Female protagonists from various anime/manga crossovers? They'll all regret it for the rest of

Page 58

Eriri Sawamura Spencer wore a pink and white short dress today, and her golden twin ponytails swung back and forth with her angry strides.

“Oh, speak of the devil.” Itsuka Yuto raised an eyebrow. “Last time it was two minutes, this time it’s one minute.”

"I... I did spend some time choosing clothes! This is for the training camp, so of course I have to take it seriously!" Eriri puffed out her small chest, trying to defend herself.

“Whatever you say goes.” Itsuka Yuto was too lazy to argue with her. “Let’s go, let’s go to the sports brand section first and get our swimwear sorted out.”

The three walked into the mall side by side. The shopping center was very crowded on the weekend, and Itsuka Yuto naturally walked on the outermost side.

The swimwear section was located on the fifth floor of the mall. He was overwhelmed by the variety of brand counters and saw posters of hot models hanging on the walls.

As soon as she entered this area, Eriri became a little uncomfortable. She subconsciously tugged at the hem of her skirt and looked around, avoiding the area where bikinis were hanging.

"Um... Yuto, you, you and Kato go over there and take a look at the men's section first, I, I'll just wander around by myself!" Eriri pointed to the men's section not far away, said this, and ran away blushing.

Itsuka Yuuto: "?"

Didn't you invite us out to buy swimsuits?

"Itsuka-kun, aren't you going to go for a look around?" Kato Megumi's voice rang out from the side.

“Huh? Oh…” Yuto Itsuka paused for a moment, then followed Megumi Kato toward the men’s section.

He didn't care what he wore; he casually picked out a pair of blue beach shorts and decided to pay without even trying them on.

"Why don't you give it a try, Itsuka-kun?" Kato Megumi asked.

“No need, this size is definitely fine,” Yuto Itsuka said casually.

This might be the difference between how boys and girls go shopping.

Boys are usually very purposeful; they can decide what they want to buy on the spot and rarely hesitate in their minds after browsing several stores.

After Yuto Itsuka finished paying, he turned around and saw Megumi Kato standing in a corner of the women's section, holding a pure white two-piece swimsuit and looking at it.

The swimsuit had a simple design, with a ruffled top and regular swim trunks, giving it a pure and innocent look without being overly revealing.

"What do you think of this?" Kato Megumi asked, holding up the swimsuit in her hand as he approached.

you ask me?

Yuto Itsuka was shocked.

"...It suits you very well."

He was even starting to imagine Kato Megumi in a swimsuit in his mind at this point, wow...

"Really? Then I'll buy this one." Kato Megumi seemed to trust his judgment and made the decision decisively.

"Why don't you go try it on in the fitting room first?"

Kato Megumi shook her head, seemingly quite familiar with her own size.

Just then, Eriri walked over from the other counter, carrying a shopping bag. It seemed she had already bought everything, and her expression was much more relaxed, unlike her previous awkwardness.

"All done?" Yuto Itsuka asked.

He curiously leaned closer to see what style she had bought.

Eriri quickly hid the shopping bag behind her back, saying, "I won't show it to you! You'll find out when we go to the training camp!"

"Okay, then I won't watch it."

After selecting their swimwear, the three of them browsed other areas and bought sunscreen, beach towels, and some travel essentials.

Just as the three were about to go have lunch, a voice called out from the side, "Hey? Isn't that Sawamura-kun?"

Yuto Itsuka looked in the direction of the sound and saw two trendy girls with exquisite makeup walking towards them.

He noticed that Eriri's smile froze for a moment when she saw the two girls, and she subconsciously took a half step back.

"It's really Sawamura-kun! What a coincidence, are you shopping too?" One of the blonde girls greeted her enthusiastically, but her gaze didn't fall on Eriri; instead, it swept over Itsuka Yuto.

"Yes...yes, Takahashi-san, Saeki-san." Eriri forced a business-like smile, the kind she only used when facing unfamiliar classmates at school, her "young lady" mode.

"Who is this?" Another brown-haired girl, referred to as Saeki-san, stared at Itsuka Yuto and asked curiously.

“He, he is…” Eriri stammered, unsure how to introduce him.

"I'm a friend of Sawamura-kun. We came out together today to buy some things for our summer trip," Itsuka Yuto said, trying to smooth things over. He didn't mention that he was a junior from the same school, partly to prevent the conversation from getting too serious.

“Oh—a friend!” The blond-haired Takahashi drawled, his gaze shifting meaningfully between Eriri and Itsuka Yuto. “Sawamura-kun’s circle of friends is quite extensive, isn’t it? He even knows guys like this… from the General Studies Department.”

General Department...

Yuto Itsuka frowned. These two should be members of the art club, right?

"Huh? This one... Oh, sorry, I didn't notice you. You look so ordinary. Are you from our school? What's your name again? I have no recollection of you at all!" The blond-haired Takahashi noticed Kato Megumi standing to the side, gave her a sizing up without any attempt to hide it, and then curled his lip.

"Takahashi!" Eriri's voice suddenly rose, "What nonsense are you talking about! Kato is an important friend of mine!"

The blond-haired Takahashi was startled by Eriri's imposing manner and quickly waved his hands, "Oh, don't be angry, I was just joking. I just didn't expect Sawamura-kun to be friends with such an... ordinary person."

"you!"

"Alright, Eriri, let's go eat first. You know I hate having my time wasted on irrelevant people, especially those who look ordinary." Yuto Itsuka said deliberately in a flippant tone, "My time is very precious."

"What did you say!" Even with makeup, the blond-haired Takahashi, who still looked ordinary, shouted angrily at Itsuka.

Another slightly better-looking brown-haired man, Saeki, chimed in, though in a softer tone, probably out of instinct when faced with a handsome guy: "How could you say that about Takahashi!"

As if just realizing something, Itsuka Yuto looked at the blond-haired Takahashi and said with a sudden realization, "Oh~"

"Did I misspoke? Huh? This guy has legs as thick as radishes, and even concealer can't hide the freckles on his face... Hashimoto? Mitsuhashi? Hmm... what's your name again?"

"Never mind, it's not important."

"My name is Takahashi!!" The blond-haired Takahashi was so angry that tears streamed down his face.

Yuto Itsuka waved his hand dismissively, "Don't be so loud, Donggua. Please be mindful of your manners in public."

Huang Fa Gaoqiao then realized that the passersby around her were looking at her strangely. Her face turned pale, and she lowered her head, grabbed her friend's hand, and ran away as if fleeing.

Seeing Eriri's face brighten from gloom to sunshine, Itsuka Yuto deliberately said, "Tch, all sorts of rotten fish and shrimp dare to flaunt themselves in front of me. It makes me want to vomit. I don't even feel like eating lunch anymore."

Eriri's mood had improved by now. She pursed her lips and playfully punched Yuto's shoulder, "Alright, alright!"

Kato Megumi, standing to the side, also broke into a smile as bright as cherry blossoms in April.

……

Volume 1: Chapter 75: Departure, Fuji-Q Highland! (Bonus Chapter 4/5)

We chose a family restaurant on the top floor of the mall for lunch. The window seats offered a view of a small section of the street.

Yuto Itsuka picked up a small handful of pasta with his fork and asked casually, "Were those two Eriri's classmates in the art club?"

"Hmm." Eriri paused as she ate her udon. "Misaki Takahashi and Ai Saeki, from Class 2-E, are... club members, I guess."

"Judging from their tone, it seems like they don't get along with you very well?" Yuto Itsuka continued to press.

"Well, it's not that we don't get along!" Eriri was eager to explain, but didn't know where to begin. "It's just that she's a little...annoying..."

Kato Megumi, sitting next to her, quietly sipped her melon soda, the straw making a soft gurgling sound in the cup. She didn't interrupt, patiently listening to their conversation.

Eriri felt their gazes, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke softly, "Those two... always like to form cliques in the art club. Because their families have a little money, they often criticize others, saying that this person's use of color is too tacky, that person's composition is not original... basically, they are the kind of people who are arrogant and haughty."

"And what about you? Do you think they would dare to say anything about you?" Yuto Itsuka was very confident in Eriri's drawing skills, which were definitely among the best in high school.

"Of course they wouldn't dare to say directly that my drawing is bad!" Eriri snorted, revealing a proud expression.

"But they'll talk nonsense behind your back."

"What's most annoying is that they look down on everyone they consider ordinary, and they think that apart from the art department, all the other departments in our school are just there to make up the numbers. Just now, when they said you... that's what they meant."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Itsuka Yuto with some concern, worried that he was angry.

Yuto Itsuka was speechless.

He genuinely couldn't understand it. Was studying art some superior thing? Was it really worth bringing up?

He was first in his grade, did he brag about it? He was a bestselling light novel author, did he brag about it?

Yuto Itsuka couldn't help but laugh out loud. He said to Eriri, "People like this have a narrow mind, and that's all they'll amount to in their lives. Arguing with them will only lower your own standards. Eriri, remember, if a dog bites you, you don't need to bite back. Just chase it away with a stick, like you did just now."

These words sounded old-fashioned, yet strangely persuasive.

Eriri stared at him blankly, all the pent-up frustration in her heart long since vanished. She even thought that Yuto's sharp-tongued demeanor just now was incredibly handsome!

"Pfft-"

A soft laugh broke the atmosphere between the two.

Yuto Itsuka looked at Megumi Kato, puzzled: "Kato-kun, what are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing." Kato Megumi shook her head. "I just felt that Itsuka-kun's demeanor just now was very much like that of... an adult who often lectures."

"Huh? Really?"

“Yes, very much so.” Kato Megumi nodded seriously. “But also very reliable.”

"Hey! Kato! Are you praising him or insulting him?!" Eriri complained, though she felt the same way.

"It's a compliment."

The meal ended in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

The three walked out of the mall. The afternoon sun in July was a bit dazzling, and both girls put on sun hats without prior arrangement.

Today's task—buying swimsuits—is complete. Normally, everyone should go home now.

However, Eriri, clutching her shopping bag, asked with some lingering interest, "Um... what should we do next?"

"Go home and write," was the answer given by Itsuki Yuto.

"Ugh—" Eriri said unhappily, "It's so boring to go back like this after finally getting out here?"

"What brilliant idea does Miss Eriri have?"

"I..." Eriri hesitated. She just didn't want to end today's date so soon, but she hadn't decided where to go.

"Where's Kato-san?"

"Me?" Kato Megumi took out her phone and opened a photo. "I think I saw an advertisement for Fuji-Q Highland at the station just now. If I take the train from here, I can spend an afternoon there."

That roller coaster with a Guinness World Record, and Fuji-Q Highland, which is known as the scariest haunted house.

"Kato-kun... do you like playing these games?" Yuto Itsuka asked tentatively.

"Yeah, I'd like to try it sometimes, and I think it would be fun if everyone went together."

Kato Megumi glanced between Itsuka Yuto and Eriri, then added, "Just consider it... a warm-up before the training camp?"

Eriri's eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately raised her hand in agreement: "Okay! Let's go there!"

Seeing the two girls' enthusiastic expressions, Yuto Itsuka couldn't refuse, even though he wasn't really keen on experiencing this kind of activity.

"Alright, let's go then." He waved his hand casually. "Let's make it clear first, the tickets will be split equally."

"You stingy person! I don't need that little bit of money!"

"I'll pay for Kato-san's ticket."

"you!"

"Haha, just kidding."

There weren't many passengers on the bus to Fuji-Q Highland, so the three of them found seats in the back.

Eriri naturally took the window seat. Perhaps she was a little tired from shopping in the morning, because her head was nodding off slightly with the bus's gentle swaying, and she unconsciously leaned on Yuto Itsuka's shoulder.

The girl's golden hair brushed against his neck, tickling him and carrying a familiar scent.

Yuto Itsuki instinctively wanted to push her away, but when he saw her peaceful profile as she slept, all his usual pride and willfulness disappeared. In the end, he didn't move, but simply turned his body inward to make her more comfortable.

As the bus approached the station, the group heard screams and howls coming from the amusement park not far away.

It's clear that the tourists had a great time.

"Wow—" Eriri had just woken up, but her sleepiness vanished instantly upon seeing the scene before her.

The three of them got off the bus, bought their tickets, and entered the amusement park.

Eriri quickly asked, "Which one should we play first? How about that one? That one looks so tall!"