if you really want to imitate it, please be sure to film the process and send it to me, thank you!).

In addition, there is the normal dating process—

Meeting - amusement park - restaurant - movie theater - coffee shop - hotel! — This is a fairly normal process, but dates always involve that last step. Even if this isn't based on Kiritani's experience, he has actually booked hotel rooms with girls quite a few times.

For example, in the beginning, when Xigua and I were running around, we often stayed in hotels, which is fine, right?

By the way, I think I also booked a room with Kasumigaoka Utaha, right?

...Although I've been to hotels with quite a few girls, and these girls are all high-value and high-quality girls, but...but, I'm still a virgin?

Putting aside any talk of experience, the above point alone is enough to prove that this is a sad story, isn't it? It's so heartbreaking that anyone who hears it will be saddened, and anyone who sees it will be moved to tears—here's a quick commercial break: could you please help me come up with a title?

But no matter what, Kiritani felt that he couldn't continue like this, otherwise he would probably be labeled as impotent sooner or later, which is a common characteristic of male protagonists in light novels.

However, in some ways I prefer to be passive. How come out of all the girls I've slept with, not one of them could resist me?

"Well, I don't really know either, what should we do on a date?"

Naturally, Kasumigaoka Utaha had no idea what Kiritani was thinking. Looking at his complicated expression, she assumed he was pondering how to proceed with the date.

"Besides, isn't this perfect? ​​Sayuka and the male protagonist never actually went on a date in the novel. This is their first time, so it's perfectly normal for them to be a little awkward. In other words, this makes the simulation more realistic..."

"It seems that this is indeed the case?"

Kiritani raised an eyebrow, but something still felt off, though it wasn't about the mock date, but rather... the attention from others.

You've been spying on me, haven't you, Yui?

He tapped his phone screen and saw Yui and Maid-chan huddled mysteriously in a corner, seemingly plotting something big.

He shook his head. No, it shouldn't be...

Unbeknownst to Kirito, three distinctive girls stealthily crept in from the direction of the main entrance and sat behind him, listening intently to his conversation with Kasumigaoka Utaha.

"So, for a date, you should plan something like a trip for two..."

"Having dreams is a good thing, but unfortunately, they're unrealistic."

Kiritani rolled his eyes, raised his index finger, and sneered, "Do you really think that ordinary high school students can be like us, with a net worth of at least seven or eight figures? A trip for two is impossible. The normal itinerary should be to go shopping, play some games at the arcade, try your luck at the claw machine, watch a movie, and finally go to a hotel!"

"Wait! What's the last thing? 'Go to...go to a hotel'?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her eyes, a cold glint appearing in her wine-red pupils.

Kiritani-kun said matter-of-factly, "What do you think? Modern high school students are very open-minded. The main purpose of dating is supposedly to increase affection, but isn't it really just for sex?"

He inadvertently heard something behind him being crushed, but he didn't pay much attention to it. Instead, he tapped the table with his finger. "Don't say it's impossible. Dating has two concepts, but a date between friends is just about shopping and eating and drinking. But a date between a boyfriend and girlfriend who have a certain attraction will eventually lead to the stage of going to a hotel room—in short, sex!"

Moreover, this is quite normal.

What scares me most is that the air suddenly becomes quiet.

Kasumigaoka Utaha pursed her lips, her eyes filled with a complex expression.

Kiritani-kun seemed somewhat nonchalant, but a thoughtful look would occasionally flash across his face.

"Oh, by the way, you can ask your friends how they date; that's part of the research too."

“…Yeah, that makes sense.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded silently, then took out her phone and made a call. She simply asked what she needed to know, followed by a series of coaxing words, which made Kirito's forehead covered with black lines.

Hey Shiyu, you didn't actually call Machida Sonoko, did you? Please, have mercy on this older single woman. She's already had enough to suffer, don't ask her about this kind of thing!

"As expected, you can only rely on yourself in this kind of thing. No one can help you.

Yes, yes, after all, you don't have many friends, and you're quite the ladies' man. How could you possibly know about dating, a skill inherent to successful people?

"Take your time to think it over. There'll always be a way. Besides... we'll have to make arrangements for the date when we get back."

471

[NO.465 Assist Big Three? ???]

Before long, Kiritani-san and Kasumigaoka Utaha, still struggling to get the date right, left the cafe.

What's that saying again? Being with someone you like is a very happy thing in itself. The only important thing is who pays the bill.

Well, Kasumigaoka will definitely pay the bill. Although Kiritani-san isn't a gigolo, it's still pretty nice to have a girl treat you sometimes—screw the gentlemanly demeanor, these days a gentleman means a pervert!

After Kiritani and Kasumigaoka left, the three girls, who seemed to be hiding something, looked up.

Eriri squinted, watching Kasumigaoka and Kiritani's retreating figures, a sinister glint in her eyes. "Those two actually sneaked here to discuss their date. I never imagined their relationship had progressed to this level without our knowledge!"

Upon hearing this, Shino's lips twitched, and her eyes looked slightly strange.

Didn't Eriri hear me clearly? Kirigaya and Kasumigaoka Utaha were obviously discussing what a mock date should be like, right? If you connect that to the fact that Kasumigaoka rushed back to write the outline earlier, it seems like she wanted Kirigaya to help her gather information, right?

Do you really think they're going on a date? — Uh, what if they're actually going to make it real?

boom!

Suddenly, the table was slammed, almost startling Sinon, who was observing all living beings with a god-like perspective.

Alice's face showed a hint of anger mixed with frustration, and her fair palms were slightly red, clearly from slamming the table with too much force. However, she didn't care, even though a few tears welled up in the corners of her eyes from the pain.

A flame burned in those bright eyes—a flame that wanted to eliminate the enemy.

"Hmph! He's actually thinking of going to a hotel! That's outrageous! I was the one who went first, whether it was getting to know him first, raising his affection level first, or even going on a date first. Now he's trying to sneak into a hotel behind my back—I can't stand it! I'm going to throw that philandering cat into Hell Valley right now!"

"Bridge Bean Sacks!"

Seeing Alice stand up angrily, Shino realized things were getting out of hand. She grabbed Alice's shoulder and pulled her back down, gently advising, "Alice, you can't be like this. Being too irritable will lower your favorability rating. Although childhood friends have an advantage, don't forget that Asuna is already ahead of everyone else. You need to be gentler. Kirigaya especially likes gentle girls, doesn't he?"

"As for Kasumigaoka-senpai, it's fine. It's just a mock date. As long as we disrupt their rhythm, let alone the mock date, I reckon Kasumigaoka-senpai won't even be able to eat properly!"

Incidentally, Shino gave Eriri a look, signaling her to say something casually.

"Yeah, yeah, Kasumigaoka Utaha is nothing special. Even on a date, all she does is flaunt her black stockings and her sleazy bust size. So what if she has big breasts and full legs? I'm not envious at all..."

As she was talking, Eriri suddenly raised her hand to cover her eyes and turned her head to look out the window—it was all tears to tell!

Alice lowered her eyes, looked at her ample bosom, then at her slender legs encased in white stockings, and blinked slightly. "It seems... something's missing?"

"..."

Shino looked at the two who had suddenly become serious, her expression full of shock.

Shocking! What's wrong with Eriri? Is she hurting herself? I didn't ask you to talk about Kasumigaoka-senpai's good points, did I? Why are you stabbing yourself in the back?

And what's this? Isn't this the behavior of a terrible teammate? I was so hoping you might be a great assist provider... what a waste of my expectations.

"It's okay, Alice. As long as the date is canceled, or if there's no time to go, nothing will happen, right?"

Smiling, Shino-san realized that being a top assist provider wasn't so easy after all.

…………

As evening approached and darkness fell, the surrounding environment began to change dramatically. Clear spring water flowed down from the mountain stream, and the rising mist became increasingly hazy, contrasting with the vegetation and bamboo forest in front, creating a feeling of paradise on earth. Especially in this atmosphere, looking at the hot spring inn, there was a sense of tranquility and serenity, which was quite peculiar.

Kiritani-san nodded slightly, "Yes, this deserves extra points."

Although the hot spring inn does not offer lunch, it does provide breakfast and dinner. The main dishes include soba noodles, black tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet), and onsen tamago (hot spring egg), all of which have a special hot spring flavor and are just as delicious as the egg dishes made by Kiritani-kun himself.

However, when it comes to specialty dishes, we have to mention kaiseki cuisine. Although the portions are small, none of the people present are big eaters, so the portions are enough for most people. That is to say, apart from their manga club group, there were no other guests in this hot spring inn.

This made Eriri, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and even Sinon realize just how powerful the "dog tycoon" really was.

Yes, Eriri can be considered a young lady of high birth, as her parents are British diplomats, but she is actually not as well-off as Alice and Asuna, whose family businesses are incredibly large—just looking at the ace butlers and maids who occasionally appear by her side is enough to tell the difference.

Pulling back the curtain, you can see the hazy mist swirling around the mountains under the dim sky, which is quite beautiful.

"It tastes pretty good, although it's not quite as good as Asuna's."

"Hmm, then compared to mine, what about mine?"

Kiritani made a casual comment, and Alice grabbed his arm and kept asking him questions.

"...Hmm, it didn't leave a deep impression."