[Anime Crossover] Becoming Mangaka in Anime World

The girl's light and airy tone had a strange calming effect, making it hard not to feel relaxed just by listening.

Her words sounded sharp on the surface, but there was an unmistakable hint of care beneath her calm demeanor.

As Akifumi Mugiho sat down, he turned to the girl on his right and smiled.

"Kato, are you worried about me?"

Wait... was it Kato who took me to the infirmary back then?

Akifumi Mugiho stood at 177 cm—quite a bit taller than the typical 170 cm average in Japan—and even with a lean build, he weighed over 130 pounds.

Anyone who's ever helped a drunk person knows how exhausting it can be.

If the person is completely unconscious? Pure torture.

At least you can toss a sack of rice that heavy onto your shoulder.

But carrying a person on your shoulder and marching forward? What is Kato, a superhero?

"So you just happened to see me then?"

"Akifumi, you might not know this," Kato said calmly.

"Even if I saw a stray puppy abandoned on the side of the road, I'd still buy it a sausage from the convenience store."

Her tone remained perfectly flat.

"Considering we've known each other for almost a year, I guess our relationship is a bit better than that of a random stray puppy, right?"

"Taking three days off for something sad like that—checking in on you seems pretty normal to me."

"But judging from how you look now, you're fine."

"Good to know…"

Her analogy left Akifumi Mugiho with complicated feelings.

Wait... did she just compare me to an abandoned puppy?

Is she secretly this dark-hearted?

No, that can't be right. Probably just my imagination.

Akifumi Mugiho didn't have many friends.

Few ≠ none.

And the girl sitting beside him, Megumi Kato, was one of those rare friends.

They became friends for a simple reason.

As fellow "invisible people" in class, Akifumi Mugiho had struck up a conversation with her out of a sense of camaraderie.

Things naturally progressed from there.

At least, that's what he used to think.

But now that he'd regained memories from a past life—and knowing Kato's portrayal in anime—he couldn't help but reconsider.

"Did we really become friends just because I made the first move?"

If you think about it, this girl was already used to being alone.

There's no way she'd connect with someone just because they were both "invisible."

Wait.

Friends?

Akifumi Mugiho thought back carefully.

Neither of them had ever explicitly said they were friends.

"Wow, was I really living the stereotypical anime otaku protagonist life back then?"

He sighed inwardly, looking genuinely puzzled.

"Has it already been a year? Is that all our relationship amounts to?"

"I thought we were friends, Kato."

Kato froze, her usually expressionless face showing a hint of surprise.

She reached out and touched his forehead.

Akifumi Mugiho batted her hand away, annoyed. "What are you doing?"

"Checking for a fever." Kato tilted her head thoughtfully. "So..."

"Was last week just too stressful for you?"

"...," Akifumi Mugiho rolled his eyes.

"Don't joke around."

"Are you gonna ask me what I think defines a friend now?"

"Why would I say that?" Kato tilted her head, her voice calm yet amused.

"Even if someone doesn't have friends, saying something like that is way too twisted, don't you think?"

Somewhere, a certain snow-like girl sneezed, rubbed her nose, and looked confused.

"Did I catch a cold from kicking off the covers last night?"

Ignoring that particular girl...

Kato nodded thoughtfully. "You're right."

"We've known each other long enough—I'd say we're friends."

She lifted her head, her clear gaze meeting Akifumi Mugiho's bright eyes.

"Sorry about earlier, Akifumi. I misspoke."

"Kato!" Akifumi Mugiho's tone turned serious. "That apology lacked sincerity!"

"Oh?"

"If you really want to show sincerity, at least bare your—uh, your stomach!"

Realizing that saying the wrong thing might sink their fragile friendship boat, Akifumi

Mugiho quickly reined himself in.

"Is that so...?"

Kato remained expressionless. "I can't believe you want to see a girl's stomach. Akifumi, you're such a perv."

"Tch." Akifumi Mugiho clicked his tongue.

"Kato! If you're upset, at least show some emotion!"

"Huh?"

Even Kato was stunned.

He's upset over that?

Akifumi Mugiho really is a strange guy.

Whether it was noticing someone like me or taking the initiative to be friends...

"Oh, right, Kato."

"Hmm?"

"Did you see who carried me to the infirmary that day? I want to thank them in person."