manga artist Kirito

Do you mean you haven't thought it through yet?

Ah, I really want to ask you for help now, just like I asked you Remilia, Kato Megumi.

"How about you bring it up after you've thought it through?"

"Sure~ I'm pretty free lately anyway... Ah, it seems I need to start reviewing for Wednesday's exam early..." The girl's soft voice carried a hint of confusion, "Looks like that's not going to happen anytime soon~"

So it's the kind of material you need to review before an exam?

"Tutoring is easy to solve, so we'll talk about it later," Kirito said casually, having never worried about his grades. "Kato, you've read light novels, and you must understand that every character in a novel needs to have a special personality, such as tsundere, sharp-tongued, rich girl, aloof, idiot... well, that can be ignored—but you only have the 'passerby' attribute."

"Kiritani-kun, I can get angry too~"

"That duct tape? I expected it!"

card wipe! !

I had already turned on the camera on my phone and pointed it at Kato Megumi's slightly angry face, then captured the moment perfectly—it was the perfect subject matter!

"That expression is great!" Kirito exclaimed, handing his phone to Kato Megumi so she could take a good look at her expression. "Compared to your face, which looks like it would have nothing to do with me even if the earth turned into milk, it's so much better."

Kato Megumi, who thought it was more surprising that the Earth had turned into orange juice, opened her mouth as if to speak but ultimately chose to silently organize her thoughts in her mind.

“This is not good… really not good.” Kirito shook his head. “Why don’t you just say what you feel? It’s like when you’re cursing, you have to compete to see who can shout the loudest. Emotions are meant to be expressed. If you keep them inside, all you’ll get is a stagnant past.”

"Why won't you look ahead?"

"...Kiritani-kun, what you're saying is so hard to understand."

"Let me put it simply." Kirito took out his phone again and took a picture of Kato Megumi before putting it away with satisfaction. "If the impression you give is too faint, then you need to flesh it out—I'm not referring to your chest—you were angry just now, but the expression you showed only made me think you were cute. But if you had cursed out loud just now, I would definitely remember it and keep it in my mind."

"So Kiritani-kun is a masochist after all?"

"Could you at least show a hint of wariness when you say that? Even your eyes would be fine..."

Looking at the girl's unchanging pretty face, Kirito became even more interested in what was to come.

"Does Kiritani-kun like this style?"

"...Do you know how to make a disgusted expression?"

"Is this so...?"

The girl tried making a disgusted expression.

“I would rather you act like a broken porcelain doll than see this non-existent disdain in you—a model born to make painters despair.”

P.S.: The Saint route is almost complete; we'll be getting to the chapter title storyline soon!

Please feed them, yes, you need to pat them!

120

[NO.118 It seems... a bit bad (Bonus Chapter)]

"I'm not Kiritani-kun's model~"

Kato Megumi maintained her calm and indifferent expression, as if she never experienced joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness. But without a doubt, someone like Kato Megumi was the most troublesome, because even trying to guess what she was thinking was extremely difficult.

“If my model looked like you, what I drew would definitely be despair.” Recalling Kato Megumi’s face, which looked like a porcelain doll that had been burned and deformed, Kirito gradually lost his smile, replaced by a paralyzed expression. He reached out and patted Kato Megumi’s face with both hands, pinching her cheeks and pulling them apart. “Hmm, that’s a pretty good look… Hey, are you trying to say I’m a pervert?”

"Ugh, forget it, just go back to your original self. This is utterly hopeless. You're making me wonder if your facial muscles have already died." Seeing Kato Megumi's increasingly indifferent, even smug, gaze, Kirito reluctantly withdrew his hands. "...Um, Kato, are you angry?"

Kato Megumi may seem to have a good temper, but... she should still get angry if things go too far.

“That’s too much.”

Sure enough! But could you please glare at me? Your nonchalant attitude is making me want to turn into Steve.

With her eyes still calm, Kato Megumi glanced at Kirito and said, "Things that go too far are not allowed, Kiritani-kun."

Hey, you just called me "Mushroom," right? Am I only fit to be a fungus now? — I have every reason to suspect you're a fake Kato Megumi.

"You'll definitely be considered a pervert if you casually touch a girl you've only recently met."

...Well, mutual help between friends is essential. I was just trying to help you get your expression right. Besides, I don't think men are all perverted, right?

Aside from someone as incredibly handsome as me, who also draws doujinshi to provide fan service to other perverts, you, Kato, should feel honored.

"You're angry, aren't you?" Kirito grinned smugly. "Making you happy is harder than getting Yezi to drop two fewer students today. Instead of going through all that trouble, let's try a different approach."

“A divine being once said that dislike and liking can actually be transformed into each other. And Kato, you do have emotions, so what we should do now is to amplify your emotions—for example, when I pinched your face just now, you felt it was too much, so you should slap me back... Ah, I'm just saying, if conditions allow, please don't hit me.”

"I suddenly feel like I should refuse this suggestion, but... it seems like Kiritani-kun's masochistic tendencies really do exist~"

So, could you please stop putting me with fungi?

I now think that pavilion next to us is more attractive than you. As for masochism... actually everyone is an M, they just haven't met their S yet.

To add, I am not included.

"Many people lack the courage to face their own desires; this is the barrier called reality. But even so, you absolutely cannot give up, Kato. Let me see if this seemingly ordinary heroine has enough potential!"

"Eh? Is that internet slang?" Kato Megumi gently patted her cheek, which was slightly red from Kirito's pinch, then awkwardly put her hands behind her back. "I don't really understand~ And, although I admire Kirito-kun a lot, if he bullies me, I'll cry too, I really will~"

"How could that be?" The black-clad swordsman smiled naturally, as if a saint had just come up with a plan. "I'm the best older brother in the world, I would never bully anyone."

Yes, I'm just educating you, and although the process might be very troublesome for me, it's definitely better than educating those guys who only know how to brandish knives and guns.

Just so you know, I don't consider you my sister.

Actually, if Kato Megumi had refused with a firm tone, Kirito would never have bothered her. But she doesn't even know what she should refuse... Kato, your personality is too easygoing. If you encountered a pervert, you would probably be sold out while still helping him count the money.

However, the fact that he didn't refuse... is it because he longs for the existence of friends?

"What would you do if I took your phone?"

"It's going to be so boring... Yeah, with no friends to chat with and Kirito-kun taking my phone, I might die of boredom~"

How fake, Ms. Kato. Even if I believed that the world would be destroyed when Haruhi Suzumiya shouted the death sentence, I would never believe that you would die without your phone, even if you have a phone addiction.

"What would happen if Kirito-kun's phone got stolen?"

"Could you please answer the phone?"

The moment she finished speaking, the cell phone in Kato Megumi's pocket rang.

"Eh...?" With a slightly bewildered expression, Kato Megumi silently took out her phone, only to find that the call was from an unknown number. She pressed the answer button, glanced at Kirito silently, and then covered the mouthpiece. "Moshi moshi, this is Kato... Ah? Oh, Kousaka... Kirito-kun?"

Not understanding why the calls to Kirito were being made to her phone instead of Kirito's, Kato Megumi looked at Kirito in confusion.

"Just say she dialed the wrong number, and you definitely don't know me." Kirito naturally knew who was calling, but weekends are for resting, why should he be rushing to finish a manuscript! —If you say something like 'Kirigaya told me to say I don't know him' later, I'll take you to a nearby computer repair shop, or a hardware store will also do.

But speaking of which, did Akane Akasaka call to ask me to urge Shizuka-sensei to finish her manuscript?

No! That's not right. The promotion for Sword Art Online hasn't really taken off yet. Although we can see quite a few people talking about this work, the momentum is obviously not strong enough. But if that's the case, then why bother with the manuscript... Ms. Jing, you get itchy if you don't see me for a day, right?

Kato Megumi nodded slightly. "I don't know Kiritani-kun. You must have dialed the wrong number... Oh, okay, I understand."

Kirito gave Kato Megumi a thumbs-up in an approving manner, "Your real name is actually Kato Kuro, right?"

"Eh, I replied exactly as Kiritani-kun instructed."

—I have every reason to suspect you did this on purpose!

Kiritani-kun, Kiritani-kun... It was because of the way you address him that you were exposed. Was it my own doing to ask Yui to turn the thread around? But, I also saw a special side of Kato Megumi.

Once you grasp the most important parts, the amount of work you need to do is far less than the number of drafts you need to draw this month!

"Alright, alright, Lord Kato, please tell me what the phone call was about. What exactly does Kousaka want with me?"

"If I don't see Kazuto-kun on Sunday, I might accidentally delete it—that's all." Kato Megumi couldn't imitate Akane Akasaka's way of speaking at all.

121

[NO.119 A title I spent ages thinking about]

Personally, I don't really like parks. They're so crowded and noisy that it's like a garbage dump. I'd rather stay home with the air conditioning on than go out.

Speaking of which, it's been a continuous heatwave lately. If you take the time to go out more, you might turn into a chieftain in no time. I really hope that those European seals that only know how to sunbathe on land will have their water evaporated by the sun.

"Hey, Kiritani-kun, where are we going now?"

Even if you ask me, I don't know.

Although Kirito has a girlfriend at a young age, it doesn't mean he's good at taking girls out. Aside from traveling with Asuna, the only other time he's taken a girl out to play is when he takes Suguha to an amusement park.

Besides, there are always travel guides available for both tourism and amusement parks, but this newly built park... Ah, I'm a complete idiot, the kind of idiot who might even get lost in his own backyard, so Kato-sama, please help me out!

"That's true," Kato Megumi nodded gently. "It must be too much work for an otaku to take a girl out."

You have no right to talk about me. In a sense, you are also a woman of ill repute. Besides, this kind of sharp tongue is really not suitable for you. Go back to your original state.

"Well, I already said the park is newly built. Even if you give me a map, I might not be able to lead you to places to play." —Vision Clan, please note: not "find places to play with you!"

Kirito shrugged. If the sun hadn't been so intense, he figured he could have found two vanguards to act as markers, but...

I looked down at the half-melted popsicle...

"How about we go back and enjoy the air conditioning?"

"Huh? Are we going back already?"

Are you not planning to go back so early?

Hey, Ms. Kato, you're not actually hoping there's something really fun in the park, are you?

Kirito looked at Kato Megumi, gave a conflicted smile, and thought, "Stop thinking about it, just go back to sleep. You can have anything in your dreams!"

Look at that couple sitting under the shade of the tree, all lovey-dovey. Doesn't Kato Megumi feel a little bit blind? But that height difference is kind of cute... my foot!

Holy crap, those two were both men! My eyes are wide open!!

"Kirito-kun, what's wrong with you?" Wiping the milk spilled on her hands with a tissue, Kato Megumi placed the milk popsicle to the side and winked at Kirito. "Eyes...?"

Look to your right, and you'll open the door to a whole new world!

With a suggestive tone, Kato Megumi followed Kirito's lead and looked in that direction. Then, her body seemed to tremble, and her head tilted to the side—"Yes! Isn't this the new world right before your eyes?"

Ha! Even if I'm blind, I can't be the only one.

Then, Kirito saw Kato Megumi's still indifferent face. "Are all boys this perverted?"

"...That's not right of you. At least I'm not!" Kirito's expression turned serious as he pushed up his non-existent glasses. "Perverts aren't just male; there are many females too. I know a creator named Nagasu Toma. His girlfriend is a fujoshi (a female fan of BL), and she once wrote a BL novel about my friend and his best friend. Isn't that perverted?"

"Wow, is it that scary?"

“What’s even more bizarre is…” Kirito lowered his eyes, looking at the milk popsicle in Kato Megumi’s hand, “like the existence of milk—what exactly did the first person in the world go through to drink milk, and how did he know that milk was drinkable?”

Who was the first person to drink milk and who was the first person to drink milk...?

"Ugh!!" Kato Megumi's expression froze slightly as she looked down at the milk popsicle in her hand, a subtle look of disgust on her face.

"I was just reflecting on the experiences of those who came before me, Kato, you don't need to worry about it." With a mature and steady tone like an old scholar, Kirito withdrew his gaze from Kato Megumi's white stockings. It was a pity that the milk had almost fallen off the stockings.

"Oh," Kato Megumi nodded slightly, her emotions still subtle. She turned her head to look around, but did not find what she wanted to see. She also caught sight of the two men kissing over there.

"Hey, Kiritani-kun, let's go."

Oh, the new world, the Kato Megumi is getting closer and closer.

"There seems to be a claw machine over there, want to try your luck?"

Yezi really likes dolls, let's pick out a couple for her to play with.

"do you need?"

"What do you think?"

Young lady, you need to be as self-aware as Kasumigaoka Utaha to be able to pinch well so that the person you like will be satisfied.

“…Okay.” Kato Megumi walked slowly beside Kirito with her hands behind her back. Her face was a little unusually hot, probably because of the weather. But, Kirito-kun’s straightforward manner was really enviable.

Hmm, we should be friends now... right?

The girl narrowed her eyes slightly.

……

"I didn't expect you to be so good... you actually caught a toad."

"It's kind of ugly... Is that a hammerhead shark?"

"Yes—the fish bit her."

"This is a plush toy, Kiritani-kun."

"If a teddy bear can kill, why can't a hammerhead shark bite you?"