Reincarnated as Kaguya Shinomiya

"Eriri, don't you want to make anime great again?" I asked one of my best friends, who was dressed in a loose green outfit and glasses. She was so deeply focused on drawing her erotic manga that she barely glanced my way. She was none other than Eriri Spencer, a close friend I had made back when we were in Elementary School, and our friendship had persisted through Junior High as well. Now, it was the same; she was attending the same High School as me.

We were hanging out at my place, specifically in my room, after getting back from school. Eriri had arrived earlier than I did.

Her appearance was striking, her blonde hair and blue eyes giving her a distinctly foreign look. However, what set her apart from the stereotypical foreigner was her short stature and petite build. Her hair, normally tied into twin-tails, was now left hanging loosely. She turned her head toward me as I spoke, adjusting her glasses and eventually setting them down on the desk, fully focusing on me.

"Why so suddenly, Kaguya?"

"I just think it's a waste, you know? Why pour all your talent into ero manga when you could create something more popular works?" I suggested.

I paused, realizing that I might have sounded a bit harsh, and quickly continued. "What I mean is, why don't we create a manga that has a broader appeal, one that's suitable for all ages? Something that could be turned into an anime or even adapted into a live-action TV series?" My suggestion was sharp enough to momentarily distract Eriri from her defense of her passion for erotic manga.

I knew full well that Eriri loved writing ero manga. She cherished it like a sacred treasure, believing she was crafting a masterpiece, and I respected that. Everyone has their own likes and hobbies, after all. What Eriri did wasn't harming anyone—in fact, it probably helped some people who appreciated the art.

Sensing that my initial tone might have come across as judgmental, I quickly shifted gears.

"Shouldn't writing ero manga actually be faster to get adapted?" she asked, trying to see why I said so. I slapped my forehead, suddenly remembering.

Of course. I had completely forgotten that the adult industry in Japan was far more lucrative than shounen or any other youth-centered genres, especially this world.

No wonder she looked confused.

"No, no, what I meant was... let's make anime great again—not hentai."

"Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with a decent plot for a manga or anime," she shrugged.

"Then it's settled! I'll write the story, and you'll draw the manga. How does that sound?" I asked, my enthusiasm barely contained.

"Well, as long as you're happy," Eriri nodded calmly. We had been friends for so long that it was easy for her to accept all my requests. Especially since drawing manga for me wasn't something particularly difficult for her to comply with.

Unlike her typical tsundere counterpart, this Eriri was much calmer, gentler, and more understanding. Her character development had improved significantly thanks to the bond we shared as friends. In contrast, in the original story, she was often cowardly when faced with big challenges and painfully indecisive. Her development in the anime was heavily influenced by an incident involving Tomoya, where she abandoned him. She carried the weight of guilt afterward when she witnessed Tomoya being bullied by their peers simply because of his enthusiasm for anime.

In the canon, they were actually part of the same group, and Eriri often stuck close to Tomoya due to their shared interest in anime. This, in turn, made many of their peers envious and resentful toward Tomoya for monopolizing such a beautiful girl, which led to acts of violence. Anime was merely an excuse for them. As much as anime was viewed negatively by some, it wasn't to the extent that people would resort to bullying or violence toward someone just because they liked it.

When Eriri witnessed all of this happening, she undoubtedly felt guilty, and that guilt morphed into a desire to compensate for abandoning Tomoya. This made her easy prey for Tomoya, who exploited and manipulated Eriri to do his bidding, turning her into the artist for his game club. Once she outlived her usefulness, he discarded her without even paying her a single penny for her work, while he enjoyed all the benefits himself. It was the same pattern he followed with all the other girls. He maintained ambiguous relationships with them, never confirming anything until he drained them of all value. Only after using them up did he announce that he liked Katou Megumi, making it clear that their love meant nothing to him. He used it as he pleased, then discarded it once he had gained all the benefits.

What a jerk, indeed.

That's exactly why I would never allow a guy like him to get anywhere near Eriri. With the influence I had over my third brother, and his affection for me, treating me like his real sister, I made sure Tomoya was moved far away. I recruited his parents to work at our company with a high salary, then transferred them to one of our resorts in another country—Bali. There was no need for this man to set foot in Japan. The farther away he was, the better.

Now, he's off in a foreign country, and his protagonist aura is powerless against the inevitable force of the Shinomiya family.

Although he didn't deserve such a high treatment, he hadn't actually committed any misdeeds in this life. There was no point in being mean or vengeful toward him. I simply treated this as an act of charity. If he could live well and grow as a person in Bali, then good for him. After all, wouldn't it be better if everyone ended up happy?

"So, Kaguya-chan, what's your plan?" Eriri, noticing my prolonged silence, couldn't bear it any longer and interrupted me.

"Well, let's do this," I said with a grin. "Let's write a dark anime, but with a twist—slightly ero, a dash of murder, and a bit of conquest."

"This is the story, the setting, and the outline, Eriri. Take a look." I picked up my white laptop from the table, placed it on my knees, and opened the file I had saved in Microsoft Word.

"Akame ga Kill?" Eriri read the title, intrigued at first, but then frowned as her eyes skimmed the document.

"The title is Akame ga Kill, but why does the protagonist seem like Tatsumi?"

"Just keep reading," I replied, not wanting to spoil the story, and urged her to continue.

"Hmm... interesting. The protagonist is different from the ones I usually see in manga. Not only is he likable, but he's also decisive." Eriri became more and more absorbed as she read, especially impressed by how the protagonist wasn't a typical beta male MC that Japanese writers often portray.

Then Eriri and I began to delve deeper into the story, where the protagonist helped a merchant who was passing by and was attacked by a dangerous beast. The protagonist earned the merchant's gratitude, who, in turn, wanted to reward him with money. However, the protagonist refused. Instead, the merchant asked what his purpose in coming to the Capital was, to which the protagonist responded that he wanted to become a soldier, hoping to help his fellow villagers through their difficult times and, eventually, lower the taxes in his village through his contributions to the Empire.

The merchant then warned the protagonist to be cautious, explaining that the Capital wasn't as prosperous or ideal as it appeared. Yet, this warning didn't dampen the protagonist's resolve or desire to reach his dreams.

At this stage, the protagonist is still filled with hope and ambition toward the Capital, vowing to improve the lives of his fellow villagers and make their future brighter.

The merchant, realizing his words of caution were in vain, sighed and gave up trying to persuade him further as they continued their journey toward the Capital.

"Will he become a hero after he arrives in the Capital, Kaguya-chan? It seems like his journey has been so smooth so far—defeating that dangerous beast easily, saving the merchant, and even forming a connection with him. I guess he'll fight the dark forces in the Capital and become a Hero of Justice, right?" Eriri mumbled, her thoughts drifting as she became more engrossed in the unfolding story.

Then the development continued. When Tatsumi arrived at the tavern, his hormones began to take control of him as a leotard-clad woman approached, her attire scandalously revealing. Eriri blushed in embarrassment as she read this part of the plot, yet despite her flustered state, she continued reading. Her anger flared when the protagonist was deceived by the woman, who claimed to know influential people in the military and offered to help him bypass official channels. She tricked him, got him drunk, stole his money, and left him with no choice but to sleep on the streets.

"How could she do that to the protagonist?!" she cursed angrily.

I simply deadpanned at Eriri's rich emotional response, saying nothing as we pressed on with the story.

When the blonde girl with an angelic smile and a sweet demeanor entered the scene, Eriri's expression brightened considerably, especially when the noblewoman stepped in to help the protagonist in his darkest hour. The noble offered him a ride in her carriage and took him to her home, where she tended to him with kindness and care.

Not only did she offer him comfort, but she also provided him with food and even a job opportunity.

What a good girl.

I imagined Eriri was thinking at that moment, wasn't she?

"Do you think this will turn into a heartwarming story, Kaguya-chan? I love the protagonist's development with Aria! I believe this is the beginning of their wholesome relationship," Eriri shouted excitedly, brimming with enthusiasm about her prediction for the plot. I sneaked a guilty glance at her, but I didn't respond. She was so deeply immersed in the story's world that she completely missed my uneasy expression as I turned my face away.

"Kaguya-chan, let me adapt this manga! This is the most amazing, heartwarming story I've ever wanted to draw," she exclaimed as she clasped my hand, her eyes wide and pleading like a puppy's.

"But the story isn't even finished yet. Are you sure you don't want to wait for me to finish it before making any decisions?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern, fearful of what might happen when Eriri realized that the plot wasn't what she imagined it to be.

Secretly, I began to wonder if I should find another artist to work on it, in case she changed her mind after seeing the later twists.

However, Eriri was adamant, her expression full of determination.

"I will wait patiently for the next developments, no matter what they are!"

"If you say so," I muttered, swallowing the rest of what I wanted to say, and solemnly nodded.

Eriri who is still immersed in her own joy didn't know what the next shock and twist turned of life that she would experience next when she read the next chapter of story.

I could only silently mourn for her.

Poor girl.