Akira returned home without incident, opened his door, took off his shoes, threw his backpack aside, and collapsed onto the sofa.
Although something unexpected had happened today, Akira was filled with joy.
He had taken a crucial step from knowing nothing, and the decision to buy groceries at the convenience store was absolutely right!
Akira mused, then suddenly realized, Where are the groceries I bought? Did I forget to bring them?
He took out his phone and was about to send a message, but then put it down. He had originally planned to make a late-night snack, but since he had already eaten, the groceries were no longer important.
However, he still needed to tell Sajuna, in case she was worrying about him.
"I'm home," Akira sent a message to Sajuna.
"Ding!"
"Okay." Sajuna replied.
How simple and heartless. Couldn't she say a little more?
Akira thought this but also felt that saying too much would be annoying and make him seem self-important.
He could only reply, "I had a great meal today."
"Inui-san, good night, sweet dreams."
After sending the message, he waited for five minutes, but Sajuna showed no intention of replying. Akira could only throw his phone aside and go take a shower. If he waited any longer, he was afraid his embarrassment would act up.
You can't keep pestering a girl!
Adult girls are clearly more mature!
Akira took off his uniform and examined his body. In just one week, the results of his training were already visible, which made him even happier.
After showering, Akira picked up his phone and glanced at it. Sajuna still hadn't replied to his message. He then put his phone aside and went straight to bed.
---
Akira was wearing headphones, listening to English listening practice he needed to review, and holding a textbook in his hand while reading.
Fully geared with his backpack, he stood out conspicuously on the street.
It was a rare day off from school and work, and Akira felt a sense of self-control, but fortunately, the pressure of the mid-term exams kept him from lying in bed all morning after waking up.
Akira took out his phone and sent a message to Wakana: "Wakana, are you home?"
Wakana, who had woken up early, was cutting fabric for future cosplay costumes. Hearing the phone notification, he thought Marin was asking again. Seeing it was Akira, he was puzzled for a moment, then replied, "I'm home, Akira-kun. Are you coming over?"
"Is it convenient for me to come over now?"
Wakana hesitated for a moment. It definitely wasn't convenient, because he was busy making a cosplay costume for Kitagawa-san, and there were mid-term exams next week, so his time was extremely tight.
But then he thought that this was his new friend, and he couldn't refuse such a request. His grandfather would also be happy to see his friends in the future.
Thinking this, Wakana carefully replied, "Akira-kun, come over. It's fine."
So, it seems he's still busy with Kitagawa-san's cosplay costume?
Akira sighed with emotion but felt no guilt about bothering Wakana. He was going there to learn tailoring.
In his original plan, he wasn't going to participate in Wakana's cosplay costume production storyline, letting their relationship develop naturally. He would only interfere to prevent Wakana and Sajuna from meeting on a rainy day.
However, after much thought, he decided it would be better to personally participate in the cosplay costume production storyline.
After all, Sajuna decided to track down Wakana, who made cosplay costumes, because she saw Marin's cosplay photos.
If he participated in making the cosplay costumes, he would be able to reasonably ask Sajuna out.
His emotional progress would undoubtedly be smoother!
And with his experience system, he believed his tailoring skills would also grow rapidly.
After some time, he might even be able to directly make cosplay costumes for his wife.
Akira took off his headphones, opened the navigation app, and found the address of Gojo Dolls.
Led by the navigation, he quickly reached his destination.
Akira walked into the open shop, gently knocked on the door, and called out, "Wakana!"
"Eh, I'm here." Wakana walked out somewhat unsteadily, his face full of fatigue, even with two dark circles under his eyes.
Akira exclaimed, "You didn't sleep at all last night, did you?"
"Ah, actually, I slept a little." Wakana smiled wryly, then greeted Akira, "Akira-kun, do you mind the living room? My bedroom is a bit messy."
"What's messy about it? My bedroom is also very messy." Akira didn't care at all and walked towards the room Wakana had just come out of.
"This must be your bedroom."
Wakana hurriedly ran over, "Akira-kun!"
Akira pushed open the door to Wakana's bedroom. As usual, it was a Japanese-style decor. Last night's futon was still scattered on the floor, not folded. The desk was covered with cutting marks, and shredded paper was everywhere, some even stained with black ink.
And opposite the doorway hung an almost-formed piece of clothing, with most of the fabric scattered on the floor, waiting to be sewn.
Akira put down his backpack without the slightest hesitation, then found a place to sit down.
"Eh, Akira-kun, you don't mind my messy room?" Wakana was a bit surprised.
"We're friends, what's there to mind?" Akira waved his hand and then asked, "Wakana, are you making clothes?"
Akira looked around, then continued to ask, "It looks like it's a girl's clothes."
"No, I don't have that kind of hobby!" Wakana quickly explained. "I'm making it for someone else."
"Wakana, you're really working hard, even though mid-term exams are next week." Akira praised him.
"Yes, yes, I am." Wakana's face was again filled with a wry smile.
"How are your mid-term exam preparations going, Wakana?" Akira asked. "I've reviewed quite well, and if possible, I can help you."
"Really? Then I'll leave it to Akira-kun," Wakana said, surprised.
"But you also have to agree to one condition." Akira paused Wakana's thanks and held up one finger. "Start teaching me tailoring this week."
"Eh, Akira-kun, you're going to start learning this week, even though there are mid-term exams?" Wakana thought for a moment. "Tailoring takes a lot of time, you know."
"You could also learn after the exams. Why the sudden rush? Akira-kun, I don't mean to disagree." Wakana explained.
Akira's face bloomed with a smile, his gentle voice seemingly seeping into one's heart. "Because I've fallen for a girl who loves cosplay, so I need to learn how to make clothes for her."
"Eh? Akira-kun also likes Kitagawa-san?!" Wakana's emotions suddenly erupted, then instantly plummeted.
"Of course, Kitagawa-san also likes handsome, hardworking, excellent students like Akira-kun."
Akira "patted" Wakana on the shoulder, feigning anger. "Idiot, don't talk to yourself. When did I say it was Kitagawa-san?"
"Besides, logically speaking, I'm not even that familiar with Kitagawa-san, am I? Why are you jumping to conclusions?"
"What's with that expression, like your beloved has been stolen from you?"
"By the way, are your clothes being made for Kitagawa-san?"
A triple question directly stunned Wakana, who flushed crimson and took a long time to recover.
"Eh? No, Kitagawa-san?"
"It's not Kitagawa-san." Akira patted Wakana's shoulder. "And you seem to have revealed a lot of little secrets."
"Eh?!"
----