Chapter 71
Chapter 71
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Volume 14: It's Me First (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Oh, now that we've filled it all up like this, the club room looks quite the sight.
It seems all nicely decorated at first glance, but up close, it's all lewd stuff. Just tweak the lighting and atmosphere a bit, and it'd feel like a sex toy shop.
Well, considering Rozaria's the one who decorated it, maybe I should be grateful she managed to keep the vibe like this?
'Come to think of it, she's the one who suggested doing this in the first place, so maybe it's her fault...? Or is it my fault for popularizing this kind of thing?'
Fuck if I know.
I should just quietly brainstorm ideas for the next work to pass the time.
I let out a sigh and pulled out my notebook when Rozaria, having finished tidying up the club room, brought over a stack of papers that looked like manuscripts and showed them to me.
"Oh, a sequel?"
"Yeah, I've been drawing it bit by bit whenever I had time lately."
"Ooh... You want me to read it and give my thoughts?"
"Yep."
Her skills were beyond reproach anyway.
I'd thought the last one ended on such a great note that it was the finale, so this was a bit unexpected.
Guess it continues after all.
For context, her first work, Pink Diary, was about the budding romance between an ordinary girl named Strawberry and a boy named Milk who had a mission and secrets.
The second, Pink Shared Diary, was a heartfelt romance where they shared secrets and feelings.
And this one would be the continuation, Pink Diary for Myself Alone.
Whoa, the title alone is making me uneasy.
"This doesn't end with someone dying, right?"
Maybe because I'm serializing a magical girl story with that kind of vibe myself, I asked a bit guiltily.
Thankfully, this one didn't veer into that dark, destructive territory.
That's a relief at least.
"Ah, this vibe in ages."
The Shared Diary sequel had mostly shifted to serious romance and fantasy battles.
But Diary for Myself Alone brought back the chemistry with side characters like Strawberry's friend Cream.
The academy comedy and healing vibes were spot on too.
"Oh, just when the incident wraps up, another one hits while they're dating."
So they chase it down and try to stop it.
In the process, Strawberry gets kidnapped or something like that.
Mixing serious and playful tones, it felt subtly similar to the first one.
And the perfect mix of SD and LD art styles still blew me away.
"Yeah, it's really good."
"Finished already?"
"Nah, just had to praise it midway. Lemme read a bit more."
Whew, the thrill of geeking out over a fun new work after so long felt great.
As I read on excitedly, I realized why there were so many healing comedy parts—and it gave me chills.
No way, Rozaria used that character like this...?
"Rozaria, this Cream..."
"Cream-chan's cute, right?"
"Uh? Yeah..."
She'd always been a cute personality type, sure...
But calling the main villain "cute" leaves me speechless.
Wow, I never imagined Cream as a crazy yandere...
'The flow makes it creepily convincing, and that's what's so good about it.'
Up till now, Cream had always been Strawberry's affectionate friend.
Her actions often crossed lines you could excuse as same-sex friendship closeness.
If not for her cute vibe passing it off as playful, it'd have felt off.
And in this work, every Cream appearance had suspicious setups.
Stuff like, "Why's she acting like that?" kept popping up.
We glossed over it thinking, "Well, it's Cream."
So her reveal as the culprit felt believable.
'How'd she dream up a crazy psycho lesbian yandere like this? I haven't even used one yet.'
Well, great minds think alike everywhere; she must've heard stories.
Anyway, the plot was that Cream, jealous of Strawberry and Milk's relationship, caused incidents to monopolize Strawberry.
Even the kidnapping was because she wanted to be with Strawberry.
"The ending's a bit ambiguous though..."
"Yeah?"
"Hmm, even as the main villain, getting forgiven right after justice is served and welcomed back as a friend feels off."
"Weird? I figured Strawberry couldn't just abandon her close friend."
"That's fair, but it's too much haha-ho-ho vibes, y'know?"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, it'd feel more natural with some regret scenes."
It's not bad, just rushed.
Strawberry calls her out, she truly repents.
Then forgiveness, becomes a new person—adding an extra episode like that would flow better.
"Oh, you're right. Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. So, what does Kali think?"
"About what?"
"If you were Strawberry, what would you think of Cream?"
Hmm, yeah, totally cutting her off would be tough.
She'd snap in anger, pull away, get scared.
But past happy memories? A sincere apology and promise to change—she'd forgive.
"Exactly like I said. Yell and distance at first, but forgive a real apology."
"Phew, good."
"...What is?"
"That you think that way means Strawberry's not making weird choices."
"She's like me—we're both idiots who can't cut people off."
"...Hehe, I like that about you, Kali?"
Actually, not being firm is the problem.
The one thing she won't compromise on? Art.
Let her draw, and she'll smile past most anything.
"But you hate secretly scheming to claim someone, right?"
"Who'd like that? Grateful for the love, sure... but I prefer milder flavors."
"Like what?"
"Uh... Like you preparing something to show me off, for my sake?"
Cleaning her bush neatly knowing my tastes, or working on her chest since I like big ones—adorable.
Prepping sexy lingerie or lewd events? Perfect.
Honestly, that stuff alone gets me hard.
"Even without saying it, I was touched every time you did that."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Got it. I'll prep more like that."
"No need to force it."
"It's not forced."
Anything for Kali makes her happy.
That's unchanging, so no worries.
Her words warmed my heart.
"...Thanks, Rozaria."
"Nah, thank you for being by my side, Kali. Love you."
We were hugging amid the mess when...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The club door burst open, freezing us both.
Ah, scared the shit outta me.
"Whoa, you two lovebirds!"
"Don't say it like that, it's embarrassing."
"Does it embarrass Kali?"
"No, it's not..."
"Hehe, like watching Mom and Dad."
What the hell do your parents do in front of you?
I sighed deeply at Orca's goofy grin.
I know she's sharp inside, but why's her exterior such a flower-field airhead?
"Oh, that's from Bra Tale, right!"
"Yep, found it last time and bought it. Pretty, huh?"
"Ooh..."
Watching Orca eyeball the dildo got me thinking.
She sees it as merch, huh.
Makes me wanna make more goods beyond promo cards.
For new works, bundle with merch?
But my sales spot's just the gallery—no tech for that.
Special goods would complicate things.
"Ah, that's the nipple one, right?"
"Yeah, wanna try, Orca?"
"Nah, milk makes it uncomfortable."
Offering nipple piercings is funny enough...
Refusing over breast milk? Peak empire academy girl talk.
"Ah, right, half-orcs lactate regardless of pregnancy?"
"Yeah, used to hate the hassle. But after Happiness Wells Up from the Breast, I love it!"
"Ooh... Milking orgasms that good?"
"Sensitive nipples go psshh!—blissful milk sprays out..."
Why am I hearing this? I stared blankly at Orca.
Then I noticed her fondling her chest, glancing at me.
Dorm's strict on masturbation, she griped before—so only here for nipple play.
Can't in front of me, so she's eyeing an out.
"I'm off for lunch."
"See ya, Kali!"
She really wanted to rub one out.
Her excited reply as I left was kinda cute.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇