Chapter 13: What Kind of Girlfriend Does Ken Like?

The web functions of JUMP+ were simple. The comment section didn’t allow for threaded replies, so people were still using the most primitive method to reply.

That is, to post a new comment, indicating at the beginning that it was a reply to so-and-so.

「To the reader in post #003, thank you for your support! As for the matter of Lady Benzaiten sending me a dream, it’s a long story, so I’m currently drawing a short extra comic. It will be published on my personal Twitter @SangatsuHaru, and I’ll explain it to everyone there. In short, it was a particularly wonderful dream~」

Sakamoto Ken was browsing the manga’s comment section. This comment was definitely posted by Mikazuki Haruna.

Communicating like this in the comment section was too troublesome. He was afraid she wouldn’t tell the whole truth either.

In his previous life, Mikazuki Haruna’s personal Twitter wasn’t actually “Sangatsu Haru.” This must be a new account created specifically for the manga.

After entering the homepage, he saw a few forwarded posts, the preview for the last live stream, and the official publication notice.

Of course, there were hardly any clicks.

In her personal bio, she had written directly:
「Welcome to the personal homepage of manga artist @SangatsuHaru~ The work Miss Sniper, and Pantyhose! is currently being serialized to rave reviews on JUMP+!!」

Sakamoto Ken almost followed her on impulse. Fortunately, he moved his finger away at the last moment.

The account currently logged in on his phone was his personal account. If Haruna had memories of the previous life, she would very likely recognize his ID.

He created a new account, giving it a name completely unrelated to his real identity.

「Meguro Ward’s Most Devoted」

In reality, he didn’t live in Meguro Ward at all, and had hardly even been there a few times.

Adachi Ward was in the northeast of Tokyo, while Meguro Ward was in the complete opposite southwest.

Sakamoto Ken used his new account to follow “Sangatsu Haru” and commented under her serialization notice post.

「Is this really Sangatsu Haru-sensei from JUMP+? I’ve read your work, it’s awesome!」

First, he would flatter her.

Thinking back to his previous life, it was precisely because he was flattered by this girl Haruna that he let his guard down, went to the offline gathering, met her, and then slowly walked into that vortex…

This time, he would use her own tactics against her.

As for his own manga, he had been rushing to finish the manuscript for the past few days. The online serialization had also been updated to the second chapter, as per the previous requirement of two chapters a week.

After Denji went with Makima, he participated in a mission against a devil, and then came that scene.

「Denji: What type of guy do you like, Makima-san?」

「Makima: I like guys like you, Denji-kun.」

Although only two chapters had been updated, the manga’s comment section was already bustling.

Compared to Haruna’s comment section, which had less than 10 comments, the post count on Sakamoto Ken’s side had already reached 30.

After the first person posted “I want to be Makima-san’s dog,” a succession of people howled, saying things like “I also want to be Makima-san’s dog.”

It’s only been 2 chapters. If you guys saw chapter 80, what would you become?

…

Natsume Mio saw all these comments.

She even copied and pasted it once herself: I also want to be Makima-san’s dog.

The main reason was that she felt comments like this would definitely increase the popularity of Ken’s book, and might even become a meme within the book.

When the manga becomes a hit, Ken will be famous.

But she herself, of course, was not identifying with the male protagonist.

Today, while working at the convenience store, she was thinking during her free time.

Why would Ken draw a manga like this?

In his heart, he actually wants a girlfriend like Makima.

Should I act more assertive then?

Like a master caring for her dog.

In that dream about her and Ken, there was a similar experience.

But it was completely the other way around; he was always the one leading.

Ken had bought her cat tails, dog tails, and things like that.

Natsume Mio quickly shook her head hard, interrupting her thoughts.

Seeing that there were no customers in the store, she quickly walked to the restroom, rinsed her hands with cold water, and then gently patted her cheeks.

Ken’s palm would use a special angle and force, with the palm slightly cupped, so that when it hit the fattest part, it didn’t hurt. Instead, it felt very gentle, but the sound was loud.

Of course, it would leave a red mark, but it would disappear the next day.

Ah, no, no!

Mio, oh Mio! Why are you still letting your imagination run wild!

Natsume Mio took a deep breath, placed her hand over her chest, and slowly exhaled.

“Ding-dong, ding-dong~ Ding-dong, ding-dong~”

The sound of a customer entering the store rang out. Natsume Mio immediately switched her mood, maintained a smile, and walked quickly towards the counter.

However, just as she reached the counter, Natsume Mio’s eyes met with the boy who had just walked into the store, and she immediately stopped in her tracks.

It’s Ken?!

The two of them stared at each other for three seconds.

Only then did she see the boy’s eyes widen abruptly.

“Mio?!” Sakamoto Ken said in surprise.

…

Sakamoto Ken timed his arrival at the store for his shift.

As soon as he entered the store, he saw a familiar hairstyle.

Long sideburns, a braided ponytail—it was exactly Makima’s style.

But with a second look, he was suddenly jolted.

Isn’t this Natsume Mio?!

Although she had changed her hairstyle, they had been intimate for so long. Let alone her face, he could recognize her even by the soles of her feet with just one glance.

What’s more, she was wearing the store’s name tag on her chest, which read: Natsume Mio.

“Mio… Natsume-san? Why are you… wearing the store’s uniform??”

Natsume Mio smiled faintly, first bowing slightly to Sakamoto Ken. “Welcome, please feel free to browse~”

Then she continued, “Because I work at the store~”

Just then, the elderly manager came out of the office.

When she saw Sakamoto Ken arrive, she waved at him and said, “Ken, Mio just started at the store. She’s on the 2 PM to 8 PM shift. It’s perfect, you have experience, you can show her the ropes.”

The manager then said to Natsume Mio, “This is Ken, Sakamoto Ken. He’s worked at the store for a long time. You can ask him if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

“Okay, Manager-san~” Natsume Mio said with a beaming smile. “Actually, we know each other. He’s my high school classmate.”

“Eh? What a coincidence,” the manager chuckled and said. “Then there’s no need for further introductions. I have some business to attend to and have to leave for a while. You two can chat.”

With that, the manager walked out of the store.

And so, only Sakamoto Ken and Natsume Mio were left in the store.

“Why did you decide to work here?” Sakamoto Ken asked.

Natsume Mio said, “Because if I work near home, I’ll run into acquaintances. That would be so awkward.”

“Didn’t you just run into one now?”

“Hehe, this is different~” Natsume Mio walked behind the cash register, leaned on the counter with both hands, and said to Sakamoto Ken, “We’re not just ordinary acquaintances, are we, Ken?”

“And your hairstyle…”

“A new hairstyle for a new mood. What do you think, is it pretty?”

“It’s pretty, but…”

“I knew Ken would like it!”

“…”

(End of Chapter)