The Door of My Bathroom Leads to the Comic World!

"Kouhai-kun, you've really crossed the line," Utaha said as she stepped on Sui's foot, her wine-red eyes narrowing in mild annoyance. "Helping another girl clean her room behind my back? How sneaky."

'It hurts...' Sui winced but kept his composure. "Senpai, could you please move your foot?" he said, exasperated. "It's not just her room I've helped clean—I've tidied up yours too. And don't forget, your room was covered in discarded pantyhose. I've already put them all away for you."

Utaha's face flushed instantly. Embarrassment washed over her as she imagined Sui seeing the mess in her room. "P-pantyhose?"

Eriri, standing nearby, gasped in shock. "Pantyhose? Underwear? So Sui's seen all your...stuff?"

"Well, that's true." Utaha smiled mischievously, leaning closer to Sui. "But that's not all. Sui has also slept in my bed. Isn't that right?"

Eriri's face turned bright red. "Y-You l-let him sleep in your 'bed'? Utaha, you're such a... such a shameless woman!"

Sui sighed, glancing helplessly at Utaha. 'She's talking about that time she fell asleep while reading, isn't she?'

Utaha folded her arms and looked at Eriri coolly. "As a writer of 18+ comics, you don't exactly have the moral high ground here, do you?"

Eriri flushed even deeper and stammered, "T-that's just...fiction!"

Utaha smirked. "Sure, sure. A useless otaku like you can only fantasize about things like that. You'll never experience it in real life." With a teasing gleam in her eye, she raised her long legs wrapped in black stockings and brushed them against Sui's legs. "Isn't that right, Sui?"

Sui shot her a deadpan look. "Senpai, could you stop making it sound like we have that kind of relationship? Please?"

At that moment, Sayuri, who had been observing silently, crossed her arms and spoke up. "And why exactly does drawing doujin comics make someone a 'loser'?"

Her sudden question caught both Utaha and Sui by surprise. They turned to look at her, bewildered.

"Auntie?" Kasumigaoka said, eyes widening.

Sui blinked. "Wait, you...?"

With a proud smile, Sayuri declared, "I used to be a doujin creator myself! I was the one who trained Eriri into what she is today."

Sui's jaw dropped. 'Did she just say that with pride?' He couldn't help but think turning your daughter into a shut-in otaku wasn't exactly something to brag about. However, he hadn't expected this elegant, fashionable woman to be a veteran in the doujinshi community.

Sayuri sighed wistfully. "Though, after getting married, I rarely draw anymore." But then she brightened up, adding with a chuckle, "Fortunately, Eriri has inherited my passion for it. Sui, right? Maybe someday, I'll show you some of my earlier works."

"Really? That would be amazing!" Sui said enthusiastically, impressed by the skill level of Eriri's mentor.

Sayuri nodded. "Eriri's artwork is good, but her emotional depth and attention to detail still need some polishing."

Sui's admiration for Sayuri only grew. 'A true veteran...'

But his admiration was short-lived. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his side. Utaha had twisted his waist while maintaining a calm expression.

"By the way, Kouhai-kun, I've got a new idea for a novel. Let's go discuss it in my room." She grabbed Sui's arm, attempting to pull him toward her bedroom.

"Hold it right there!" Eriri interrupted, grabbing Sui's other arm. "I've just finished a new manuscript, and I need Sui's opinion. He should come with me!"

"Sawamura-san, let go," Utaha said, her tone icy.

"You're the one who should let go!" Eriri retorted, her voice rising in frustration.

Sayuri, watching the unfolding chaos, blinked in surprise before a small, amused smile curled on her lips. 'So, it's a love triangle?'

Thinking she understood the situation perfectly, Sayuri joined in, taking hold of Sui's hand. "Sui, it's been so much fun chatting with you about doujinshi. Why don't we continue our conversation a bit longer?"

Utaha's eyes narrowed, and she tightened her grip on Sui's arm. 'So, you want to compete with me, huh, old woman?' her expression seemed to say.

But Sayuri, catching the silent challenge, smiled even more brightly. Her gaze seemed to say, 'Little girl, you're far too young to take me on.'

Caught between the two, Sui felt a deep, throbbing headache. He had no idea what was going on inside their heads. 

"Sui," Sayuri suddenly spoke in a sweet voice, "it's rude to ignore an elder you've just met. Aren't you going to stay and keep me company?"

Sui thought for a moment. 'She has a point. It's only proper to respect her as Eriri's mother.' 

He turned to Kasumigaoka with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Senpai. I'll spend some time with Eriri and her mom. I'll come back soon, and we can talk about the novel."

A victorious smirk appeared on Sayuri's lips as she glanced at Utaha, her expression practically saying, 'You're still too young, little girl.'

Utaha's face tightened in anger. She turned away haughtily, her voice cold. "If that's what you want, then go."

Hearing the icy tone, Sui knew he would pay for this later, but he had no choice. Resigned, he followed the Sawamura mother and daughter to their apartment.

Sayuri struck a dramatic pose, raising her hands triumphantly. "The pure saint has finally defeated the evil witch! Rejoice in this glorious moment!"

Sui, watching her antics, could only twitch his lips in disbelief. 'Does this woman have a bit of a chūnibyō complex?'