Chapter 263 – Sayuri: Darling~ You should let Eriri be part of your world too!
"Sweetie~ That pose is a bit off. It's pretty difficult for a boy to pull that one off, you know?"
"Wahhh!!"
Eriri, who was in the middle of drawing her manga, jolted at the sudden voice behind her. Her body stiffened, and she turned around with a pout, clearly annoyed.
"Mom! Can't you at least knock before coming in?"
"Hehe~ I've been home for a while now. You just didn't notice, sweetheart," Sayuri said with a gentle smile, reaching out to pat Eriri's head affectionately.
"You've been home for a while...?"
Eriri's expression tensed. She asked cautiously:
"Then… did you hear any weird sounds just now?"
"Weird sounds? What weird sounds, sweetheart?" Sayuri continued to stroke her daughter's cheek, still smiling.
"N-Nothing!" Flustered, Eriri turned away, her face tinged pink as she buried herself back in her manuscript.
Sayuri chuckled lightly, a playful glint in her eyes, and gently corrected her daughter's work:
"Sweetie, you've got this part drawn wrong. In this situation, a boy would usually place his hand around… here~"
"W-What?!"
Eriri's cheeks turned a deep shade of red almost instantly.
"T-That's just...! Mom, isn't that too much? It's way too embarrassing! How could you draw something like that so casually—"
"You're still a kid, huh? Trust your mom—this is just how these scenes usually go." Sayuri teased lightly while patiently explaining.
"Ugh… it's so embarrassing…"
"Come on now, don't pretend to be all innocent in front of me, miss 'doujinshi artist'~"
"M-Moooom!!"
Eriri shot her mother an exasperated glare, but Sayuri just giggled and continued offering advice.
After a while, Sayuri sighed softly and said:
"Sweetheart, I really think you need to broaden your perspective a little more. Only then will your work really come alive."
"Eh? Do I need to keep watching more… I mean, doing more research?" Eriri mumbled, face flushed.
"Of course. Without reference, it's hard to draw something convincing~" Sayuri smiled.
"Mom thinks it's time you take your reference work more seriously."
"O-Okay… I'll look into it later…" Eriri murmured shyly.
Sayuri smiled warmly. "You should try some more advanced material. Just browsing random clips or comics won't help much at this point."
"Then… what should I do?" Eriri asked, blinking.
"It's simple."
With a sly grin, Sayuri leaned close and whispered:
"Sweetheart, why not try talking to a real boy? After some real-life experience, things might start to make more sense."
"Wha—?!"
Eriri's eyes widened, and her face turned crimson.
"R-Real experience?! No way! I don't even have anyone I like!"
"Isn't there Hachiman-kun?" Sayuri said cheerfully.
"W-What?!"
Eriri sprang up from her chair like a startled rabbit.
"Hachiman?! No way! I… I don't like him or anything!"
"Don't be so tsundere, sweetie. You even dream about him at night~" Sayuri teased.
"I do not! Who would even—?! I don't like him, I really don't…"
"Oh, is it because he already has a girlfriend? That's nothing to be worried about. Sweetie, if you really care, then take your shot~" Sayuri said encouragingly.
"E-Even so… still…"
"Sweetheart, do you really want to see Hachiman-kun in someone else's arms? Can you honestly say you're okay with that?" Sayuri continued, her tone gentle but persuasive.
"I…"
Eriri's mind drifted to an image of Hachiman and Yukino together. Her face burned with embarrassment, and a strange, uncomfortable feeling stirred inside her.
Sayuri gently patted her daughter on the back and said warmly:
"Sweetie, listen to your mom. Why not try confessing to him?"
"C-Confess?!"
Eriri looked shaken.
"We're not even really friends…"
"Sure you are! Heck, even I get along with Hachiman-kun. So have a little confidence in yourself, sweetie. I believe in you! Go for it!" Sayuri said brightly.
"I… I…"
"Don't you even want to know what it feels like to fall for someone?" Sayuri said playfully.
"Mooom, please stop…"
"Once you've experienced it, you might not want to go back~"
Sayuri's teasing only made Eriri more flustered, her face now thoroughly red.
"Just listen to your mom—go after Hachiman-kun, okay?"
"M-Mom, enough already… Hey, by the way, why do you seem… younger today? You look really energized."
"Do I?" Sayuri laughed. "Well, I went out to exercise today~"
"Eh?"
"Just kidding. I went for a jog in the park. A little exercise does wonders for your energy, you know?"
Eriri responded with a soft "Mm," not pressing further.
But Sayuri, seeing her daughter's reaction, smiled knowingly, her heart fluttering with a strange excitement.
After leaving the room, Sayuri pulled out her phone and made a call—to Hachiman.
"Hello~ Hachiman-kun? Wait, don't hang up—it's me, Sayuri. Mm-hmm… I'll be quick, I promise. Hehe~ I just wanted to let you know, my daughter's been thinking about you a lot lately. You see…"
"Zaimokuza-san likes me? That can't be right!" came Hachiman's surprised voice from the other end.
"I know my daughter well. Trust me, she really, really likes you. So… do you feel the same?"
"No!"
"Really? Not even a little? If that's the case, then both me and my precious daughter will be—"
"No! I have zero thoughts like that! I would never even lay a finger on your daughter! Ma'am, please stop—this is crazy!" Hachiman said quickly before abruptly hanging up.
Just then, from behind Sayuri, came a shy and slightly embarrassed voice:
"Mom… I've decided. I'll try my best to go after Hachiman…"