Chapter Forty-Five: That Day, People Remembered...

The next morning, Anhe emerged from his bedroom bearing dark circles under his eyes. The previous night, after finishing the movie, he had stayed up working until past five in the morning. It was all entirely legitimate work. Since he planned to take Kurai Fuko to meet Serizawa Rena today, Anhe had decided to finalize the project they would draw together.

He recalled many popular Japanese manga from his previous life—Naruto, Dragon Ball, and the like—but those were too long. Shorter series such as Tokyo Ghoul and Demon Slayer were possibilities, but they lacked the explosive impact he desired. As for Sword Art Online, it was immensely popular in Japan, but its success owed more to the light novels and the anime; the manga itself was less influential.

After much deliberation, Anhe chose Attack on Titan. Though the series had an anime adaptation in his former world, the manga consistently ranked among the top sellers in Japan. Its art style and main storyline were not particularly complicated, so Anhe managed to sketch character portraits of the protagonist Eren, the heroine Mikasa, the diminutive titan Levi, and several other key supporting characters over the course of the night.

Of course, such intense drawing left his wrist aching even now. “It seems I really can't rush these things in the future,” he murmured to himself, pushing open the bathroom door and heading inside. After washing up, he felt much more awake.

Entering the living room, he found Amamiya Sayu lying sideways on the sofa, watching television. She seemed deeply absorbed—so much so that, even when Anhe had approached, she made no reaction and continued to focus intently on the unknown program.

Today, she wore only an oversized white T-shirt, thin enough to faintly reveal hints of pink beneath. Lying on her side, her long, smooth legs were bent slightly and exposed to the air.

Anhe let his gaze drift briefly between her legs. White—familiar somehow. He drew his eyes back and settled beside Sayu with a cheerful grin, nonchalantly placing a hand on her thigh.

But before he could do anything, a sharp slap sounded, and Sayu, without even turning her head, brushed his hand away. “Don’t touch me,” she said, her cool voice issuing forth.

Anhe raised an eyebrow, noting she still stared at the TV. He remembered last night when, during the movie, Sayu had been so frightened that she curled up in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. He understood at once.

She was upset with him.

Thinking this, Anhe’s mischievous smile returned. He reached out once more toward Sayu.

“Don’t touch me!” she tried the same tactic again, but Anhe, anticipating her move, caught her hand before she could react and leaned in, pressing her down.

“You let go—mmph—” Her words were cut off, and Sayu could only let out muffled protests, her other hand futilely beating at him.

After a while, they separated.

Sayu’s lips were parted, breathing in small, quick gasps, her face flushed crimson and her eyes sultry.

“Still angry?” Anhe asked with a smile. She heard him, the mist in her eyes dissipating, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she let out a soft hum and turned away.

Seeing her like this, Anhe’s smile grew wider. He leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “If Sayu-chan doesn’t forgive me, I’ll just have to keep going, won’t I?”

Feeling the warm breath at her ear, Sayu grew flustered, hurriedly turning to speak. But the moment she opened her mouth—

“Mmmph—”

...

Half an hour later.

After a simple breakfast, Anhe told the now docile Sayu to wait at home for a while, then took a cloth bag and left.

Inside were all the character portraits he’d drawn the previous night, along with the early storylines of Attack on Titan.

He intended to visit Serizawa Rena’s house first, since he planned to introduce her to Kurai Fuko today. Bringing strangers to a friend’s house, he thought it best to give advance notice.

Downstairs, the apartment entrance was clear—no sign of the gang members.

[At last, they’ve gone? You sneer, feeling proud for having toyed with them. Yet, inexplicably, a faint unease lingers in your heart. Could those men covet your beauty? Yes, you vaguely recall the leader blushing the first time your eyes met…]

What the hell—seriously?

Anhe felt a chill, but wasn’t truly afraid. He laughed inwardly; with his current skills, even if things unfolded as the narrator predicted, he’d only ever be on the offensive.

As for defense...

For some reason, the image of Kazuha Ryosuke surfaced in his mind again.

Hiss—was that guy a fox spirit in his past life?

He shook off the dangerous thoughts and hurried to where his motorcycle was parked.

He donned his helmet and mounted the bike. It was winter, so there was no risk of burning his backside—on the contrary, it was rather chilly.

The ride was uneventful; in about ten minutes, Anhe arrived at the base of Serizawa Rena’s building.

He parked, grabbed his bag, and went upstairs.

At the door to the Serizawa home, he pressed the doorbell. Footsteps and a languid female voice sounded from inside.

“Hi~ Just a moment.”

As the voice drew near, the door opened, and Serizawa Yui appeared before Anhe.

Today, she wore blue rabbit pajamas, remarkably similar to those Rena had worn the last time he visited. Clearly, both sisters owned the same set.

Perhaps just awake, Yui’s hair was messy, one hand rubbing her eye while the other rested on the door.

“Good morning, Yui,” Anhe greeted her with a smile. She hadn’t even managed a reply when another figure darted out from the living room.

It was Serizawa Rena.

She, too, looked freshly woken, her long hair tangled behind her. Her mouth was filled with frothy toothpaste, the handle of a pink toothbrush conspicuous, and she held a cup brimming with water.

She also wore rabbit pajamas, but hers were pink and a size smaller, making her appear petite and adorable.

It’s Amu-kun!

Rena felt a surge of joy, but as she stepped forward, her gaze fell on the cup in her hand and then the toothbrush in her mouth.

Instantly, she blushed visibly, spun around, and hurried back to the bathroom.

“Ahh~” Yui sighed, watching her sister’s reaction from start to finish.

Her sister was beyond saving.