Winter had passed, and the weather was gradually heating up.
The summer vacation arrived quietly.
And this marked the second summer break of Haruto's high school life.
Though frankly, Haruto's day-to-day life didn't differ much from a holiday anyway.
With the arrival of summer vacation, it also meant that Haruto's exchange program at Shuchiin was coming to an end.
When school reopened, Haruto would return to Sobu High School. Naturally, Kaguya tried to persuade him to stay at Shuchiin. Even though there were weeks when she couldn't see Haruto at school.
Still, having him enrolled there was better than not.
However, Haruto politely declined Kaguya's invitation.
After all, he was officially registered at Sobu High.
If he spent all three years of high school without ever really attending Sobu, it would be kind of ridiculous.
Now that two of the Three Prestigious Schools were crossed off his list, spending his final year at Sobu would be the perfect finish.
You could say he had fully experienced the ultimate high school journey—visiting each of the Three Prestigious Schools.
Since the founding of the Three Prestigious Schools in Japan, few had likely accomplished that.
Left with no choice, Kaguya hosted a farewell party for Haruto in the student council room right before summer break.
It was a party-style event.
Even though Kaguya had never participated in a party before. She had some rather strange misconceptions about such "modern" things.
Still, everyone had a great time.
Well... except for Yuu Ishigami.
Ishigami increasingly felt like he was being excluded from the group.
The poor guy was just not okay.
With the sound of cicadas echoing, a chapter of the journey quietly came to a close. Just as Haruto was feeling content about it all—
The moment he returned to his apartment, he spotted his editor from afar.
Editor Ami Furukawa had arrived wielding a blade.
At that moment, she was squatting outside Haruto's apartment. How she managed to get his address remained a mystery.
Haruto suddenly felt very guilty.
He had flaked last week.
But come on, Demon Slayer was in its final arc now.
The story had been dishing out emotional gut-punches one after another.
Letting readers catch their breath and recover their hearts for a bit wasn't such a bad thing, right?
Besides, he was planning to turn in the manuscript this week—and the deadline hadn't even passed yet!
Since it wasn't a consecutive delay,
There was no reason for his editor to come after him with a knife, was there?
Unless—
Haruto suddenly remembered the other pigeon in his house.
Ever since she moved into his apartment, Izumi had clearly been led astray. The girl who used to be all about literature and diligently submitting her drafts on time?
Gone.
Now she was just Pigeon No. 2—Izumi Takatsuki.
After the initial serialization and marketing blitz, The Black Goat's Egg became a massive hit.
It was hailed as the most profound piece of modern literary art. The first three volumes won award after award.
Recently, it had even been up for some international literary prizes.
But... the final volume?
Had been completely ghosted. With that thought, Haruto let out a sigh of relief.
Okay, maybe this wasn't about him.
As the saying goes: "Better her than me."
If the editor decided to go after Takatsuki, then Haruto could probably avoid getting chopped.
Just as he was thinking that—
Ami Furukawa finally noticed Haruto on the roadside. She immediately charged at him, brandishing the blade.
Haruto froze, suddenly overcome with the urge to bolt.
He'd never felt this weak-kneed—not even when facing world-ending anomalies. But guilt and a guilty conscience? Now that was terrifying.
"Editor Furukawa! What a coincidence—"
Haruto tried to play dumb.
But Ami Furukawa didn't waste a single breath—she grabbed him and dragged him into the apartment.
Once upon a time, she had been a gentle, kind editor. But unfortunately, after dealing with two pigeon spirits in a row, she no longer trusted a single sweet word.
She tossed Haruto into the apartment's "dark room."
Looking up, Haruto spotted Izumi inside, scribbling away furiously.
Her green hair was tied up into a bun.
It looked rather cute—almost a mature charm beyond her years.
"You two aren't going anywhere until those final manuscripts are finished!" Ami Furukawa declared coldly at the doorway.
Izumi looked up and saw that Haruto had been dragged back too.
The two immediately exchanged eye contact.
Izumi:"It's your fault, Haruto! If you hadn't delayed your draft, the editor wouldn't have come swinging!"
Haruto:"Excuse me? That's rich coming from you! You're the one who's been delaying for so long she finally snapped!"
Izumi:"How could you say that? I always submit on time~"
Haruto:"Ha!"
Just then—
A metallic clang rang out at the door.
The editor's blade had struck it.
"If you two keep flirting with your eyes, I swear I'll turn you into a pair of star-crossed corpses! Damn it, hand in the manuscript first, then talk romance! Pigeon spirits don't deserve love!"
Instantly, the two pigeon spirits fell silent and started writing like their lives depended on it.
Ami Furukawa's expression was so dark it looked like it might start raining from her face.
These two… they'd looked so harmless at first.
A gentle, refreshing boy. A pure girl with clear, innocent eyes.
How did they both become pigeons?!
With skin thick enough to tank a truck.
Especially Izumi Takatsuki.
Ami remembered that back then, Takatsuki had submitted her work on time without fail and had such a deep passion for literature.
And now? Completely fallen from grace.
Thinking about it, Ami Furukawa was convinced—it was all Haruto's fault.
This pigeon spirit must've led the girl astray!
Time passed.
Several hours later, Ami Furukawa finally held two thick stacks of manuscripts in her hands, reading through them carefully.
Meanwhile, Haruto and Izumi obediently sat off to the side, waiting for judgment—while still secretly flirting with their eyes.
Izumi now seemed very different from when they first met.
Now, she could joke around with Haruto naturally. Even when teased about romance by the editor, she could laugh it off and even enjoy it.
Many of the walls between them had vanished.
Not just a façade—they were truly gone.
Though the traumas of the past still existed, and still influenced her—
Izumi was no longer bound by them.
Now she could bicker and banter, laugh and move forward. After reading everything through, Ami Furukawa set the manuscripts aside.
Looking at the two of them, she couldn't help but feel a splitting headache.
These two… when they wanted to write, they could produce such high-quality work.
They weren't blocked by lack of inspiration.
They didn't even need a single revision.
So why the hell do they insist on being pigeon spirits?!
At last, Ami Furukawa weakly waved her hand, signaling they were free to go.
The two immediately made preparations to bolt.
After all, the final drafts were turned in.
As for new works—maybe someday in this lifetime.
However, just then, Ami Furukawa called out to them. They froze in terror, worried she'd demand a new series right away.
But that wasn't what she was about to say.
"The anime adaptation of AoT is doing really well... almost unbelievably well."
Attack on Titan had been animated and aired.
It was part of the spring season, and now that several episodes had been released over the last two months—
It had built up massive hype.
Thanks to the high production quality, not only had it avoided ruining its reputation—it had boosted its popularity even further.
(T/N: TBATE you should have done better ahem.)
Hearing that, Haruto smiled brightly.
For AoT to become popular even in this world, to be seen and loved by people—
That was a wish fulfilled.
The profits were just a bonus.
"Because the first season was such a success, the revenue from dividends and merchandise is going to be substantial, Which is why the production committee already wants to negotiate for season two. Other studios have also submitted offers."
Ami Furukawa paused there.
Haruto nodded.
"That's great. Let's leave season two to the same studio—it's all about quality."
Ami gave a quiet "mm," but then changed the topic.
"But... with the size of AoT, it'll probably be wrapped up in just three seasons. Are you really not going to consider writing more?"
Haruto shook his head firmly.
"Three seasons are enough. Anything more would spoil the story."
Ami Furukawa sighed.
Just as she expected.