Eriri's vision blurred, and when it cleared she found herself inside a dark, chilly house. The clammy air made her uneasy. She instinctively clutched Hayashi Maki's arm.
"Pervert-kun, w-where are we?"
"Mm—mmm~"
Instead of answering, he pulled her into a sudden, possessive kiss.
Eriri's eyes flew wide—she stared at him in disbelief. But her body went weak, and she could only lean against him. He tasted her lips for a moment before letting go, grumbling, "Calling me 'pervert-kun'? That's cruel, Eriri."
"Who's being cruel here? You kissed me again—ugh—you didn't even ask!"
She glared at him, cheeks burning, but her arms still held tight to his. The place was so cold and dark—she was scared.
"You're the one calling me a pervert. Now I'm mad."
He said it, but simply switched to holding her hand instead—showing maximum boyfriend power.
Eriri pouted under her breath. "You are a pervert… making me wear white stockings and touching my legs…"
"And you're a doujin artist. Who's the pervert again?" he quipped, leading her up the stairs.
She followed, talking back, "The readers are the perverts. I just draw—I don't act it out."
Bickering with him actually calmed her nerves. On the second floor it felt even colder; a shiver ran through her. "H-hey, nothing's going to jump out and scare me, right?"
Hayashi Maki gave her a look. "Not with me here. I kissed you, didn't I? I'll see it through."
"W-who asked you to 'see it through'?" she shot back, still sneaking anxious glances at his face.
"What, you don't want me to? You sure? Because if not, I'll just carry you to bed when we get back."
"Can you not? Think of something wholesome for once?"
She stamped her foot, more flustered than angry. Bed? She was not ready for that!
"So… do you want me to 'see it through' or not?" he asked, leaning close to her ear with a warm sigh.
"I—I… I'm not answering that. Hmph. Why should I?"
She turned away so he wouldn't see how red her face was.
He let the teasing drop; they were already at the door they'd come for. He stopped before a room upstairs. Eriri jumped and hid behind him, squeezing his hand tight.
"Maki-kun… the source—is it in there?"
Amused, he glanced at her. "Oh? Now you remember my name."
She blushed and didn't answer. He kissed her forehead. "Alright, I'll stop teasing. Let's go. Don't be afraid—I'll protect you."
"…Mm."
She nodded hard and squeezed his hand. He stepped forward and pushed open the door.
Inside stood a thoroughly ordinary spectacled guy—mid-twenties, scruffy stubble, tablet in hand. He looked up at the sound.
"Who are you? Why are you trespassing?"
Then his eyes landed on Eriri. "A flat-chested blonde cutie? And a handsome dark-haired guy? Damn normies—go to hell!"
Black miasma billowed from him and his face twisted. Hayashi Maki didn't bat an eye; he slapped the air—and the man screamed, clarity snapping back into his gaze.
"Hey, man, if you like this room, it's yours. Do whatever you want. Shame though—why pick a flat one?"
Eriri, who had been scared, snapped. "Does being flat kill you? What's wrong with being flat? I'm still growing! And my waist is slim—I'm better than I look!"
The man glanced her up and down and sneered. "Runway only. Shoo, kid. Big breasts are truth—and huge breasts are a world treasure."
"You're the kid! M-Maki-kun, he's insulting me! Uu—"
Tears sprang to Eriri's eyes. She hadn't expected someone to belittle her like that.
"There, there. You've got plenty of upside—and I like you as you are," Hayashi Maki said, ruffling her hair.
"R-really?" she asked, eyes wet.
"Really. Want me to prove it?" He leaned in with a grin.
She flushed and ducked behind him. "There's someone here. Later."
The glasses guy was fuming again. Show-offs die early.
"Ahem. Back to the point," Hayashi Maki said. "Four-Eyes, what were you doing just now?"
At once the man's face turned fanatical. "I'm spamming updates for Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, of course! Heh-heh—her huge-chest characters are exactly my aesthetic. I hope she only draws that type from now on!"
"Absolutely not! My dream is to be a proper mangaka—I'm not going to draw big-boob doujins forever!" Eriri shot back.
The man stared, trembling. "Oh—so you're Kashiwagi Eri-sensei. So cute—your face, those blonde twin tails… Sensei, I'll make you a glorious busty beauty! Then we'll have a grand romance—together forever!"
He grinned wickedly as black aura surged toward them. "Don't resist, Sensei—this power will give you huge—Aaaah! It burns—it's disappearing!"
A jet-black flame swallowed the miasma, then engulfed him completely.
"Your time on stage is up. Exit," Hayashi Maki said coolly. "And for the record—the only one allowed to help Eriri 'grow' is me. Who the hell are you? Beat it."
Eriri stared at him, mortified and oddly moved. Only you can help my chest grow? What a shameless lech… so why did that make her heart flutter?
Under hellfire's judgment, the man crumbled to ash; the damp chill fled the air. Hayashi Maki sensed Eriri's aura and nodded, satisfied.
"All done. With the source gone, no one will block your dreams again—you can draw what you want."
"…Th-thank you," Eriri whispered, eyes misty, gaze softening.
He slipped an arm around her and led her out. The guy had been decent—he'd even formed a small ghost-domain with a strange taint in it. But hellfire's verdict was no joke; it erased him outright.
Now to comfort Eriri properly—and maybe lend a hand with her growth.