Ryuuto and the Otaku (she's just like me fr fr)

“Oh, so you’re not dating Elise?” This misunderstanding needs to be cleared up.

“Nope, just friends—and floor mates.” By the time I cleared up the entire story with Wagner, we had made it back to the dormitory, into the elevator, and up to the seventh floor.

“Hey, a friend of Elise is a friend of mine!” She chirped. “Just like Azure and Chantel—“

Right, Chantel was Azure’s closest friend and comrade in the resistance movement.

“You like that anime?”

“I’d say top 10,” she nodded. “I do enjoy action-oriented shows, though my favorite genre is more adventure fantasy. I still have a sweet spot for romcoms though…”

She started listing her favorite shows, and I realized she had quite the knowledge in the fandom. Even some shows that I had watched and enjoyed. When I noted that to her, her eyes lit up, and she continued detailing the characters she likes and her favorite scenes…

At this point, I had a good feeling she had this otaku culture down quite well.

“The movie’s coming out this summer.”

“I heard! I so want to watch it!”

She skipped ahead. “Someone who I can talk to about anime and manga, oh I can’t wait to move in!!”

“You’re not moving in now?”

“Not yet,” she sighed. “My term starts in the fall, but right now I’m on vacation with my friends, so I signed up to visit here before I officially move in.”

“Makes sense.” Approaching the common room, I asked, “Do you know yet which room is yours?”

“Yep! This one — 708!” She pointed at the door with joy.

“Ah right next to Lafon-san in 709.”

“We’re next door?” She gasped. “That’s perfect!!” She waltzed over. “I haven’t told her I was visiting the dorm yet, so I could surprise her…”

She knocked on Lafon’s door, and I walked over to observe the ensuing reaction. After no response, she knocked… and knocked. Wagner, if you keep doing this,s she’s going to be mad and attack both of us— or just me.

The door opened, and a familiar dark eminence escaped from the opening. Lafon must have been sleeping. Bad news.

Lafon, bed head and all, eyes half open, made eye contact with me first, sending a chill down my spine.

“Iwasaki, what possibly could be—“ she looked down, noticing the brown haired girl’s presence. Her eyes widened, mouth ajar now. “Emilia?”

“Bonsoir mon ami! Lange nicht gesehen!”

What was that? I think it was both French and German.

“Ah…give me a m-minute—“ Lafon closed the door.

Forty-five seconds later, the door reopened, with Lafon now properly dressed and hair all set.

I’m not even going to question her speed anymore. It’s just a fact of life at this point.

The two of them hugged and conversed, Lafon giving her a tour of the dorm room. I let the two of them reconnect as I went to chill in the common room for the moment.

Crazy coincidence that Wagner got the room next to Lafon, or even the same floor.

I must have dozed off a bit with the TV on, as I was greeted by Wagner and Lafon looking ready to leave the building.

“Great meeting you, Iwasaki-kun! Ah, here’s my LINE ID,” she whipped out her phone to exchange contacts. “To talk about shows and stuff! Mata ne!” And with that, the two of them left…I think Lafon mentioned something about walking her to the train station.

Our four-person troupe may be seeing an expansion in the near future, now that it’s established she and Lafon are indeed best friends.

And not to mention everyone else that will be moving in this fall, for a total of twenty residents….

“Iwasaki. Emergency meeting.”

Another impost—okay, that joke’s getting old.

I craned my neck, the rest of my body resisting any further movement from this comfortable couch position. From my vantage point, I spotted Lafon, carrying…

Four bags of pastries?! That’s double the last time around!

Was she planning on building a mecha suit now? I don’t think even Sato could build that in this timeframe.

***

Back in the interrogation room, aka Lafon’s dorm room, I sat in front of the four shopping bags, barely making out Lafon on the other side.

“What’s up, Lafon-san?”

Was the arm broken? If so, she’d probably just ask Sato directly…. Realistically, she was going to enter the World Cup as Azure anyway.

As usual, her table began piling up with cakes as she unpacked her bags.

“So, what do you think of Emilia?”

“She’s nice. Likes anime and manga a lot…” I chuckled, “…maybe more than I do.”

She nodded. “She really enjoys it, even when we first met, she was a fan.”

A few moments of silence… I’m starting to wonder what the emergency–

“It’s no good.” She slammed her hand onto the table, visibly frustrated with herself. “Iwasaki, you have to swear on someone near and dear to you not to tell anyone about this.”

Someone near and dear to me? Where’s this coming out of the blue?

“Uh…I swear on my…sisters Kaede and Shoko.” Lafon returned my gaze with a hint of confusion. It’s just a figure of speech! There isn’t any ill intention towards my dear siblings, you’re the one who initiated this swearing bit!

She fidgeted for a moment. “There’s someone… I like.”

Huh? Someone she likes?

Before I could respond, she pulled out her phone and showed me a photo. Straight to the point again!

A man with a tall figure, jet black hair, sharp features, wearing a black suit, and smiling with a cool demeanor.

I…am having a hard time believing this.

Not the fact that this individual is quite conventionally attractive….but….

It’s a body pillow.

Isn’t that the protagonist from the anime Midnight Shadows? Mr Tall, mysterious handsome devil? The author is the same one who made Azure, so it’s not a reach for Lafon to have seen this show as well.

“Lafon-san, I’m not here to judge or comment on whoever you like,” I paused. How do I approach this situation…maybe make it more relatable?

“What?”

“The body pillow–”

Her face contorted. “Body pillow?” Shoot, why would I say that…I’m dead!

“Oh…the photo was zoomed in for some reason–” she pinched the screen and zoomed out. “Here–”

I reexamined the picture. The pillow’s still there, but I realized she was referring to the person on the left holding onto it. My eyes widened as I recognized that individual instantaneously.

The same brown hair down to her shoulders and smile as the girl I had run into today. Emilia Wagner.

“That’s—”

“Yes,” she nodded, her face turning even pinker. “We’ve been best friends for years, and eventually I realized…”

“I love Emilia.”

I blinked. Very bold, even with something complicated like romance.

“But…”

But?

She sighed and took a bite from her slice of cake. Then another. Then a bite of the ganache. The fruit crepe. The mochi. Strawberry parfait. Eclair? My eyes had trouble keeping track of her hand movements…

“I can’t think of how to convey myself to her, ever since the senior year of high school…” Her normally calm and collected demeanor melted into a puddle. “A-and now she’s living next to me? Earlier, when I found out, of course I was so happy, but at the same time frazzled. Years ago, I wouldn’t have been so flustered if she saw me in my half-asleep state, but I panicked today. And sometimes I think…could she even like me that way?”

Her train of thought continued to charge forward between bites, as I sat there, still shocked by the revelation.

“--and her desserts are the best tasting dishes ever…” So she won her heart through her stomach!?

She looked at me, narrowing her eyes. “That’s not the main reason why…in case you’re wondering.”

“I thought as much,” I deflected. Safe…

“She’s…the one who encouraged me to start cosplaying.” Her gaze fell on the doorway. “For that, I’m truly grateful to have her as a friend.” In that moment, she looked like a heroine resolving her genuine emotions…similar to Azure in that sense.

And within seconds she went back to devouring her desserts. “So how do I tell her…what do I do…” That was quick…

I exhaled. I, for one, don’t have an answer to that. I suppose the silver lining is that Wagner’s not moving in until summer break.

As she calmed down once more, she spoke again. “Thanks for listening to me. I didn’t expect you to have any advice.” Why do I feel that was some sort of veiled insult, but I’m also relieved since she was right about me having no advice.

“No problem,” I replied. “I guess since she moves in during summer break, that’s two months or so away.”

“Yeah.”

What followed was a few minutes or so of small talk to unwind, and I believe this is a good time for me to head out. I said my goodbyes to Lafon, walking towards the doorway. I opened the door, revealing a familiar blonde-haired girl walking by just at that moment.

“Iwasaki-kun, fancy seeing you here...again!”

What’s this aura… murderous intent? This time I had no reason to be in Lafon’s room….and I can’t tell her about what she said to me?!?