Eriri was feeling absolutely amazing. Even while walking to school, she couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear, completely ignoring any sense of grace or elegance.
People passing by kept glancing at her, wondering if she had just won the lottery or if something was wrong with her.
Normally, Eriri wouldn't act . She actually cared a lot about her image in public and only let loose when she was at home.
But today was different. Just thinking about Gintoki's ridiculous prize made her unable to hold back. The overwhelming feeling of payback was just too satisfying—it was addictive.
As they neared the school gate, Eriri finally stopped laughing.
Because she saw someone she knew.
It was a short-haired boy wearing black-framed glasses and carrying a black shoulder bag. At this moment, his eyes were fixed on her, as if he had just found his savior.
This was her childhood friend, Aki Tomoya.
"Something wrong?" Eriri watched as he walked toward her, frowning slightly.
"Yeah, I need to talk to you about something personal." Aki adjusted his glasses and asked, "Why didn't you come to the multimedia room last night?"
"That's weird. Why should I have to listen to you?" Eriri pouted, crossing her arms. "Besides, I have zero interest in that game idea you mentioned. Go find someone else."
"No interest at all?" Aki looked shocked, almost in disbelief. "Why?"
"Because it's boring," Eriri answered bluntly after a brief pause. "And I've already decided to try something new."
Something new? Was she quitting the scene?
Aki was stunned, his face going blank. He had never expected his childhood friend to say something like that. Was this really the Eriri he knew?
"Come on, think about it again?"
Aki snapped out of his daze and tried to convince her, but he didn't realize that Eriri had already made up her mind. She wasn't planning to stay involved with him in any way—especially not in his game circle.
Still, since they had known each other for so long, Eriri didn't completely shut him down. "We all have our own paths to take. If we can't walk the same road to the end, then let's just wish each other well. No need to force things."
With that, she didn't spare him another glance and walked past him.
"You seem... different," a voice suddenly came from behind her.
Eriri stopped for a moment and turned around. Standing there was a long-haired girl with straight black hair and a white headband.
"And what makes you say that, Kasumigaoka?"
"The old you would never have turned him down," Kasumigaoka Utaha said confidently, arms crossed. "Could it be... you've found someone new?"
Eriri smiled brightly. "How can you have someone new when there was never someone old to begin with? Your question doesn't even make sense, Utaha."
"Oh?" Utaha raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling like the Eriri in front of her was very different from the one she used to know.
The Eriri she remembered wasn't this sharp-tongued. And she definitely wasn't this... mature.
What exactly had changed to make her ?
As Utaha lowered her head in thought, Eriri suddenly spoke again. "Just a friendly warning—don't waste your time on something that's already decided."
Before Utaha could react, Eriri had already stepped into the school building.
Taking her seat, Eriri opened the group chat again.
Curly-haired Guy: Enough. I've had enough. My life, my future—there's nothing left worth looking forward to. Goodbye forever, you bastards. [Image]
The picture showed a window. Sunlight streamed through the glass, looking like a tunnel leading to another world.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: Gin, don't do anything stupid.
Skirt-flipping Maniac: Yeah, calm down, Gin-san. Jumping from the second floor won't even kill you!
Eriri nearly spat out her soda when she saw that message. She quickly typed a reply: Hahahaha! Ruiko-chan, that was the perfect finishing blow! Well done!
Curly-haired Guy: You guys have no sympathy at all! Your beloved Gin-san is about to disappear from this world, and you're just sitting there cracking jokes? Shouldn't you at least try to comfort my fragile heart?!
This is an Actor: That's because everyone knows you're way too shameless to die over something this small.
Scarlet Lotus Fairy: ...Shameless?
This is an Actor: Ah, it just means he wouldn't actually go through with it.
Curly-haired Guy: Small?! How is this a small thing, damn it?! I—I'm facing a social death crisis here!
Doujin Artist: So what exactly happened?
At first, Eriri thought Gin was just upset over losing a lottery draw. But now, it sounded like something much worse. Social death? What was that about?
Amegakure Village's Angel: Long story short, Gin was about to try on his prize when Kagura and Shinpachi walked in on him.
Doujin Artist: T-try on?
Eriri took a sharp breath, her mouth twitching.
Skirt-flipping Maniac: Yep, try on. Gin-san asked in the chat earlier if it would fit, and I told him there was no way it would. He didn't believe me.
Curly-haired Guy: How was I supposed to know it'd be that small, damn it!
As he sent the message, Gintoki was still desperately pulling at the edges of the bear-print underwear, veins popping out on the back of his hands. But as expected, the underwear didn't budge at all.
Clearly, the "indestructible" part was no exaggeration.
Doujin Artist: You're a freak. You're seriously a freak! I always knew you were weird, but I didn't think you'd go this far! Women's underwear? And not only did you wear it, but you got caught? You idiot, you're embarrassing our entire group!
Curly-haired Guy: What are you talking about, moron?! This was my prize—shouldn't I put it to good use? Getting caught was just an accident!
"Put it to good use," my ass.
Eriri had no idea how to even respond to this.
Was this really something a normal person would do?
This is an Actor: If you really want to use it, you don't have to wear it. Since it's indestructible, why not use it as an enchantment item?
Curly-haired Guy: An enchantment item?! Like... putting it on my head during battle? Anzen, you're a genius! Are you actually a genius?!
Aizen had actually thought about tying it to his sword, making the blade unbreakable.
He never expected Gintoki to take things in such a... unique direction.
Yeah. This was a man who could never be judged by normal logic.
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