Collaboration Package?

“Sorry… I really didn’t expect you to eat both different flavors.”

On a street bench, Umemiya Hiro looked apologetically at the girl who had collapsed on the bench, seeming to have lost all color.

Kazakami Ritsu stared at the clear blue sky overhead, feeling her brain starting to restart.

Just now… she, as the hero, seemed to have been defeated by some terrible monster.

Just as the Game Over CG was about to play, she successfully found the exit button and closed the game.

Yes, that’s right.

Kazakami Ritsu, deeply convinced of her delusion just now, sat up from the bench. A certain ominous spicy taste seemed to linger in her mouth and nasal cavity.

However, looking at the familiar figure in front of her, Kazakami Ritsu let out a long breath.

“Senior… I survived. It’s really great to see you again.”

Listening to Kazakami Ritsu speaking in a weak natural voice, Umemiya Hiro walked up to her with narrowed eyes.

“Here, these are the rewards the boss gave you.”

Umemiya Hiro took out two small items from her pocket: a very cute chibi cartoon cat phone strap and a matching cartoon cat keychain.

‘So these two things are the treasures I brought back from the treasure chest?’

“If you like them, Senior, I’ll give them all to you. I don’t really like using these kinds of things.”

Umemiya Hiro raised an eyebrow, looked at the two items in her hand, pondered for a moment, and made a decision.

She put the phone strap back into her pocket and handed the keychain over again.

“Okay, now I’m giving it to you. You’re not allowed to refuse me.”

“How can you do that… Fine, fine, whatever you say.”

Seeing that Umemiya Hiro seemed determined, Kazakami Ritsu had no choice but to take the keychain from her hand.

Now, Kazakami Ritsu had a brand-new understanding of her so-called good luck.

So-called sitting duck gambling! It was nothing more than this!

“Senior, am I amazing? This counts as winning the jackpot twice in a row, right?”

Looking at Kazakami Ritsu’s proud expression, Umemiya Hiro shook her head helplessly.

“Let’s go, let’s go eat something normal.”

Kazakami Ritsu responded, stood up weakly from the bench, and followed unsteadily behind Umemiya Hiro.

After circling the streets a few times, finally, the two stopped in front of a ramen shop.

“Senior… this is?”

Looking at the anime standee at the entrance of the ramen shop, Kazakami Ritsu narrowed her eyes and looked sideways.

The anime character on the standee was none other than Destiny from Tales of the Ten Thousand Blades!

After approaching and carefully observing the details on the standee, Umemiya Hiro propped her chin with one hand and answered.

“So there’s a collaboration event. I really didn’t know. I might have to go record a collaboration ad later.”

Listening to Umemiya Hiro’s words, Kazakami Ritsu clicked her tongue secretly.

‘Tsk, damn female lead.’

The two walked into the ramen shop. The first thing that caught their eyes was the Tales of the Ten Thousand Blades collaboration set meal.

Besides Destiny’s set meal, Kazakami Ritsu actually saw Meihime among the three set meals.

Then, there was only one answer.

Kazakami Ritsu’s expression turned solemn, and she grabbed the corner of Umemiya Hiro’s clothes without hesitation.

“Senior, I want this! I want to eat this! And the kind that comes with collaboration posters and stickers!”

Looking at Kazakami Ritsu getting excited like a child, Umemiya Hiro helplessly reached out and rubbed her forehead.

‘This kind of stuff… if you really want it, the advertiser would give it for free, right?’

Although she thought so in her heart, Umemiya Hiro still ordered two portions of the Meihime Deluxe Collaboration Set Meal without hesitation.

Holding the receipt, they found a corner to sit side by side. Kazakami Ritsu looked out at the busy street outside the window.

Umemiya Hiro looked at Kazakami Ritsu’s profile and suddenly spoke.

“How was it? Did you have fun this morning?”

The sudden inquiry stunned Kazakami Ritsu for a moment, but she quickly nodded.

Although various things happened, overall it was relatively happy.

“Of course I had fun. But Senior, didn’t you say we came out for pre-exam cramming…”

‘This guy really doesn’t know what’s good for her!’

Umemiya Hiro silently clenched her fists, a sweet smile appearing on her face.

“Then, Junior-san, do you have any complaints about my itinerary arrangement today?”

“N-no, how could I.”

Inexplicably feeling a chill on her back, Kazakami Ritsu sat up straight slightly.

‘Better not make this senior angry; it wouldn’t be good if I get bullied in the workplace again later.’

“Hmph, you’ve finished reading the original work, right? Tell me your impression of your character?”

Umemiya Hiro propped her chin with one hand, staring sharply at Kazakami Ritsu as she spoke.

Kazakami Ritsu pondered for a moment and began to summarize her understanding of Leah.

“Decisive in action, loyal, indifferent to everyone else, but has a huge contrast towards Young Master Ul.”

A standard emotionless harem character. Aside from dying rather tragically, there didn’t seem to be any points worth discussing in depth.

After making a brief summary, Kazakami Ritsu waited quietly for Umemiya Hiro to speak.

Umemiya Hiro nodded, took out her phone, brought up a memo, and placed it on the table.

Kazakami Ritsu leaned over to look at the screen. The memo was filled with various character relationships and elements contained.

“So amazing… I thought just recording my own part was enough.”

Muttering with emotion, Kazakami Ritsu checked the parts related to Leah.

Compared to her shallow understanding, it seemed to record some small details mentioned in other people’s dialogues.

Umemiya Hiro, propping her face, stared at the profile of Kazakami Ritsu who was frowning slightly and recording relevant content seriously.

‘After understanding this information, Junior should perform better in the audition this afternoon, right?’

“Thank you, Senior… I didn’t expect there to be so many details.”

After noting down all the important information, Kazakami Ritsu thanked Umemiya Hiro seriously.

At this moment, the set meals ordered by the two were brought to the table by the staff.

Umemiya Hiro picked up her chopsticks, glancing at the poster on the table.

“Novel adaptations are like this; they require more energy than manga adaptations to figure out details from the text.”

Kazakami Ritsu nodded, picking up the merchandise on the table first.

Meihime on the poster was quite cute, so cute that it made people feel this should be a very important character.

At least, not the kind of character who receives a bento box in the first episode.

“Hey… what’s with that expression?”

Umemiya Hiro, who had been observing her junior’s expression changes, captured the flash of grief and indignation on her junior’s face.

Kazakami Ritsu solemnly rolled up the poster, turning her head with extremely firm eyes.

“Senior, I will continue to work hard.”

“Mm, I know.”

The two looked at each other and put their palms together.

“Then, Itadakimasu.”

“I’m digging in!”

“Kazakami, what you lack is experience, so don’t be anxious. The era belonging to you will always come.”

“…Senior, right now you look just like a senior who is many generations older than me.”