Chapter 66: Chapter 65 - The Dangerous Doujin

The horrifying realization Kuro Kurogane had about three-quarters through with organizing all the boxes of manga was how dangerous Rika Saionji’s mind was.

Very Dangerous.

The page of the Saionji Apartment was fully immersed into the preparations for the convention.

There was manga everywhere, stacks, packaging tape, art prints, poster tubes, and various food items that Yuna had gotten into already.

Meanwhile, Rika was on the floor organizing her doujinshi copies still dressed in her regular home clothes, oversized black T-shirt, loose shorts, glasses back on.

She looked cute, and quite comfortable, but Kuro had been noticing that too many times lately.

Yuna laid across the couch next to where Kuro was sitting, "Watching introverts flirt slowly is exhausting!"

"I am not flirting!" was Rika’s snap reply.

Kuro finally made a smart choice and didn’t say anything because honestly he couldn’t be sure anymore.

After several minutes Rika handed Kuro the next stack of books, "Can you please organize these into volume order?"

"Sure," Kuro replied.

At least Kuro thought so, until he looked at the cover of one of the books and immediately froze because he was looking at two emotional girls with their arms wrapped around each other.

And one of them very much resembled Aoi while the other was clearly Akari.

But even worse was the actual title of the manga .

"You Were Always Mine"

Kuro turned his stare to look at Rika who saw him and within seconds of seeing Kuro, began to panic.

"WAIT!"

Already too late because Kuro was already opened to see inside the manga book.

Energy of a possessive younger sister on the first page.

Older sister with low constraint but powerful emotional connection, page three.

"Never allow anyone to take you from me!" is located on page seven.

Kuro is staring blankly.

"Saionji senpai," was identified by Kuro.

Immediately afterwards Rika had covered her face.

Rika would have stated, "burn it" or "please burn that."

At the same time Yuna had laughed extremely hard, on the couch.

"Your sisters, they based these entire characters by observing your sisters," said Yuna. (In reference to Rika’s artwork).

"Half sisters," Kuro said automatically to his comment.

"Same thing emotionally," Yuna replied.

That was not the case, but it did feel dangerously true.

Kuro flips through the next pages carefully.

And more carefully than with any other book.

And despite being embarrassed at the moment he could tell the book was well written and had a great deal of feeling and emotion in them.

The way the characters were portrayed gave an abundance of the true feelings of the characters and they were portrayed with honesty.

Then suddenly Kuro stops at a particular panel; a young lady watching a boy she loves sleeping besides her in peace.

She has a warm look on her face, and she is expressing attachment to him.

Somehow the feeling from that panel looks and feels familiar to Kuro.

Slowly, Kuro looks again at Rika.

"This is not a comedy manga".

Rika lowered her hands a little.

"No".

The air around became more fluid afterwards.

Because what happened next was an eye opening experience for Kuro.

Rika was not just explaining how romance is without imagination; she is explaining how people truly feel about themselves using stories.

Being alone, having love, being afraid, and having the need to belong are all things hidden from people in works of fiction.

Then, softly to Rika, Kuro asked:

"Which character are you?"

It was truly a critical hit at that time to Rika.

Instantly, Rika went completely stiff.

Nearby Yuna erupted in laughter, nearly choking on her breath.

"OHHHH!That’s what he sounded like!!"

Even Rika’s face appeared to be completely wrecked now.

"...You can’t ask creators that stuff."

"Why not?"

"...Because this...Is embarrassing."

A VERY suspicious answer.

Then Kuro noticed another page of manuscript lying on the table next.

With completely different visuals.

Completely different characters.

This time around it was a quiet girl watching a boy a distance away from her, unable to confess.

As Kuro read it his heart felt like it contracted a little.

This version of sister rivalry manga had felt very ridiculous up until this second.

This version, though, felt very close to home for him.

Incredibly close to home.

"...This one is sorta sad."

Rika turned her head slowly towards the half-finished page.

"...Some things are better left inside stories."

The direct emotional blow that went off in this room after that was staggering.

Even Yuna ceased torturing Rika at this moment.

For just that moment Rika sounded truly vulnerable.

Out of the blue Yuna stood up suddenly and practically yelled!

"ANYWAYY!!Time for MEGA TRUTH EXPLOSION."

Immediate danger.

Rika narrowed her eyes again.

"...Big Sis !!"

To late Yuna already had aother manga book in her hand excitement radiating off of her only God (out of heaven) could help Rika.

"You know who the MALE LEAD IS?"

"That’s how I see Kuro."

Kuro blinked OH MY GOD.

Then he slowly twisted his head to look at Rika .

Rika’s soul clearly leaving her body .

"...I’m moving overseas."

Yuna was absolutely relentless.

"Being quiet by nature.Always looking like they just woke up.Accidentally nice to girls.Multiple girls are ALWAYS KIDNAPPING them emotionally."

"...That actually is true," admitted Kuro.

"STOP AGREEING TO EVERYTHING!!"

Now Rika was completely behind the pillow hiding from view.

Kuro was staring at the manga with a pensive expression; because honestly, Yuna was right, and the relationship dynamics very closely resembled real life.

Kuro then very unexpectedly smiled a little and said "So basically, you just turned my life into a yuri drama."

Rika could barely respond from behind the pillow with, "Artistically." That was really a fair and reasonable answer.

A few moments later, the embarrassment had finally settled enough for them to breathe normally.

Kuro was silently organizing the remainder of the books while Rika sat next to him carefully folding up some posters.

They brushed shoulders lightly. No one moved away from the other right away.

There was such a dangerous feeling in the air, and Kuro quietly said, "You really put a lot of yourself into these."

Rika blinked a little and said, "Huh?" Kuro explained, "You can tell. The feelings are really real."

Slowly, Rika began to look down at all the manga pages scattered around; she quietly admitted, "Because they really are."

This introduced a tremendous direct emotional piece of damage.

Kuro felt his chest tighten again; he suddenly realised how terrifying it was for him to understand an emotional truth.

Rika expressed her emotions through stories because it scared her to express them verbally.

But, anyhow, Kuro wanted to know even more about Rika now; such a dangerous thought.

Then, unexpectedly, Rika looked toward him softly and asked, "You don’t think I’m weird?"

Kuro answered immediately with a simple "No."

Then after a little while of silence.

He smiled very faintly and said.

"I can see why you like this."

He was quiet.

After he said that to her she had totally froze.

No one ever told her that before.

No one told her it was "weird," or "embarrassing."

They said it was "cool."

And somehow, the single word made her feel way better than any other compliment she had received in a long time.

And then she quietly smiled.

A little , shy , happy.

And then Kuro realized .

He enjoyed that expression and it was all because of him.